How can positive behaviour support help with autism?
For children living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), challenging behaviours can seriously impact the ease and joy of daily living. To help your child live their best life, it’s important to put the right evidence-based strategies in place.
As a core focus of our professional team, positive behaviour support is designed to enhance the quality of life for people with autism by changing these concerning behaviours and developing the skills they need to navigate daily challenges. Helping them feel empowered, in control and a part of their communities.
What is positive behaviour support (PBS)?
Positive behaviour support is a holistic approach that combines behavioural science, person-centred values and various frameworks to prevent and minimise behaviours of concern.
The idea behind positive behaviour support is that all behaviour serves a purpose – even the most challenging. By understanding the underlying cause, caregivers and professionals can develop powerful and effective strategies to impact real behavioural change.
Ultimately, the main goal of PBS is to reduce behaviours that interfere with learning, relationships and daily activities. Instead, promoting positive behaviours that prioritise dignity, connectedness and wellbeing.
How we provide positive behaviour support
When we need to provide intervention for a child with autism, our expert behaviour support specialists will first conduct a Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA). This helps us understand the reasons behind challenging behaviours and involves observations, interviews and data analysis.
From there, we can create a person-centred Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) alongside the individual, their families and other key members of their support network.
This comprehensive plan focuses on proactive strategies to prevent challenging behaviours before they occur. It includes changing the environment, teaching new skills, and providing positive reinforcement for desirable behaviours. By creating supportive environments and promoting positive interactions, your child with autism will be far less likely to engage in those challenging behaviours.
Positive behaviour support FAQ
- What are some common behaviours of concern?
Often, concerning behaviours of people with autism include those that can inflict harm to themselves and others, breaking things, refusing to do something, doing the same task repeatedly and hiding from people.
- Why do these behaviours happen?
Generally, children with autism present these behaviours as a way to have some level of influence and control over their lives. It could be that they’re avoiding a task, meeting a physical need, or simply seeking connection.
- How long does a Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) take?
Created by one of our behaviour support specialists, a BSP is often more than 30 pages and takes between 10 and 20 hours to put together. In certain circumstances, such as if people’s safety could be threatened, they might also have to put together a shorter Interim Behaviour Support Plan.
- What’s different about positive behaviour support?
Rather than being reactive and disciplinary like traditional behaviour management techniques, positive behaviour support comes from a place of optimism and understanding of the individual. Taking steps to provide an environment that promotes only positive behaviour.
Why choose LifeLift for positive behaviour support
We’re a trusted registered NDIS provider that recognises the need for empathy when supporting children living with autism. Our AHPRA-registered therapists provide positive behaviour support services designed to improve a child’s quality of life by developing their skill sets and equipping them with a set of strong behavioural tools.
We see behaviours of ‘concern’ through a compassionate lens, taking into account all the potential social, physical, emotional and environmental factors that could contribute to a person’s behaviour. Our therapists and specialists will be by your side to help you set and achieve realistic goals and provide the highest level of support to your child.
For more information on our NDIS autism support services, contact our friendly team today.
