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Taking Behavior Support Plans into the Future
 From the September 2001 Disabilities newsletter.One of the most marked changes in behavioral support in recent years has been the recognition that challenging behaviors are managed most effectively by altering a person's environment. Hand in hand is "the realization that most problem behavior can be interpreted as communication," says Glen Dunlap, a professor of child and family studies at the University of South Florida. These two realizations are key to performing an accurate assessment and an effective behavior support plan. Dr. Dunlap emphasizes that this assessment, as well as the development of the support plan, should be done "in the context of where the child and family live. We need to understand a family's values in order to develop support plans that will be carried out." Rather than using a similar support plan for all families, Dr. Dunlap advises professionals to tailor each plan to the family's values and environment. Forming a partnership with family members gives them a chance to help develop the support plan and increases the likelihood that it will be put into place. Future Research While Dr. Dunlap notes that research has resulted in professionals' "looking at behavior from a preventative rather than a reactive perspective," he notes that more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of support techniques. This would involve following people for many months, even years, after a support plan is put into place. We also need, argues Dr. Dunlap, a more extensive examination of systems and policies. He points out that addressing challenging behaviors often requires changes to a child's or adult's placement. This, of course, involves changing the way community resources are allocated. "We need to look more at the macro level than the micro level." Dr. Dunlap hopes that the future of behavioral support will move beyond simply managing behavior to benefiting families and children with disabilities in the long run. "We need to look more broadly at what we can do to enhance people's lives."
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