Interventions for Problem Behavior Including Aggression of Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Principal Investigator:
Karime Cure

Faculty Advisor:
Daphna El Roy

Abstract:
The study aimed to gather insights from professionals in the field regarding their familiarity and success with interventions aimed at addressing problem behavior, including aggression, of individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. Problem behavior may include aggression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional behavior, attention problems, delinquency, risk behavior, or violence (Stormshak, & Garbacz, 2018). Aggression may include hitting, spitting, self injury, throwing, pushing etc. The participants in the survey would have been employees who worked in a clinic setting providing ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) services to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). A survey was developed by the author, including four demographic questions, 10 questions about the participants’ experience conducting interventions shown to be effective in the literature, to reduce problem behavior, including aggression; and questions regarding the effectiveness of the procedures they used. The study’s objective was also to determine how effective the strategies were reported to be by those professionals.