Positive behavior support focuses on research-based strategies used to improve the quality of life of people with challenging issues while reducing maladaptive behaviors in the through person's environment. Positive behavior strategies also enhance functional skills person's habilitation outcomes, behavioral procedures, and evidence-based research.
The strategy focuses on assisting individuals to achieve comprehensive lifestyle change to improve, which is prevalent in the residential or domestic setting. In these settings, people may live together with considerable age gaps. Lifestyle factors impact the way of life and increase challenging behaviors. In a person's environment, lifestyle changes are critical proactive approaches. Without awareness, the changes may meet initial resistance and an adjustment period; however, the long-term goals may yield positive results. Successfully assisting a person with disabilities in transitioning from special education to residential to supportive living is an example of a lifespan perspective. The perspective represents the different challenges and stages over a life span. The lifespan perspective is a significant long-term goal for the support system involved in a person's care plan.
The development of a positive behavior system consists of a person's support system helping them adapt to their environment over time. The sociological validity component is significant because it improves a person's lifestyle through normalization, community integration, accessibility to resources, and improving self-awareness. Supporting a person through their environment reduces challenging behavior while improving confidence and self-esteem. A person's community is also essential in development because it allows the individual to experience inclusion. It also allows the person to become more independent by learning to navigate safeguards and risks.
Nonetheless, this approach's success depends on the plan's structure, justification of strategies, and the clarification of natural consequences. To provide that structure, there must be a focus on emphasizing positivity, reinforcement, and support instead of punitive systems identifying negative behaviors. Developing an optimistic structure has a profound impact on behavior systems. Collaborative systems such as behavior plans and valued outcomes measure progress, which can lead to more opportunities if improved. One of the main objectives of an effective program is to teach the person how to function in their surroundings rather than just focusing on the problem behaviors. When developing and implementing strategies, traditional or alternative methods must always be considered. Adaptation is paramount because, as professionals, we must realize that the world is changing daily, so methodologies that were successful in the past may not be effective today. For example, if a person had an issue with relationship building or social interaction, which strategy would be recommended as a proactive approach or replacement behavior? Traditionally, we would offer behavior supports highlighting prevention and correction regarding interaction. However, an unconventional strategy could be offering group therapy to build expressive and receptive skills. Support group therapy is an excellent intervention because it helps people resolve internal and external issues, which are not limited to problematic behaviors. Although sometimes progressive, evidence-based research can be relevant in terms of research and uses analytics to measure behavior. Innovation is also significant because it allows interventions to be flexible by conforming to trends and changes while maintaining the core principles of the behavior concept.
The value of positive behavior support cannot not only change a person's life, but it can change an entire program. Components such as modifications in the physical setting, task analysis, methodologies, curriculums, assessments, and plans all play a vital role in successful social, behavioral, and spiritual development.
