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Brendan'S Functional Assessment Interview: Behavior Support Plan
Brendan'S Functional Assessment Interview: Behavior Support Plan
After Brendan’s parents described their concerns, Brendan’s problem behavior was
determined to be intense and severe enough to begin a functional assessment. Upon
completion of the Observation Cards and the Functional Assessment Interview seen
below, the support team convened to discuss Brendan’s challenging behavior and to
“chart” information from the Functional Assessment onto “Support Planning Charts”.
Charting information allowed the team to begin developing Hypotheses Statement and a
Behavior Support Plan.
Adapted from: O’Neill, R.E., Horner, R. H., Albin, R. W., Sprague, J. R., Storey, K., & Newton, J. S.
(1997). Functional Assessment and Program Development for Problem Behavior. Pacific Grove, CA:
Brooks/Cole Publishing.
Father
1. What are the behaviors of concern? For each, define how it is performed, how often it occurs per
day, week, or month, how long it lasts when it occurs, and the intensity in which it occurs (low,
medium, high).
1. Tantrum with Prolonged whine, cry, and 3-4x’s per day 10-15 minutes High (when in
physical aggression scream; then thrusts his public, to
body onto adult’s legs, point of
head thrust, hold brother leaving the
down, take objects, or hit store)
2. Tantrum with Prolonged whining, 5-7x’s per day 2-20 minutes High with
dropping to ground crying, and screaming; much physical
and/or throwing then drops to the ground effort
objects and sometimes throws
object (mostly in public)
3. Wanders and runs Backs away and then runs 2-3x’s per day 10-15 minutes High with
away; when caught will much physical
sometimes drop to the effort
ground and become
physically aggressive
(thrusts his body onto
adult’s legs, head thrust,
and/or hit)
2
4.
5.
6.
2. Which of the behaviors described above occur together (e.g., occur at the same time; occur in a
predictable “chain”; occur in response to the same situation)?
Whines, cries, screams, drops to the floor, kicks, thrusts his body onto adult’s legs. Or
whines, cries, drops to the floor and then throws object. Or runs then drops to the
ground.
1. What medications does the child take, and how do you believe these may affect his/her behavior?
N/A
2. What medical complication (if any) does the child experience that may affect his/her behavior (e.g., asthma,
allergies, rashes, sinus infections, seizures)?
N/A
3. Describe the sleep cycles of the child and the extent to which these cycles may affect his/her behavior.
Needs 10 hours of sleep to be “happy”. Bedtime is 7:30-9:30. Has broken sleep (now 3-4x/night), use
goodnight transition song, talks loudly to self (15-30 min) prior to falling to sleep, consistency helps.
4. Describe the eating routines and diet of the child and the extent to which these routines may affect his/her
behavior.
Picky eater. Eats with family but not some things. Likes white rice and mushy food (other foods camouflaged
in rice), pancakes, no meats, no sweets, likes french fries. Wanders through the house as he eats.
5. Briefly list the child’s typical daily schedule of activities and how well he/she does within each activity.
DAILY ACTIVITIES
9:00am TV …………………………………….Good, gets up and roams the room and sits back down
2:00pm Snack/Free play……………….. If snack is in several pieces (pretzels, fries, fishies) he will
wander around the room with food and keep going back
for more snack. Problems playing with brother. Starts to
get tired.
3
3:00pm Free Play/Computer…………..Good unless needs to share with brother. Then tantrums
and becomes aggressive.
4:00pm Video/plays while mom preps dinner…….More cranky. On the move. Pulls on mom.
5:00pm 5:30 plays with dad …………..Loves it! Sometimes becomes aggressive towards brother.
6:00pm Dinner………………………….Eats in living room at desk like brother with adult show on
TV, parents at TV trays. A bit picky with foods, wanders
with food..
7:00pm Play time with dad, mom cleans……Does ok, sometimes becomes whiney.
7:30 Bath……………………………..Loves it!
8:00pm Snack/Play…………………………..Often “melts down”, needs lots of help. Brother
aggravates him, falls to ground, throws, tantrums, hits
9:00pm Brush teeth/Potty…………….. Tantrums, refuses by dropping to ground, yells “no”,
cries.
9:30 Bedtime…………………O.K., parent lies with him in his bed until he falls asleep.
Talks loudly (lots of echolalia) until falls asleep.
6. Describe the extent to which you believe activities that occur during the day are predictable for your child. To
what extent does the child know what he/she will be doing and what will occur during the day (e.g., when to get up,
when to eat breakfast, when to play outside)? How does your child know this?
Most days are 90% predictable (verbally tell him); 0% predictability on other days. Verbally tell him what to
do.
7. What choices does the child get to make each day (e.g., food, toys, activities?)
Computer game, videos, toys, colors of items (cups, towels), pool or play inside.
1. Time of Day: When are the behaviors most and least likely to happen?
Least likely: When he gets out of bed in the morning, when he’s eating highly preferred foods.
When you give him what he wants, when he’s rested
2. Settings: Where are the behaviors most and least likely to happen?
Most likely: In public, library, stores, and restaurants. At home when brother tries to share
trains or computer. Crowded places.
3. Social Control: With whom are the behaviors most and least likely to happen?
Most likely: Mom and anyone who tells him to “wait” or “no”, with brother.
4. Activity: What activities are most and least likely to produce the behaviors?
Most likely: Shopping, parties, crowds, and sharing computer or trains with brother
Least likely: Watching TV, bath/pool play, physical activity (chase, jumping, bouncing on,
ball, hide and seek)
5. Are there particular situations, events, etc. that are not listed above that “set off” the behaviors that cause
concern (particular demands, interruptions, transitions, delays, being ignored, etc.)?
6. What one thing could you do that would most likely make the problem behavior occur?
Mess with his train set and not giving him something he wants
7. What one thing could you do to make sure the problem behavior did not occur?
Trains, “Blue’s Clues” notebook, computer, books, balls, pool (on a daily basis), books
Yes, with sharing with brother. Grabs, removes his toy so you can’t get it. Tackles brother.
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3. Does your child play alone? What does he/she do?
Yes, hide and seek, dancing, jumping, chase, some interactive games
5. Does your child play with other children his/her age? What toys or games?
Yes, when directed by the therapist in group therapy, mostly parallel plays
6. How does your child react if you join in a play activity with him/her?
7. How does your child react if you stop playing with him/her?
He will tell you to “sit” to get you to come back and play
8. How does your child react if you ask him/her to stop playing with a toy and switch to a different
toy?
If preferred toy/activity, he won’t switch. If you try to make him, will tantrum and throw objects.
Other times he is fine with it.
1. Think of each of the behaviors listed in Section A, and define the function(s) you believe the behavior serves for
the child (i.e., what does he/she get and/or avoid by doing the behavior?)
Behavior What does he/she get? Or What exactly does he/she avoid?
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
More likely
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b. Are the above behavior(s) more likely, less likely, or unaffected if you interrupt a desired event (eating
ice cream, watching a video)?
More likely
c. Are the above behavior(s) more likely, less likely, or unaffected if you deliver a “stern”
request/command/reprimand?
More likely
d. Are the above behavior(s) more likely, less likely, or unaffected if you are present but do not interact
with (ignore) the child for 15 minutes?
Less likely
e. Are the above behavior(s) more likely, less likely, or unaffected by changes in routine?
More likely
f. Are the above behavior(s) more likely, less likely, or unaffected if something the child wants is present
but he/she can’t get it (i.e., a desired toy that is visible but out of reach)?
More likely
g. Are the above behavior(s) more likely, less likely, or unaffected if he/she is alone (no one else is
present)?
Less likely
1. What amount of physical effort is involved in the behaviors (e.g., prolonged intense tantrums vs. simple
verbal outbursts, etc.)?
When he “drops down to the ground”, it takes the most physical effort. Sometimes he
2. Does engaging in the behaviors result in a “payoff” (getting attention, avoiding work) every time?
Almost every time? Once in a while?
3. How much of a delay is there between the time the child engages in the behavior and gets the “payoff”?
Is it immediate, a few seconds, longer?
1. What are the general expressive communication strategies used by or available to the child? (e.g., vocal
speech, signs/gestures, communication books/boards, electronic devices, etc.) How consistently are the
strategies used?
2. If your child is trying to tell you something or show you something and you don’t understand, what will
your child do? (repeat the action or vocalization? modify the action or vocalization?)
MEANS
FACIAL EXPRESSION
IMMEDIATE ECHO
COMPLEX SIGNS
DELAYED ECHO
GRAB & REACH
CRY OR WHINE
MOVE TO YOU
SELF - INJURY
SIMPLE SIGNS
AGGRESSION
GAZE SHIFT
VOCALIZE
TANTRUM
OTHER
POINT
NONE
LEAD
GIVE
FUNCTIONS
Requests an X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Object
Requests an X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Action
Protests or X X X X X X X X X X X
Escapes
Requests Help X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Requests a X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Social Routine
Requests X X X X X
Comfort
Indicates ? X
Illness
Shows you X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
something
NOTES: He has a high pain tolerance. It is very difficult to determine if he is hurt or sick.
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a. Does the child follow verbal requests or instructions? If so, approximately how many? (List, if only a few).
Yes, 30-50 words
b. Is the child able to imitate someone demonstrating how to do a task or play with a toy?
Lead, grab, gesture
Imitate –“ yes”
c. Does the child respond to sign language or gestures? If so, approximately how many? (List, if only a few.)
~10 (want, more, eat, drink, all done, point for “look”…)
d. How does the child tell you “yes” or “no” (if asked whether he/she wants to do something, go somewhere, etc.)?
Nod-No Repeats what is said to affirm or indicate Yes
Verbal-Yes
Tantrum-No
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1. Describe the things that your child really enjoys. For example, what makes him/her happy? What might
someone do or provide that makes your child happy?
Tickle, jumping, hide and seek, chase, trains, balls, water play (any type), bike, computer, sometimes books on his own, video (“Blue’s Clues”, “Bob the
Builder”, “Thomas”, “Scooby-Doo”), figures of characters, juice boxes
2. What kinds of things have you or your child’s care providers done to try and change the problem
behaviors?
Transitioning from one Tantrums – prolonged Allowed to continue what Temporarily escapes transition
place to another whining, crying, and he is doing a bit longer
screaming; which will
sometimes increase to
throwing objects
Given a demand Tantrums – prolonged Adults give him back his toy Avoids demands
Asked to share whining, crying, and Allowed to continue what
Asked to take turns screaming; OR he was doing alone
throwing objects Adults give him a preferred
item or activity
Boredom Asked to “wait” Wanders or runs; which Adults try coaxing him Escapes waiting/boredom
sometimes progresses to Adults verbally redirect
physical aggression Adults ask him questions
(banging self onto adult,
head thrusting, or
hitting)
Rev. 10/02