Treatment Fidelity in the Applied Setting: The Hard Truth

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Beyond Inclusion: Disability Studies and Special Education for Social Justice

Abstract

This mixed-methods study examined special educators and related services professionals (paraprofessionals, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists) overall knowledge and implementation of behavior intervention plans, and factors that impact the fidelity of behavior intervention plans for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and significant cognitive disabilities in an approved private school. The results of the study suggest there is an inconsistency between participants competency and the actual implementation of behavior intervention plans in practice. Moreover, and the researcher identified the participant’s perceptions of why behavior plans are not implemented with fidelity and perceptions of why behavior plans are likely to be implemented with fidelity in the applied setting.

Author

• Elaine Wilson, University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown