Addressing Differently Abled Student Needs with Positive Behavior Interventions/Supports: Evaluating Capacity and Need in Appalachia

Session Type: Conversation Roundtable

Abstract

Positive Behavior Interventions/Supports (PBIS) is a framework that utilizes evidence-based strategies focused on prevention and intervention within a multi-tiered model to effectively support students academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. This practice has been demonstrated to reduce the instances of challenging behaviors that occur within the classroom environment and school-wide with a high degree of efficacy. Many communities in Appalachia are home to children impacted by intergenerational trauma. Children coming from these backgrounds who are also impacted by developmental disorders often have complex emotional and behavioral needs that can be difficult to address. PBIS offers a sound approach that dovetails nicely with trauma-responsive classroom practices. Unfortunately many systems within Appalachia lack the capacity and training to fully implement this promising framework. The panel will discuss the disparities in trauma exposure and developmental challenges in school systems across several rural Appalachian communities. In addition, the capacity of these communities to implement PBIS as a trauma responsive framework will be evaluated through the use of qualitative focus group/interview data as well as survey data. The panel will discuss the manner in which PBIS can be implemented in low-resource environments. creatively utilizing resources that are present. There will also be a discussion of implication for teacher training. Panelists will be Sara Kunkel, Catherine Bailey, and Alicia Ziman from the Autism Training Center at Marshall University in West Virginia and Jenna Wallace from the Department of Pediatrics at WVU Medical School. The moderator will be Thomas Linz with the Department of Psychology at Marshall University.

Sub Unit

• Solicited Content: Differently Abled Individuals

Moderator

• Thomas Linz, Marshall university

Panelists

• Sara Kunkel, Marshall University

• Catherine Bailey, Marshall University

• Alicia Ziman, Marshall University

• Jenna Wallace, West Virginia University School of Medicine