At Centria, the Foundational Plan is designed to incorporate universal protocol information, providing behavior technicians and parents a framework that incorporates our values and provides individualized information for the client. It is critical that a clear foundational plan / universal protocol is established and implemented with fidelity prior to the onset of skill-based treatment.
Universal protocols are not just procedural footnotes but essential components that support the broader goals of SBT, fostering stability, skill generalization, and compassionate care. Let’s dive into what universal protocols are and their profound connection to effective SBT implementation.
What Are Universal Protocols in the Context of SBT?
Universal protocols can be understood as structured environmental arrangements and reinforcement strategies implemented within and outside of the direct, intensive SBT sessions. While SBT sessions rigorously target specific interfering behaviors and teach new functional communication responses (FCRs) and toleration skills, universal protocols are designed to create stability, facilitate learning opportunities throughout the session, and manage behavior proactively.
Create Stability
For individuals and families who often experience unpredictable contexts due to challenging behaviors, universal protocols offer structure to create a predictable and consistent environment. They provide a foundational structure that guides interactions and expectations when the learner is not actively practicing SBT.
Facilitate Learning Opportunities Throughout the Session
Universal protocols provide opportunities to practice less challenging skills in naturalistic settings, embedding assent-based instruction throughout the entirety of the session, including during periods of synthesized reinforcement.
Manage Behavior Proactively
While SBT directly addresses the most problematic behaviors, universal protocols help maintain a lower frequency of high-intensity and dangerous interfering behaviors by ensuring that synthesized reinforcement is abundant and accessible to the learner.
RELATED: What are SBT and PFA Really About?
Compassionate Care at the Core
Ultimately, both SBT and its accompanying universal protocols are underpinned by a framework of compassionate care and assent-based teaching that centers autistic perspectives. The aim is to help individuals thrive by teaching them to navigate their world flexibly, and teachers and caregivers will be responsive to varied forms of communication attempts, including non-verbal cues and behaviors.
Universal protocols, when designed with compassion, ensure that the individual’s preferences are honored and that therapy primarily fosters positive experiences. By clearly understanding and meticulously implementing universal protocols, practitioners can create a more stable, reinforcing, and compassionate environment that significantly enhances the effectiveness of Skills-Based Treatment and supports meaningful progress for learners.
ALSO READ: How Practical Functional Assessment Supports Clients with Autism
About the Author
Heather Hester brings over 12 years of experience in the field, having worked in a wide range of settings, including public school, residential, community, home, and center-based environments. Her expertise lies in applying Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles to support both children and adults with autism. Beyond autism, Heather has also worked with children with various other conditions, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Down syndrome, Rett syndrome, and traumatic brain injury. She is an alumna of Grand Valley State University and Capella University.