Chelsea Troutman

ABC Elements

Support teams face significant challenges in supporting individuals with complex behaviour support needs, particularly in balancing community safety, client empowerment, and rehabilitation. When this balance is not achieved, risk management often overshadows treatment and support, leading to reliance on restrictive practices that disempower clients, hinder skill development, and compromise their rights. This presentation explores rights-affirming approaches to risk assessment, emphasising the human rights model of disability and the importance of balancing duty of care with dignity of risk. We will examine how therapeutic environments responsive to individual needs—addressing trauma, skill deficits, and motivation—can foster autonomy and participation. By effectively engaging individuals in their own risk management, more meaningful outcomes and empowerment within ethical and therapeutic frameworks may be achieved. Participants will gain practical strategies for conducting risk assessments that prioritise dignity and safety while respecting individuals’ rights to take risks as part of a fulfilling life. By adopting these approaches, behaviour analysts can promote growth opportunities, reduce challenging behaviours, and create environments that uphold human rights.

Geoff Potter

Centre for Positive Behaviour Support

Reactive strategies are often necessary when addressing challenging behaviour, yet traditional approaches (extinction and punishment) can undermine the dignity and rights of individuals. This presentation highlights the importance of adopting non-aversive approaches to foster trust, reduce the use of restrictive practices, and improve overall quality of life for individuals receiving support. Through data-based case examples, participants will explore how the use of non-aversive reactive strategies can rapidly reduce the rate and magnitude of challenging behaviour. Examples of ways to measure both rate and episodic severity, defined as the measure of intensity or gravity of a behavioural incident, will be provided. Episodic severity is an under-reported but potentially useful dependent variable in behaviour analysis research and practice. Emphasis will be placed on evidence-based practices that reduce harm and preserve the individual’s dignity during crises. By embedding these strategies into their practice, behaviour analysts can ensure that their responses to challenging behaviour are respectful, humane, and trauma informed.