Screening and Assessment

As you have learned in Unit 2, there is legislation that protects individuals with disabilities and a major part of
this protection involves the use of Functional Behavior Assessment, particularly in the school setting. You have
also learned that the approach taken to development of behavior intervention was not always function-based.
For this discussion, create a scenario in which you have a client who is exhibiting a target behavior in either a
school or work setting. Describe the legislation that applies to your client along with an explanation of your
understanding of this legislation and how you can ensure that it is being upheld.
Discuss in detail why the choice of a Functional Behavioral Assessment approach that utilizes principles of
Behavior Analysis should be considered superior to previous iterations of assessment for problem behaviors.
In your discussion, be sure to include references to at least two of the following “old school” methods of
behavior assessment: the diagnostic model, topography based, case based, or team preference-based
approaches.