By Jeff Sigafoos, Ph.D., Michael Arthur, Ph.D., & Mark O'Reilly, Ph.D.

Perfect for undergraduate and graduate students, new clinicians, and beginning researchers, this accessible resource gives readers an introduction to challenging behavior in people with disabilities. Drawing on the latest research and published literature, the book provides a succinct overview that helps readers understand challenging behavior and presents an evidence-based approach that lays out the essential principles readers will use to create effective assessment and intervention plans. Three internationally known experts introduce readers to

• individual traits, social contexts, and environmental factors that influence development and various forms of challenging behavior, including aggression, self-injury, and extreme tantrums
  
  
• ethical and quality of life issues often encountered in home, school, and community settings
  
  
• issues related to the assessment of challenging behavior, including separate chapters on health and medical screening and functional assessment
  
  
• the relationship between assessment and intervention
  
  
• guidelines on implementing an intervention plan effectively
  

With this reader-friendly book, new and future clinicians, therapists, early interventionists, and other professionals will better understand the nature of challenging behavior in people with disabilities — and they’ll have basic principles they’ll use for the rest of their careers to guide assessment and intervention.

(Distributed for Whurr Publishers, Ltd., England.)

Acknowledgements
Preface

I. Conceptualizing Challenging Behavior

1. Defining and Describing Challenging Behavior
   
   
2. Risk Factors for Challenging Behavior
   
   
3. A Theory of Challenging Behavior
   

II. Fundamental Issues in Service Provision

4. Ethical Considerations and Quality of Life Issues
   

III. Assessment of Challenging Behavior

5. Health and Medical Screening
   
   
6. Functional Assessment
   

IV. Treatment and Prevention

7. Educational and Behavioral Interventions
   
   
8. Early Intervention and Prevention
   

References
Index