#112: Practical Functional Assessment with Dr. Cory Whelan

​​Dr. Corey Whelan, SLP-BCBA joins me in this episode to discuss a really important assessment for autistic individuals that can add to compassionate care across the lifespan.

Practical Function Assessment (PFA) is a process aimed at understanding individuals and the barriers they face in therapy. The goal of PFA is to provide a treatment plan via a skills-based therapy process that will prevent unsafe behavior and help clients reach their optimal learning environment. The first step in PFA is an open-ended interview to learn about the individual and their barriers. The information gathered in the interview is then synthesized into an Interview-Informed Synthesized Contingency Analysis (IISCA) to move forward with the assessment.

PFA allows for the safe evaluation of dangerous behavior without the need to witness it. Instead, the focus is on reinforcing non-dangerous, early responses in the chain of behavior, with the ultimate goal of providing a skills-based therapy process to treat problematic behavior. Three critical skills are emphasized in treatment with the PFA: functional communication training, tolerating disappointment when a response is not reinforced, and cooperating with adult-directed instruction during a delay.

Behavior Analysts looking for training in PFA can do so through online courses or by seeking mentorship from the center of the company they work with. PFA is ideal for individuals who are making minimal gains in therapy but behavior barriers remain a concern, or for new clients engaging in problem behavior prior to starting therapy.

It's important to note that the purpose of PFA is not to understand why a behavior is occurring, but to treat it and prevent it, leading to more effective therapy. By breaking through barriers, individuals can access their optimal learning environment, allowing them to make the most of their therapy sessions.

#autism #speectherapy

What’s Inside:

• What are the PFA and the steps involved?
• How IISCA influences therapy response.
• Three critical skills for treatment after PFA.
• Breaking barriers and providing access to the optimal therapy environment. 

Mentioned In This Episode:
Vinfen
Practical Functional Assessment
ABA Speech: Learn About Current ASHA and ACE CEUs