Many individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities manifest behavioral challenges. It takes deep understanding and patience to deal with people with actions and perceptions different from majority of the population. The developmentally disabled individuals, although different, do not have to be set apart from daily interactions. Their distinctive behaviors do not make them less capable of making connections with others, or powerless in functioning effectively in the society.
A few of the individuals with behavioral challenges are those with:
- Autism
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia
- Dementia
- Addiction
Behavioral Management helps individuals handle their own emotions, response to things, and interaction with others. Through carefully planned programs and effective application of it, there could be great improvement in the behaviorally challenged person. Among the steps that behavioral therapists carry out on patients are:
- Educate them about their condition
- Define or set rules
- Use positive and negative reinforcement
- Keep them aware of their progress often
- Focus on the positive and consistently provide encouragement
- Set plans for further programs or changes in the process
Having family members with behavioral challenges go through behavioral management is not done in favor of the disabled person’s family, friends, and other relations, but it is for the handicapped himself to resolve matters that he may have a hard time understanding and taking action of on his own.
More information about DDD/ Support Coordination programs at Owen Health Care: call 908-258-7796 or send a message online.