The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) provides disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. To receive SSDI or SSI disability benefits, an individual must meet the statutory definition of disability, which is "the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity [SGA] by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months." SSA uses a five-step sequential process to determine whether an adult applicant meets this definition. Functional Assessment for Adults with Disabilities examines ways to collect information about an individual's physical and mental (cognitive and noncognitive) functional abilities relevant to work requirements. This report discusses the types of information that support findings of limitations in functional abilities relevant to work requirements, and provides findings and conclusions regarding the collection of information and assessment of functional abilities relevant to work requirements.

This book responds to a critical need for highly qualified personnel who will become exemplary professionals in positive behavior supports for adults with disabilities. The authors present a coherent and systematic approach to understanding the purpose of positive behavior supports and how support providers can implement these strategies for desirable results. Written in a nontechnical format that includes real-life examples, the information presented is practical and easily implemented. Each chapter contains Window to the World Case Studies, Key Point Questions, Best Practice Recommendations, Employment, Community and Residential Activity Suggestions, and Discussion Questions. Important and relevant “older” references are included that emphasize the understanding of how this field of study has been built upon “classic research,” establishing the basis of positive behavior supports. An advantage of this book is that agencies and organizations preparing support providers can easily use the book in courses or training that address positive behavior supports, as it covers methodology that is seldom covered in detail in other texts. Support providers will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to provide positive behavior supports in employment, community, and residential settings, thereby improving the quality of life for the individuals they support. This second edition has been edited and rewritten with new and significant material, including additional behavior support plans. College instructors are likely to choose this book based upon the consistent format used throughout and the readability of the book for students in college classes or adult service providers. The comprehensive coverage of positive behavior supports and the direct applicability to applied settings will prove useful to support providers that instruct, train, and supervise.

This Second Edition updates and expands on the original editorial content and coverage, including new chapters on definitions and rationale, a general overview, research on mental health disorders, report writing, the role of treatment planning, and treatment associated with mental health disorders. The Second Edition builds on the knowledge base by providing the most current information on all aspects of each topic. This unique volume addresses basic questions in salient detail, from types and rates of challenging behaviors to populations that warrant functional assessment. In addition, it examines typical assessment techniques, including interview, scaling, experimental, and in vivo methods. The use of functional assessment in treatment planning – and in combination with other interventions – is covered in depth. Given the vulnerable populations and challenging behaviors (e.g., individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities, mental health issues), the book provides detailed coverage of informed consent as well as legal and ethical issues. Key areas of coverage include: The history of behavior analysis and functional assessment. The nature, prevalence, and characteristics of challenging behaviors. Interview and observation methods in functional assessment and analysis. Experimental functional analysis for challenging behaviors. Treatment methods commonly used with functional assessment. Using functional assessment in treatment planning. Functional Assessment for Challenging Behaviors, Second Edition, is an essential updated resource for researchers, clinicians and other practitioners, and graduate students in clinical child and school psychology, pediatric psychiatry and medicine, social work, rehabilitation, developmental psychology as well as other interrelated disciplines.

As the cornerstone of applied behavior analysis, functional assessment is supported by a burgeoning literature that focuses on identification of and interventions for aggressive, self-injurious, and other challenging behaviors. Although the number of research studies continues to grow, full-length volumes on using functional assessment to address these behaviors remain few and far between. Comprehensive in coverage, Functional Assessment for Challenging Behaviors expands the knowledge base by providing information on all aspects of its topic. This unique volume addresses basic questions in salient detail, from types and rates of challenging behaviors to populations that warrant functional assessment. In addition, it examines typical assessment techniques, including interview, scaling, experimental, and in vivo methods. The use of functional assessment in treatment planning – and in combination with other interventions – is covered in depth. An especially timely chapter identifies key ethical and legal concerns in working with challenging behavior populations. Coverage includes: The history of behavior analysis and functional assessment. The nature, prevalence, and characteristics of challenging behaviors. Interview and observation methods in functional assessment and analysis. Experimental functional analysis for challenging behaviors. Treatment methods commonly used with functional assessment. Using functional assessment in treatment planning. Functional Assessment for Challenging Behaviors is an essential resource for researchers, scientist-practitioners, and graduate students in clinical child and school psychology, pediatric psychiatry and medicine, social work, rehabilitation, and developmental psychology.

This book provides an overview of systematic instructional strategies and is written in a format so that teachers and other service providers can immediately put the information to use. It specifically focuses upon systematic instruction for individuals with disabilities (school age and adults) and is generic across age groups as well as disability labels. The book focuses on improving instructional practices for students and adults with disabilities. Practitioners may understand the importance of placing individuals in different settings (e.g., inclusive classrooms, supported employment sites) but not understand how to improve their skills once they are in that setting. This book is intended to give teachers and other service providers the instructional skills for improving the skills of the individuals that they are serving. The most unique feature of the text is that it is written specifically for practitioners in the field (teachers and adult service providers) as well as those in training rather than being written for other academics. An advantage of this book is that those preparing teachers and others can easily use it in methods courses as it covers instructional methodology that is seldom covered in detail in most texts. College instructors will find the book a good choice for their classes based upon: the consistent format throughout the book; the “readability” of the book for students; the comprehensive coverage of systematic instruction; and the direct applicability to applied settings. Others providing instruction, supervision, and training to direct service providers will find this book useful, such as those working in schools as well as those in transition and adult service settings.

Public perception of adults with developmental disabilities realizing learning gains often remains illusive. This paper highlights key findings in achievement in basic skills for adults with mental retardation on a functional assessment in a life skills context for three program years (2003-2006). In this study the time period between the pre- and post-test was approximately one year. The study reports overall learning gains for each of the three program years as well as by classification of mental retardation. In addition, the study reports learning gains for adults remaining in their programs across all three program years. The instrument used to measure achievement in basic skills was the CASAS POWER(Providing Options for the Workplace, Education, and Rehabilitation) assessment, a standardized observation-based assessment instrument for adults with developmental disabilities. The study finds that learners at all levels of mental retardation are achieving learning gains. Those with moderate and mild mental retardation achieve higher gains compared to those with severe mental retardation. These learners continue to show gains across multiple program years. (Contains 16 tables and 2 figures.).