Association for Behavior Analysis International

The efficacy of the application of behavior analytic principles to supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities has been demonstrated across the life span (Kurtz & Lind, 2013) and has been a hallmark of applied behavior analysis for decades. Although a great deal of literature has provided guidance on behavior analytic support for children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, considerably less literature has focused on how those supports can be adapted and provided across a person’s lifespan, particularly into older adulthood. As medical advances continue to extend the expected lifespan and improve the quality of life for all people including those with intellectual or developmental disabilities, we are faced with a growing older adult population in need of supports. Advancements in certification, licensure, and funding for behavioral services mean that more individuals have received support at an early age and increasingly more are receiving supports throughout life. This presents a complex intersection of training needs for specialized staff supporting the needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are experiencing aging-related changes. This presentation will review the existing literature on staff training and intervention for older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It will then present existing resources that can be readily adopted into training, as well as ideas for the development of specialized trainings. Finally, these resources will be incorporated in identifying staff training needs for both direct support staff and clinical staff.

BCBAs or upper management in agencies providing services to adults with autism and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities who are supervising staff, aspiring BCBAs, and BCBAs. In particularly, agencies serving an aging population, but any adult agency would be relevant.