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Episode #211: Functional Communication Training- Getting Started with Dr. Bethjoy Houck
Functional Communication Training (FCT) is a proven strategy to replace problem behaviors with effective communication skills. In her article, Practitioners Guide for Selecting Functional Communication Responses, published in Behavior Analysis in Practice, Dr. Bethjoy Houck offers practical advice to help clinicians implement FCT successfully.
FCT focuses on giving learners a way to express their needs that works for them, whether through speech, sign language, cue cards, object exchanges, or even video clips. Dr. Houck shares creative examples that encourage thinking beyond traditional methods to meet each learner’s unique needs.
She stresses the importance of starting with assessments like Ringdahl’s MTA or Valentino et al. to identify the best Functional Communication Responses (FCRs) for the individual. Practitioners should select FCRs that reinforce desired behaviors or are incompatible with the problem behavior. FCRs should be taken seriously and not unnecessarily restricted, as maintaining open and accessible communication is key to the success of FCT.
Dr. Houck emphasizes that FCT is about meeting learners where they are and giving them tools to express themselves in ways that make sense for their abilities. Whether verbal or nonverbal, communication is an essential skill, and FCT helps individuals share their needs while fostering meaningful growth.
Today’s Guest:
Bethjoy received her Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University in 2008, her Master’s degree in Autism and Developmental Disabilities from the University of Texas at Austin in 2009, and her Ph.D. from the University of North Texas (UNT) in Health Services Research with a concentration in Behavior Analysis in 2023. In 2022, Bethjoy was awarded the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis Innovative Student Dissertation Grant, which provided support for her dissertation, An Evaluation of the Effects of Trauma-Related Stimuli on Behavior During Preference Assessments and Functional Analysis with People with Intellectual Disabilities. Prior to starting her doctoral program at UNT, Bethjoy worked for 10 years as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst in schools, home programs, center-based services and group homes. She currently works as the clinical director for the Behavior Analysis Resource Center (BARC).
BARC is a service-learning project directed by Joseph Dracobly, Ph.D. BCBA-D. BARC is a service-learning project that exists to
- conduct evidence-based assessments and develop individualized treatments to reduce problem behavior for people with intellectual disabilities (ID),
- provide focused treatment for people to develop skills needed to access medical and dental care,
- conduct research on effective and compassionate assessment and treatment approaches for problem behavior that focus on expanding the individual’s access to resources to improve quality of life and provide training to behavior analysts and students in behavior analysis on how to effectively deliver services to people with ID and severe problem behavior across a variety of settings. BARC currently operates across multiple sites, including the UNT Kristin Farmer Autism Center and Lonestar Day Treatment Program.
What’s Inside:
- What is Functional Communication Training?
- 5 FCT recommendations for clinicians.
- What is an FCR?
- Getting started with FCT assessments.
Mentioned In This Episode
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