Single-subject study reveals combined DRA-DRO reinforcement increases work engagement and decreases self-injury in an adult with severe disabilities, facilitating community-based employment.
The exhibition of stereotypic and self-injurious behavior (SIB) combined with a lack of work engagement makes it very difficult to place a person with severe disabilities in an integrated work environment. The purpose of this research was to examine use of a positive procedure to increase engagement on-task and reduce self-injurious slapping and stereotypic clothes manipulation by a 46-year-old man with severe disabilities. A single-subject research design was used to examine the effects of the combined DRA-DRO (differential reinforcement of alternative behavior-differential reinforcement of other behavior) procedure in fostering more appropriate behavior. Following 30 years of institutionalization, the man was successfully integrated into community-based employment.
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Beare et al. (2004) studied this question.
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