Log in

Sunday, 27 July 2025

10:45 - 12:00 PM

Torrens

The Road to Family: Building Tolerance for Longer Transport

Tyler Luttrell ¹ & Alayna Haberlin^1,2

¹Tracks Health; ²Paperbark Solutions

Abstract: To access preferred places and activities in the community, building tolerance is crucial. Not only to attend these places, but also to tolerate the transport to and from these locations. This presentation focuses on a 30-year-old male client diagnosed with ASD, a severe intellectual disability, intermittent explosive disorder and anxiety. After 5 years of consistent regression, the client presented with extremely low tolerance to engage in basic task demands or participate in social environments, often responding with physical aggression towards staff and others. Despite this, he could manage a daily 15-minute drive to the local McDonalds drive-thru and back. An intervention was implemented to increase his tolerance for longer drives to eventually visit his family’s home. The intervention consisted of gradually increasing the duration of transport as well as increasing the number and type of demands presented during transport. The aim was for him to tolerate a 70 min car trip so he could visit his family’s home. A changing criterion design was used to evaluate the intervention effects. Results indicated that the intervention was successful in increasing the duration of transport allowing him to reach the 70 min target criterion within 6-weeks. These improvements maintained for several months, enabling the client to have regular family visits outside of the placement for the first time in over 5 years.

Target Audience: Behaviour analysts and other clinicians

Learning Objectives: By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to describe how to use demand fading to increase tolerance to longer drives to preferred locations.

BACB CE Instructor: Alayna Haberlin

The Impact of an Antecedent-Based Intervention on Menstruation-Related Behaviours of Concern in ASD and ID

Dina Argitha¹, Kristin Bayley², Zoe Perry¹, & Andrew MacPherson¹

¹Journey Health Solutions; ²Launch Supervision

Abstract: Menstruation can be a particularly challenging time for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disability (ID), often associated with an increase in behaviours of concern (BoC), including self-injurious behaviour (SIB), aggression, and property damage. Here we report on the effectiveness of a structured “Period Box” intervention in reducing outburst behaviour in a 16-year-old female with ASD and ID, using an A-B design. Baseline data were collected for a period of three months. A functional behaviour assessment (FBA) indicated that Rose’s behaviours were maintained by access to attention and tangible items. During the intervention, a noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) strategy was implemented. The participant’s mother introduced the Period Box – containing preferred items and activities - two days prior to menstruation, as tracked through a period calendar.

Results demonstrated a marked decrease in SIB, aggression, and property damage during the intervention phase compared to baseline. These findings support the hypothesis that proactive antecedent-based interventions, such as NCR, can effectively reduce menstruation-related distress and associated problem behaviours in individuals with ASD and ID. Limitations, including reliance on indirect data and limited generalisability, highlight the need for future studies using direct observational measures and broader samples.

Target Audience: Behaviour Analysts

Learning Objectives:

BACB CE Instructor:

Challenging Tradition: The Case for Constructional Exposure Therapy for Real World Results

Oliver B. Roschke & Bridget Knights

Lojic

Abstract: High drop-out rates, reports of discomfort and trauma, and evidence of new side effects following treatment all suggest that a new approach to exposure therapy is needed (Moritz et al., 2015). Although exposure therapy is currently considered the "gold standard" for treating anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, and other related conditions, it often focuses on reducing presenting concerns by increasing tolerance to distressing stimuli (Abramowitz et al., 2019), thereby relying on the prolonged exposure to aversive events.

This presentation examines a promising alternative to traditional exposure therapy, based on Goldiamond’s constructional approach, and Rosales-Ruiz’s pioneering research in constructional exposure therapy (CET) (Goldiamond, 2022; Katz & Rosales-Ruiz, 2022). A key difference in CET is that the procedure reinforces the avoidance or escape of the aversive stimulus, rather than increasing exposure to it, therefore allowing the participant increased choice and control over the progression of treatment. This case presentation will compare traditional and constructional exposure therapy, summarize the evidence base, and show how targeted CET training and gradual shaping helped a 14-year-old in out-of-home care transition from avoiding medical professionals and exhibiting harmful behaviours toward emergency services to willingly engaging with healthcare providers.

Target Audience: Mental health and behavioral therapy professionals supporting individuals with aversion

Learning Objective: At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

Identify key conceptual and practical differences between Constructional Exposure Therapy (CET) and traditional forms of exposure therapy and desensitization training.
Identify key differences between constructional- and pathological orientations and how these apply to the delivery of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
Critically evaluate current exposure therapy methods and the ethical implications of utilising negative reinforcement rather than positive reinforcement.
Describe key steps involved in Constructional Exposure Therapy (CET)

BACB CE Instructor: Oliver B. Roschke