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As part of the new ABA initiative funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services for children 0-18, three siblings diagnosed on the autism spectrum (Two with Autism, and the third brother has a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome) were provided service simultaneously. All 3 Participants required support for aberrant behaviour (elopement, physical aggression, and hand-flapping). DRA procedures and a group contingency were used for all three siblings to reduce the undesired behaviour and increase the use of alternate behaviours using a mediator model. The mother of the children collected all necessary program data and implemented specific task analyzed program plans. Implementation of both the DRA and group contingency demonstrated an increase in the use of alternate behaviour when compared to both baseline and previous treatment program phases in two out three of the cases.

Participant 1: Mean of less than one incidence of elopement per day at the end of measured DRA and Group Contingency Phase. Participant 2: Participant was able to avoid engaging in motor stereotypy for up to 60 minutes while in a public setting. Participant 3: Mean of 2 incidences of aggression per day at the end of measured DRA and Group Contingency Phase. After implementation of the group contingency, new untrained desired behaviour also occurred, i.e. the Parent of all three participants noted that during the group contingency phase, the siblings would prompt one another to engage in desired behaviour and provide verbal praise to one another for meeting targets. 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Participant 1 A DRA Procedure (Vollmer, 1999) was used to train this participant to replace his elopement behaviour with a functional skill (holding his Mother’s Hand) during transitions. A token economy system was utilized to provide him with immediate reinforcement when he engaged in desired behaviour. Verbal prompts were used to facilitate the Participant’s hand-holding behaviour. Desired behaviour was prompted verbally by Participant’s Parent before all transitions. Participant 2 A DRA Procedure was used to train this participant to replace his motor stereotypy with functional behaviour, i.e. Playing catch, clapping hands, high fives, playing on monkey bars, squeezing hands, holding shopping bags, holding a railing, pushing a shopping cart with both hands. Desired behaviour was prompted verbally by Participant’s Parent before leaving the family home. Absence of motor stereotypy was reinforced with verbal praise after pre-determined increments of time. Participant 3 A DRA Procedure was used to train this participant to engage in appropriate behaviour to reduce physical aggression in the form of hitting other people when denied access to preferred items and activities. A token economy system was used to provide the Participant with immediate reinforcement when he engaged in desired behaviour in the presence of noted antecedents to aggression. Desired behaviour was prompted verbally by participant’s parent when an antecedent to aggression (i.e. ending of a preferred activity) was present. Group Contingency A Group Contingency Program (Lloyd, 1996) was implemented after DRA Procedures has already been implemented with Participant 1 and 2. The Group Contingency Program involved additional reinforcement being provided to all three siblings for meeting specified behaviour targets for desired behaviour at frequencies determined by the parent. All three siblings were all required to meet the agreed upon targets before additional reinforcement was supplied.

Follow-Up Data was collected by the Parent Mediator after discharge from ABA Services. Generalization of program principles and continued use of DRA and Group Contingency Programs by the Mediator was reviewed during the follow-up period.

Participant 1: Goal: Decrease instances of elopement behaviour when transitioning to non-preferred activities by 50% (4 times/week): Baseline of 8 times/week. RC will engage in the suitable replacement behaviour (hold Mom`s hand) 4 times in a 7 day period. Hypothesized Function of Elopement: Escape Participant 2: Goal: Participant will engage in socially appropriate behaviour in the absence of motor stereotypy (hand flapping) for 10 consecutive minutes in public places. Alternate Behaviours: Playing catch, clapping hands, high fives, playing on monkey bars, squeezing hands, holding shopping bags, holding a railing, pushing a shopping cart with both hands. Hypothesized Function of Motor Stereotypy: Sensory Participant 3: Goal: Participant will use an alternative behaviour, i.e. twisting a towel, squeezing a pillow, lying down, doing push-ups, relaxing in his room, reading, playing a board game, in replacement of aggressive behaviour 15 times/day and frequency of aggression will decrease to 15-24 times/day. Hypothesized Function of Aggression: Access to Tangible Reinforcement

Vollmer, T, & Athens, E. (2010). An Investigation of Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior Without Extinction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43, 569-589. Vollmer, T, et al. (1999). Evaluating Treatment Challenges With Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 9-23. Lloyd, J.W., et al. (1996). Group vs. Individual Reinforcement Contingencies Within the Context of Group Study Conditions. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29, 189-200. Speltz, M.L., et al. (1982). Procedural Variations in Group Contingencies: Effects on Children’s Academic and Social Behaviors. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 15, 533-544.

DRA and Group Contingency strategies can be utilized concurrently to decrease aberrant behaviour and increase desired, functional behaviour.

It is possible for one mediator to utilize two combined programs to train more than one sibling simultaneously and be successful in meeting goals. DRA and Group Contingency Procedures can be used to increase more than one desired behaviour across multiple participants and reduce multiple aberrant behaviours with different hypothesized functions.

Group contingencies can facilitate socially appropriate behaviour (i.e. siblings prompting and reinforcing one another to engage in desired behaviour). DRA and Group Contingency Procedures can be used to increase more than one desired behaviour across multiple participants and reduce multiple aberrant behaviours with different hypothesized functions.