Preference-Based Teaching: Helping People with Developmental Disabilities Enjoy Learning without Problem Behavior

This book describes how to make teaching programs enjoyable for learners with autism and other developmental disabilities. By making teaching programs enjoyable, problem behavior that many learners display during teaching programs is prevented; learners have no reason to act out to avoid or escape teaching sessions. A step-by-step approach for making the teaching process a preferred activity for learners with even the most significant disabilities is described. Using evidence-based strategies developed through research and application, specific strategies are presented for establishing rapport with a learner so the learner enjoys working with the teacher, timing the scheduling of teaching sessions to enhance enjoyment, tailoring teaching procedures to individual learner preferences, and providing preferred events and choices during the teaching process.

Dennis Reid and Carolyn Green have over 55 years of combined experience involving teaching programs for learners with autism and cognitive disabilities, and have published over 100 applied research articles in the developmental disabilities field.