Functional communication training (FCT) represents perhaps the most researched behavioral intervention for reducing challenging behavior exhibited by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder. Its utility has been demonstrated across clinical populations to address a wide variety of challenging behavior topographies incorporating a number of alternative response modalities. To implement, FCT requires a two-step process including (1) identification of the function for the concerning challenging behavior, and (2) differential reinforcement of an appropriate communicative response using the reinforcer(s) identified in step 1. The current presentation will cover several of the key concepts related to this process. The first part of this presentation will focus on the functional behavior assessment of challenging behavior and how its results inform the development of communication-based intervention. The second part of this presentation will cover the basics of intervention design, including alternative response selection, teaching the alternative response (when necessary), and reinforcement schedules to consider.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify how the results of a functional behavior assessment informs FCT design.
- Be able to describe how an alternative response, not already in the individual's repertoire, can be taught and subsequently included in FCT.
- Identify how an individual's ability to exhibit an alternative response with no to limited prompting impacts the likely initial success of FCT as an intervention.
About the Presenter
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Course information
- Title: Less Meltdown, More Message: A Beginner's Guide to FCT
- Presenter: Joel E. Ringdahl BCBA, Ph.D., MA
- Date: Tuesday, March 24th, 2026
- CEUs: 2 Learning
- Time: 9:00 AM Pacific
- Duration: 1 hour and 40 minutes
