Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) is an educational and systems-change based approach utilizing principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and aimed at creating supportive environments that foster social, educational, and developmental growth for individuals with special needs.

Assessment information is gathered that helps to better understand the individual and the function of their challenging behavior; from that assessment, support strategies and plans are developed that help prevent challenging behavior; while a program of skill development is also put in place to help replace the challenging behavior with positive skills that appropriately achieve the desired outcome.

• PBS is a collaborative, assessment-based process to develop effective, individualized interventions for individuals with challenging behavior. Support plans focus on proactive and educative approaches.
  
  
• PBS emerged out of the dissatisfaction regarding traditional methods for addressing serious behavior problems which were often too narrowly defined, focused primarily on negative or reactive consequences, were intrusive and not appropriate to integrated settings, and were largely ineffective in helping people to realize meaningful changes in behavior and lifestyles.
  
  
• Instead, PBS incorporates current trends in research and practice that emphasize designing positive and effective interventions that are based on a comprehensive assessment of the variables affecting a person’s behavior.
  
  
• PBS evolved in the field of developmental disabilities from 3 major sources:
  
    1.  Applied Behavior Analysis
    2.   The Normalization/Inclusion Movement
    3.   Person-Centered Values
  
  
• PBS provides a framework for:
  
    »  Assessing the “function” of behavior (Functional Behavior Analysis)
    »  Developing interventions and positive supports prior to the occurrence of       problematic behavior
    »  Teaching replacement skills
    »  Monitoring data and revising interventions as necessary
  
  
• PBS operates through a 3-step process that can be understood through the rubric:

UNDERSTAND – PREVENT – REPLACE