Reducing the frequency of aggressive behaviors for students with disabilities

Aggressive outbursts displayed by individuals with disabilities continues to be an area of concern for families, schools, and society. Students with emotional/ behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disabilities tend to have the most difficulty regulating their behaviors. Property damage, staff/peer injury, failure to adjust in the community, and high cost services are poor outcomes for individuals with disabilities and their families where aggressive behavior is present. This article examines the research around the interventions that are possible when working on improving the behavioral outcomes for students with disabilities in school and community settings. Specific strategies will be outlined which include teaching positive behavior through social stories, teaching social skills in group settings, and using social stories with video modeling to improve behavior. Current research is examined and presented so that educators around the world can learn and implement the best ways to support students with significant behavioral issues and their families.