Care and Treatment of Offenders with Learning Disability

1. Care and Treatment of Offenders with Learning Disability

2. Services for People with Special Needs 1960’s and before Large institutions (5000 people and more) Little concern regarding the rights of the people served. Atrocities in the name of behavior management. Behavior modification appears in institutions: Largely exploratory as there is an attempt to move strategies from animal labs to community Time of behavioral experimentatikonBehavior modification appears in institutions: Largely exploratory as there is an attempt to move strategies from animal labs to community Time of behavioral experimentatikon

3. 1970’s Greater awareness of rights of people with special needs. Landmark legislation Continued reports of rights violations (Sunland Center)

4. Late 1970’s and 1980’s a plethora so service options begin to appear: group homes, independent living, parent training, respite services, supported living, supported work, etc. Cherry picking People with few behavior challenges Noncompliance Tantrums Traditional approaches to behavior challenges – largely punishmentTraditional approaches to behavior challenges – largely punishment

5. Late 1980’s and 1990’s Big push to depopulate institutions (largely cost cutting) People with behavior challenges move into community 50 leave and 70 return (Personal communication) Community not prepared for people with behavior challenges “I told you so!!!” This was the time of the great debates: Aversives vs Non-aversivesThis was the time of the great debates: Aversives vs Non-aversives

6. Late 1990’s 2000’s Those remaining in institutions People with serious medical problems People with severe behavior challenges People with special needs and forensic backgrounds: assault, theft, Pedophilia. People determined to be a danger to self and others. People who refuse to show remorse. People who refuse to learn from the consequences. Today, there is ongoing resistance toward placement of people with special needs and forensic backgrounds into the communithyToday, there is ongoing resistance toward placement of people with special needs and forensic backgrounds into the communithy

7. Linear Model Many attempts to move people with severe behavior challenges / forensic backgrounds into the community. Many failures (Lack of commitment.) The problem!!!! Linear Model to Services A------?B-----?C Overreliance on consequences Don’t believe it will work!!!