Antecedent Strategies

Antecedent Strategies are interventions staff will do prior to behavior. These strategies are a redesign of the environment and serve the purpose of decreasing motivation to demonstrate problem behavior in order to access sensory stimulation (automatic reinforcement).

• Non-contingent access: proactively provide student access to sensory stimulation (automatic reinforcement) on a routine basis

• Incompatible behaviors: consider prompting the student to engage in a preferred task/activity that is incompatible if the sensory stimulation (automatic reinforcement) is not appropriate at that time

  • *Not appropriate meaning it is interfering with the learning of others (i.e., volume, rapid movement, etc.), is unsafe, or should be done in private

• Enhanced predictability measures: clarify expectations for when student can access sensory stimulation or automatic reinforcement

  • First, then

  • Visual Schedules

  • Token or "working for" strip

    • *When considering enhanced predictability measures, the response effort, wait time, or required work activities required must meet the student where they are at - must be easily attainable and commensurate with the student's current abilities

• Embed the sensory stimulation (automatic reinforcement) into the instruction or activity whenever possible