The initial Positive Behavior Support Standards of Practice: Individual Level was adopted by the Association for Positive Behavior Supports (APBS) Board of Directors in March 2007. Over the years the practices associated with positive behavior support have evolved as our field improves on how to best serve and improve the quality of life for individuals as evidenced by the APBS Mission, Vision, and Equity Statement. To address the diverse needs of the APBS membership and field, a multidisciplinary team of 15 members from two countries met over the course of a year (March 2022-March 2023). In March of 2023, APBS officially endorsed the 2023 Practice Guidelines which serve as a board set of guidelines designed to be applied across a wide range of settings (school, home, community) and with diverse populations.
These practice guidelines are intended to apply across the breadth and depth of the field of positive behavior support. These practice guidelines serve as “guideposts,” reflecting the values of what APBS believes is critical to the practice of positive behavior support. In an attempt to streamline language while at the same time valuing the range of disciplines within positive behavior support, the committee identified the following terms to represent the breadth of application within this field: Collaborator groups: this term includes, but is not limited to, individuals, families, community members, agencies, and school personnel.
Thank you to the Practice Guidelines Committee:
Sara McDaniel and Shanna Hirsch, Co-Chairs
Linda Bambara
Susan Barrett
Molly Dellinger-Wray
Randall De Pry
Rachel Freeman
Alejandra Gallego
Jennifer Jeffrey-Pearsall
Edwin Jones
Sarah Leitch
Erika McDowell
Kent McIntosh
Margaret Moore
Virginia Walker