Greg Hanley’s “My Way” Protocol: A Comprehensive Overview
Greg Hanley, a distinguished BCBA-D, pioneered the “My Way” protocol, centering on Functional Communication Requests (FCRs) and Delay Training, readily available as PDF downloads.
This innovative approach, detailed in freely accessible tutorials, offers practical guidance for functional assessment and skill-based treatment within Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
The protocol’s resources, including data sheets, empower practitioners to effectively implement strategies for addressing challenging behaviors and fostering adaptive skills.
What is the “My Way” Protocol?
The “My Way” Protocol, developed by Greg Hanley, represents a significant advancement in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), shifting the focus from simply reducing problem behaviors to proactively teaching functional communication skills. It’s a comprehensive, skill-based approach, often accessed through PDF resources detailing its core components.
Unlike traditional methods, “My Way” prioritizes understanding why a behavior occurs – the function it serves for the individual – before implementing interventions. This understanding is achieved through open-ended functional assessment interviews, a cornerstone of the protocol.
Central to “My Way” is the concept of Functional Communication Requests (FCRs), teaching individuals to directly ask for what they need, replacing problematic behaviors with effective communication. The protocol also heavily utilizes Delay Training, building tolerance for waiting and reducing impulsive reactions. Numerous tutorials and downloadable materials, including presentations like “My Way Protocol and SBT- Part 1 .pptx”, provide detailed guidance for implementation.
The Core Principles of Functional Communication Training (FCT) within “My Way”
Functional Communication Training (FCT) is central to Greg Hanley’s “My Way” Protocol, and detailed guidance is available in accessible PDF formats. The core principle revolves around replacing challenging behaviors with more appropriate, communicative responses that serve the same function.
“My Way” emphasizes identifying the motivation behind the behavior – is it access to tangibles, attention, escape from demands, or sensory stimulation? Once identified, FCT teaches a specific request (the FCR) to obtain that desired outcome.
Crucially, the protocol stresses reinforcing any communicative attempt, even if imperfect, initially. Delay Training is interwoven, teaching tolerance for waiting for the reinforcer, preventing escalation. The goal isn’t simply to suppress the problem behavior, but to equip the individual with a functional skill, fostering independence and reducing reliance on maladaptive strategies. Tutorials further clarify these principles.
Gregory P. Hanley’s Background and Contributions to ABA
Gregory P. Hanley, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D), is a highly respected figure in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and his work is often available as PDF resources. He’s renowned for his practical, skill-based approach to addressing challenging behaviors, moving beyond traditional suppression techniques.
Dr. Hanley’s significant contributions include the development of the “My Way” protocol, emphasizing Functional Communication Training (FCT) and Delay Training. He champions a data-driven, individualized approach, prioritizing understanding the function of behavior before intervention.
His freely available tutorials and materials, including detailed guides and data sheets, have democratized access to effective ABA practices. Dr. Hanley’s work focuses on building communicative competence and adaptive skills, ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals and families. His influence extends through training and mentorship within the ABA community.
Understanding Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) in the “My Way” Approach
Hanley’s “My Way” utilizes open-ended interviews, a key FBA component, often found in PDF guides, to pinpoint behavior functions and guide effective interventions.
Open-Ended Functional Assessment Interviews
Gregory P. Hanley emphasizes open-ended functional assessment interviews as a cornerstone of the “My Way” protocol, often detailed within downloadable PDF resources.
These interviews diverge from traditional, structured assessments, prioritizing a conversational approach to uncover the complexities surrounding problem behaviors.
The goal isn’t to confirm pre-conceived hypotheses, but rather to allow caregivers to freely describe the behaviors, the preceding events, and the subsequent consequences.
Specifically, practitioners ask broad questions like, “What happens right before the behavior?” and “What typically happens after the behavior?” to understand the ecological context.
This method, readily explained in Hanley’s tutorials and accompanying materials, aims to identify the maintaining functions – attention, escape, access to tangibles, or automatic reinforcement – driving the behavior.
The information gathered forms the foundation for developing targeted, skill-based interventions.
Identifying the Function of Problem Behavior
Within Greg Hanley’s “My Way” protocol, detailed in accessible PDF guides, identifying the function of problem behavior is paramount for effective intervention.
This process moves beyond simply describing the behavior to understanding why it occurs, linking it to specific consequences.
The four primary functions are attention, escape/avoidance, access to tangibles, and automatic reinforcement – each requiring a distinct treatment approach.
Data collected from open-ended interviews, alongside direct observation, helps determine which function is maintaining the behavior.
For example, if a behavior consistently leads to the removal of a demand, escape is likely the function; if it results in receiving a desired item, access is probable.
Hanley’s resources emphasize that accurately pinpointing the function is crucial for designing skill-based treatment plans that address the underlying motivation.
The Role of Delay Training in “My Way”
Greg Hanley’s “My Way” protocol, comprehensively outlined in available PDF materials, strategically incorporates Delay Training as a core component of skill-based treatment.
Delay Training isn’t about eliminating requests; it’s about teaching tolerance for waiting and building communication skills in the presence of motivation.
Initially, all requests are honored immediately, then gradually, brief delays are introduced, increasing incrementally as the learner demonstrates success.
This systematic approach prevents escalation and teaches the individual that requesting appropriately will eventually result in access, even if not instantly.
Hanley’s tutorials highlight that the goal is to create a communication system that is reliable and predictable, reducing problem behavior driven by frustration.
Proper implementation, guided by the protocol’s resources, ensures the delays are manageable and don’t inadvertently punish the requesting behavior.
Skill-Based Treatment (SBT) and its Implementation
Greg Hanley’s “My Way” protocol, detailed in PDF resources, emphasizes Skill-Based Treatment (SBT) – proactively teaching adaptive skills to replace problem behaviors effectively.
Components of Skill-Based Treatment
Skill-Based Treatment (SBT), central to Greg Hanley’s “My Way” protocol – accessible via PDF materials – fundamentally shifts the focus from simply reducing problem behaviors to actively building a repertoire of adaptive skills.
This approach prioritizes teaching individuals what to do instead of solely suppressing what not to do. Key components include identifying skill deficits driving the problem behavior and then designing targeted instruction to address those gaps.
SBT emphasizes teaching functional communication requests (FCRs), allowing individuals to directly access desired outcomes in a socially appropriate manner. Furthermore, it incorporates strategies for teaching tolerance of delays, promoting flexibility and reducing impulsive responding.
The ultimate goal is to equip individuals with the skills necessary to navigate their environment successfully and achieve their desired outcomes independently, leading to lasting positive change.
Teaching Functional Communication Requests (FCRs)
A cornerstone of Greg Hanley’s “My Way” protocol, detailed in downloadable PDF resources, is the systematic teaching of Functional Communication Requests (FCRs). This involves identifying the function of the problem behavior – what the individual is trying to achieve – and then teaching a more appropriate way to obtain that same outcome.
FCRs are typically taught using a discrete trial teaching format, starting with simple requests and gradually increasing complexity. The focus is on ensuring the individual understands that requesting, rather than engaging in problem behavior, reliably leads to reinforcement.
Crucially, FCR training incorporates delay training, teaching the individual to tolerate brief delays between making the request and receiving the desired item or activity. This builds resilience and reduces frustration, fostering long-term success.
Replacing Problem Behaviors with Adaptive Skills
Central to Greg Hanley’s “My Way” protocol, accessible through comprehensive PDF guides, is the proactive replacement of problem behaviors with functionally equivalent adaptive skills. This isn’t simply about suppressing unwanted actions; it’s about equipping the individual with effective alternatives to achieve their desired outcomes.
Skill-Based Treatment (SBT), a key component, focuses on teaching these adaptive skills – often FCRs – alongside implementing environmental modifications to prevent the problem behavior from being reinforced. The goal is to make the adaptive skill the more efficient and reliable pathway to reinforcement.
This process, detailed in Hanley’s tutorials, emphasizes a positive approach, prioritizing skill acquisition over punishment. By building a repertoire of adaptive skills, individuals gain greater control and independence, leading to lasting behavioral change.
Accessing “My Way” Resources and Materials
Greg Hanley’s “My Way” protocol offers extensive resources, including freely available tutorials and practical data sheets, often downloadable as convenient PDF files.
Availability of “My Way” Protocol as PDF Downloads
Greg Hanley’s “My Way” protocol materials are increasingly accessible through PDF downloads, offering a convenient and cost-effective way for practitioners to implement this innovative approach.
Resources like “My Way Protocol and SBT- Part 1 .pptx” are readily available online as PDF files, providing a comprehensive introduction to the core principles of Functional Communication Training (FCT) and Skill-Based Treatment (SBT).
Furthermore, a wealth of books, including older publications now in the public domain, can be found offering supplementary information and foundational knowledge related to behavior analysis and functional assessment.
These PDF resources empower professionals to deepen their understanding of the protocol and effectively address challenging behaviors, promoting positive outcomes for individuals seeking support.
The availability of these downloadable materials significantly expands access to Hanley’s groundbreaking work.
Greg Hanley Tutorials and Online Resources
Greg Hanley generously provides freely available tutorials detailing the practical functional assessment process and the skill-based treatment process central to the “My Way” protocol.
These online resources are invaluable for practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding and refine their implementation of FCT and SBT techniques.
Access to these tutorials complements the PDF downloads of protocol materials, offering a dynamic learning experience that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application.
The tutorials often feature detailed explanations, real-world examples, and step-by-step guidance, empowering professionals to confidently address challenging behaviors and promote adaptive skills.
These readily accessible resources demonstrate Hanley’s commitment to disseminating effective, evidence-based practices within the field of behavior analysis.
Data Sheets and Practical Implementation Tools
Essential to the “My Way” protocol’s success are the readily available data sheets and practical implementation tools, often found as PDF downloads alongside the core protocol documentation.
These tools facilitate systematic data collection, enabling practitioners to accurately monitor progress and make informed decisions regarding treatment adjustments.
GregHanleyMyWayDataSheet offers a comprehensive collection, supporting the implementation of Functional Communication Training (FCT) and Skill-Based Treatment (SBT).
These resources streamline the assessment and intervention process, ensuring fidelity to the protocol’s core principles and maximizing treatment effectiveness.
The availability of these practical tools empowers practitioners to efficiently deliver high-quality, evidence-based services to individuals with challenging behaviors.
Case Studies and Examples of “My Way” in Action
Greg Hanley’s “My Way” protocol shines through case studies like Theo’s, demonstrating simple FCR implementation, often detailed in accessible PDF resources.
Theo’s Example: Simple FCR “My Way”
Theo’s case exemplifies the “My Way” protocol’s simplicity and effectiveness, often documented in readily available PDF guides and tutorials by Greg Hanley.
Initially, Theo exhibited problem behaviors during transitions, specifically when asked to hold toys still or place an iPad face down. Through a functional communication request (FCR) approach, Theo learned to request “My Way please,” gaining choices of activity.
This FCR served as a replacement for disruptive behaviors, allowing Theo to communicate his preferences and desires appropriately. The intervention involved teaching Theo to request breaks from chores to complete other tasks, or to request time on the iPad, particularly when his brother was present.
This example highlights how “My Way” focuses on teaching functional communication skills to proactively address behavioral challenges, offering a positive and empowering alternative for individuals like Theo, with detailed implementation steps often found in downloadable resources.
Applying “My Way” to Various Behavioral Challenges
Greg Hanley’s “My Way” protocol, comprehensively outlined in accessible PDF materials and online tutorials, demonstrates remarkable versatility across diverse behavioral challenges.
Beyond scenarios like Theo’s, involving transitions and access to preferred items, the protocol effectively addresses aggression, self-injury, and elopement by pinpointing the function of the behavior.
The core principle involves identifying what the individual is attempting to communicate through the problem behavior and then teaching a more adaptive functional communication request (FCR) to achieve the same outcome.
This skill-based treatment (SBT) approach, detailed in downloadable resources, emphasizes proactive teaching of communication skills rather than solely relying on reactive consequence-based interventions, making it applicable to a wide spectrum of needs and settings.
Long-Term Outcomes and Effectiveness of the Protocol
The “My Way” protocol, with its readily available PDF guides and tutorials from Greg Hanley, consistently demonstrates positive long-term outcomes in reducing problem behaviors and enhancing quality of life.
Unlike traditional approaches focused solely on suppression, “My Way” prioritizes teaching functional communication skills, leading to more durable and generalized behavior change.
Data suggests that individuals who receive SBT, as detailed in the protocol’s resources, experience a significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of challenging behaviors over time.
Furthermore, the emphasis on understanding the function of behavior fosters a more empathetic and effective approach to intervention, promoting independence and adaptive skills, ultimately leading to sustained positive outcomes.