You Got to Fight, For Your Right To Party: Compassionate Behavior Supports in Adult Services

1 General CEU

Course Abstract: Explore a practical, behavior-analytic approach to supporting adults in complex service settings. This presentation examines both individual behavior and staff behavior, helping teams understand how control, uncertainty, medical concerns, learning history, family context, and environmental conditions can affect quality of life.

Participants will learn the importance of selecting function-based strategies that Direct Support Professionals can understand, use independently, and sustain during everyday routines. The training includes hypothetical case studies to practice using a constructional approach. Walk away with a clearer framework for treatment decisions, staff support, and individualized behavior plans that promote safety, dignity, and quality of life.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze how control and uncertainty affect the behavior of both people receiving support and staff.
• Describe problem-solving steps and constructional perspective for individual behavior, staff behavior, medical variables, and environmental conditions.
• Evaluate behavior treatment components that support staff implementation in complex adult services.

Presenter Bios:
Kelly Bryson, MA, BCBA lives in Irmo, SC with her husband and a somewhat empty nest. She graduated from the University of Florida (BA Psychology, 1999) and from the University of West Florida (MS Exceptional Student Education, 2014). She is currently enrolled in the Special Education Ph. D Program (Research and Teaching) at The University of South Carolina. She has worked as a behavior analyst since 2014 with children in home, clinic, and school settings. For the last 8 years, she has supported adults with lifelong disabilities in group homes and vocational sites at The Babcock Center in Columbia, South Carolina. In her current role as the Director of Behavior Supports, Kelly and her team support over 325 adults in community-based settings. Her areas of professional competence include: improving quality of life, supporting adults in community-based settings, organizational behavior management and staff training for over 500 employees, supervision. Kelly loves weekly pottery class, listening to live music, and paddle boarding.

Beth Ann Daily, M. Ed., BCBA, graduated from Columbia College (BA Behavioral Science and Psychology, 2016), the University of Georgia (M. Ed., Educational Psychology, 2021) and Florida Institute of Technology (ABA Coursework, 2021). She has worked with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in home, school, and community settings since 2013. In her current role as Lead Behavior Analyst, Beth Ann alongside her colleagues supports over 325 adults in community-based settings. Her areas of professional competence include: supporting adults in advocating for their human rights, staff training for over 500 employees, and organizational behavior management. Beth Ann currently lives in Columbia, SC with her husband and 3 daughters. She loves live music, traveling with her family, and true crime.