Grant: Operating Grant: Knowledge to Action

Biting and hitting oneself, ingesting inedible things, and punching or kicking others are some of the harmful, and even life-threatening, behaviours found in children and young adults with developmental disabilities. Special education teachers struggle to deal with these behaviors in their classrooms every day. Teachers need the most up-to-date and unbiased research knowledge on techniques that work, and to avoid techniques that do not work. Such knowledge exists, but it is neither easily accessible nor user-friendly. Researchers and teachers in this project will work in partnership to overcome these difficulties. Together, they will put into action and evaluate a process to translate sound scientific knowledge in reducing challenging behaviours so that the information will be presented in user-friendly language, easily accessible, and available to all teachers and related professionals. Teachers will be able to learn to apply effective techniques to reduce challenging behaviors, and in turn improve students' physical health and well-being. The process will have wide applications for translating scientific knowledge for professionals in other areas.