Impact of Legislated Quality Assurance Measures on Interventions and Challenging Behaviour in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

2-Nov-2020 (published in the Journal on Developmental Disabilities)

Our Lake Ridge Team recently had a manuscript published in the Journal on Developmental Disabilities. Lake Ridge values the importance of evidence-based research and evaluation and supports our clinicians contributing to our field through our clinical activities.

Read the abstract and click the link below to read the full paper.

Abstract

Persons with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at risk for challenging behaviour (e.g., self-injury, aggression, destruction) and several evidence-based interventions exist. Ontario recently mandated Quality Assurance Measures (QAMs) governing the design and implementation of Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs) for challenging behaviour in individuals with ID receiving government funded adult residential and day supports. This study evaluated the impact of QAM-compliant BSPs on challenging behaviour and staff use of intrusive procedures in 14 adults living in community group homes. Challenging behaviour, PRN (as needed) medication and restraint use decreased over a 12-month period. Staff viewed the new BSPs favourably. These preliminary findings support the value of legislated measures to improve interventions for adults with ID and challenging behaviour.