ID/DD stands for Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities. 

Standards used for determining an intellectual/developmental disability are diagnosed before the age of 18.  

A Behavior Support Specialist, or Behavior Professional, is a person that is highly skilled in understanding the functions of human behavior, and the correlating factors that impact a person's ability to regulate their emotions.

Behavior Professionals specialize in developing creative supports to assist a person with ID/DD. These supports often focus on creating structured and predictable environments. This may include developing independent or cued coping skills, schedules, routines, directions for DSPs/PSWs/Guardians on how to effectively communicate with the individual, or other alternative behaviors as appropriate. 

Most often Behavior Professionals are also certified as Oregon Intervention System instructors, this allows Behavior Professionals to authorize the use of OIS Protective Physical Interventions when necessary to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved.

I started my career in the Intellectual and Developmental Disability field when I was 18 years old, though my community roots go much further than that. 

I worked as a Direct Support Professional for a local non-profit agency for roughly 6 years. In 2014, I was invited to apply for a position as a Behavior Professional. Turned out it was the exact right path for me! 

Over the course of the next 8 years, I developed a skill set focused on specific ID/DD and other Neurodivergent Disabilities; as well as an emphasis on the importance of competent and cohesive training for Behavior Professionals. 

Unfortunately, No Evolved Behavior Resources does not offer Applied Behavioral Analysis services, Oregon allows for a few different Behavior modification methodologies, ABA is an option.

EBR does however, offer Positive Behavior Support services - this methodology focuses on understanding the correlating factors that impact a person's life. Factors such as their biological, sociological and psychological health, Trauma, or other environmental factors. PBSS attempts to create supports that enhance the person's quality of life as much as possible while also reducing the potential impact their behavior may have on themselves or others. 

Below are the general steps and best practices for the Choice Counseling process. These are not EBR specific policies. 

1) Identify The Need.
The Person receiving support services, their guardian (if they have one), their county case manager, and any other person on the Individualized Support Plan team have identified the need for a Behavior Professional to be brought in.

2) Review Available Providers
Access the Oregon Behavior Professional (Find a Behavior Professional) Website; this will provide you a list of every certified Behavior Professional in the state. Depending on your location in the state you can filter the search results to only include professionals in your area, or if you are willing; Oregon allows for Telecommunication Behavior services to be offered, where interactions would take place via phone, video calls and email.  This website will provide the contact information for the professional in your search results. Generally the County case manager or the Parent/guardian of the person will contact the professional.

3) Interview & Choose A Professional.
It is generally best practice that several Behavior Professionals are interviewed prior to making a choice on who will provide the service. This is called choice counseling and is an important aspect of Positive Behavior Supports. It allows for everyone involved to ensure that the professional is the right fit for the person supported and their ISP team.

4) Re-evaluate As Needed. 
The Person receiving support services, their guardian (if they have one), their county case manager, and any other person on the Individualized Support Plan team can identify the need for a new Behavior Professional to be brought in at anytime.