Chapter 14
Beyond Behaviour: A Case of Social Intervention Strategies for a Student With Challenging Behaviours
by Brian Kelly and Jeff den Otter
As the integration of students with special needs has developed, people have come to realize that, in order to be successful, an integrated structure must he built on three components: physical factors, curricular factors and social factors. Social factors affecting strategies of inclusion are a unique challenge and they need attention equal to that given to curricular and physical concerns. In the following pages we describe the strategies used to increase the social integration of a girl who has extremely challenging behaviours. Her example illustrates the fact that effective intervention strategies can improve the relationships and the lives of all children with special needs.
SUE
This is the story of Sue, a young girl with special needs who had been attending her neighbourhood school for four years. Even in a school district with a five-year history of inclusion, Sue was considered an exception because of her extremely challenging behaviours. And despite the regular classroom setting, there were concerns that her life differed too much from that of her peers.
