V. Mark Durand, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.

A well-written, practical summary of the most recent and most exciting advances in functional communication training....This book will be a valuable resource for families, teachers, clinicians, and researchers....Dr. Durand is to be congratulated for this excellent, timely contribution.--Robert H. Horner, Ph.D.Durand's seminal work represents the `new wave' in the treatment of behavioral problems....The approach enables one to get `inside the head' of the behaviorally troubled individual through a most comprehensive assessment and treatment program.--Robert Gaylord-Ross, Ph.D. - Durand takes the reader step by step through chapters dealing with assessment, limitations, intervention strategies, and administrative issues....It is a cohesive book suitable for a wide range of professionals. --Contemporary Psychology, 11/3/1990ƒƒ A valuable resource for practitioners in offering a concise, step-by-step, concrete, yet scientifically based approach to the assessment and intervention of challenging behaviors. --Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 11/3/1990

• 1. Introduction, Terminology, Intervention approach, Assumptions, Scientist practitioner model, beyond communication training, Compatibility with applied behaviour analysis, 2. Severe behaviour problems, Influences on problem behaviour, Problem behaviour as communication., intervention design, review of intervention literature. 3. Assessment, Jonathan, Defining Problem behaviour, Should you it you intervene? Assessing influences on problem behaviour, Reinforce are assessment, 4. Pre intervention considerations, Obstacles to communication training, What and where to teach? 5. Intervention strategies, Teaching requests for assistance/escape, Teaching requests for attention, Teaching requests for tangibles, Teaching requests for alternate sensory activities, Multiple motivations, Response-Independent consequences, Conclusion. 6. Administrative issues and evaluation plans, Addressing administrative issues, Designing a valuation plan, Epilogue.