FCT

Functional communication training (FCT) is a great teaching method not only for professionals, but parents, caregivers, and teachers. Think about how a child communicates their wants and needs. Do they grab your hand and lead you to an item? Do they exemplify behaviours such as running away, screaming, and/or crying to gain access to something? Sometimes when children engage in a particular behaviour, it’s in connection with communication. We use FCT as a platform to shape appropriate communication exchanges to decrease maladaptive behaviours.

FCT teaches an appropriate replacement behaviour to increase communication amongst the individual and those around them. Communication systems may vary and should be determined based on your child’s needs and communication level. Systems and functions of behaviours are best determined by a variety of professionals (BCBA, SLP) and work in conjunction with one another.

Common ways to use FCT in a variety of settings is visual prompts, schedules and textuals. This is a signal to the learner that they are required to use another tool in order to gain access to a preferred item/object.

For example, in a classroom or during therapy a learner may have a communication schedule that they can indicate or speak to as an appropriate response, opposed to an alternative (screaming out in class, grabbing an item without asking, seeking help etc.).

The key to FCT is consistency and implementation. Ensure that resources are consistent across settings and that demands are achievable and reasonable for the learner. Teaching is an important part of the application process and can take time but will yield positive results over the course of training. 

Written by: Angela Armstrong & Carlina Longworth