Functional behaviour assessments

A person with a thought bubble writing on a clipboard. Inside of the thought bubble is a person pointing at themselves.

In this bulletin, we also look at functional behaviour assessments.

A functional behaviour assessment is a way to learn about a person’s behaviour.

This includes learning about:

3 people in a park. One person is in a wheelchair.

  • how an environment can affect a person’s behaviour

A person raising their hand and pointing at themselves. Above them is a thought bubble.

  • a person’s experiences

A person supporting someone else. Above them is a question mark.

  • what supports a person needs.

A person with their arms folded across their chest. They look upset. Next to them is a cross and a magnifying glass.

This means a functional behaviour assessment should not just focus on a person’s behaviour.

A person looking concerned and a problem icon.

A functional behaviour assessment helps us understand why a person might have behaviours of concern.

A person with their hand raised and a problem icon above them. Next to them is a group of people with a problem icon above them as well.

Behaviours of concern are things someone does that might put:

  • themselves in danger
  • other people in danger.

A person raising their hand. Above them is an importance icon inside a speech bubble.

This is how a person might communicate that something in their environment isn’t supporting what they need.

3 people having a conversation.

The person doing the functional behaviour assessment should work together with the person with disability and the people around them.

2 people pointing to themselves. Above them is a glowing lightbulb.

This will make sure the functional behaviour assessment includes their ideas and experiences.

A person supporting someone in a wheelchair. Above the person in a wheelchair is an importance icon inside a speech bubble.

Working together can help everyone to understand what support:

  • a person needs
  • the people around them need.

A calendar showing days of the months. Some of the days have a tick next to them.

A functional behaviour assessment must happen often.

2 people and a change icon. One person is pointing at themselves and raising their hand. They are also in a wheelchair.

This is because:

  • parts of a person’s life can change
  • the supports they need can change.