Using System of Least Prompts to Teach Self-Help Skills to Students Who Are Deafblind

• Published in: Research and practice for persons with severe disabilities 2024-06, Vol.49 (2), p.107-125
• Main Authors: Grattan, Jill, Demchak, MaryAnn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1540-7969; 2169-2408
• DOI: 10.1177/15407969241231204

To date, no evidence-based practices are identified for working with students who are deafblind (DB). No evidence-based practices have been identified for teaching basic self-help skills such as dressing. The present study examined the efficacy of an intervention package including the system of least prompts (SLP; i.e., SLP and least-to-most prompting), visual cues, and reinforcement to teach three self-help skills (i.e., wash hands, dry hands, entry routine) to four participants, ages 3-5 years, with vision and hearing impairments and multiple disabilities. A multiple probe across behaviors design, replicated across participants, was used to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention package including SLP to teach self-help skills. Three of four participants increased their independence for all targeted self-help skills. A functional relation is indicated for three of four participants and provides promising evidence for use of SLP in teaching individuals with multiple disabilities that include DB.