Student Research Symposium Program Portal: Submission #186

Abstract Bluey is a 3-year-old girl with autism who has difficulty communicating, playing with others, and staying safe. She often has vocal outbursts, such as screaming, yelling, or crying. These outbursts usually happen when she is asked to do something, when she has to stop a fun activity, or when a toy does not work the way she expects. Because of these behaviors, it is harder for her teachers and therapists to teach her new skills and keep sessions running smoothly. Observations showed that her outbursts might help her avoid tasks, get back a preferred toy, or make adults move away. A functional analysis was used to figure out which of these reasons best explains why Bluey’s outbursts happen.