Understanding Behavior

Behavior as communication

All behavior serves a function. Nobody behaves in a challenging way just to be challenging. There is always something behind it. For neurodivergent people — especially those with limited verbal communication — behaviors like meltdowns, shutdowns, aggression, or self-injury are often the clearest way to communicate distress, pain, overwhelm, or an unmet need. The behavior is not the problem. It is the signal.

What is a Functional Behavior Assessment?

A Functional Behavior Assessment, or FBA, is a process to figure out why a specific behavior is happening. A trained professional gathers information and looks for patterns. What happens right before the behavior? What happens right after? What is the person trying to get or avoid? Once you understand the reason for a behavior, you can actually help. Without that understanding, you are mostly guessing.

Positive Behavior Support

Positive Behavior Support (PBS) is a neurodiversity-affirming approach that focuses on understanding the function of behavior and building environments and skills that reduce the need for the behavior — rather than punishing or suppressing it. It respects the whole person and works collaboratively with families and schools.