Demand fading is used when escape-maintained challenging behaviour is severe enough that the learner cannot access instruction at all. Demand fading starts by dropping the expectations down to near zero. You find a level of demand that the learner will readily accept without engaging in challenging behaviour, and then you very slowly increase the amount or difficulty of the work over time.

You use this when a learner's escape-maintained behaviour is so severe or frequent that they are unable to access learning. If every worksheet results in a meltdown, you stop presenting the worksheet. You might start by just having them sit at the table for five seconds, then reinforce. Next week, it is sitting at the table and writing their name. You're systematically building their tolerance for instructional demands.

Where practitioners struggle is moving too fast. If you increase the demands and the challenging behaviour returns, you have faded too quickly and need to drop back to the previous successful step. Practitioners also struggle with the initial phase of removing demands entirely, feeling like the learner is 'getting away with it'. You have to rebuild the instructional relationship before you can teach academic skills.

Implementation

Identify the specific demands that reliably trigger challenging behaviour.

Reduce the demands to a level where the learner is 100% successful and compliant.

Provide high rates of reinforcement for completing these minimal demands.

Systematically increase the number or difficulty of demands in very small increments.

If challenging behaviour occurs, drop back to the previously successful demand level.

Implementation

Common Mistakes