The following is a sample list of work a person could place in a portfolio. This work demonstrates knowledge, skills, and attitudes reviewed in this course. These activities indicate an advanced level understanding. They may take several weeks to complete. They are included as a resource for trainers, educators, and learners. All activities are directly linked to course content, but not all activities will apply to every learner's situation. Learners are not expected to complete all of these activities. A trainer, educator, or the learner may select one or more of these as a method of demonstrating competence. They can be adapted as needed.

In many cases, portfolios include samples of actual work the learner has accomplished. In all cases, the confidentiality of the individuals being supported must be respected. This means that learners should seek permission from persons being supported (and legal representatives as appropriate) to use the materials. In addition, learners must remove any names and identifying information from original documents (outside of their own names). When it is possible to identify a person from the materials, reviewers of the portfolio may ask for proof that permission has been obtained. The following are recommended portfolio options for the course on Positive Behavior Support.

• The direct support professional (DSP) includes an example of a behavior support plan (BSP) that he or she has implemented at his or her place of employment. The BSP is highlighted and annotated to show mastery of vocabulary related to behavioral interventions. If there are problems or issues with the BSP-for example, behaviors not described in observable terms or inaccurate use of terms, the DSP will use annotations to clarify these issues or concerns. The DSP includes a reflective statement in regards to whether the BSP is well-developed and effective in the actual environment. The statement would include what the DSP would change, if anything, about the BSP.
• The direct support professional (DSP) gathers examples and documentation of behavior exhibited by someone that he or she supports and that the DSP finds challenging. A summary statement is included that describes the behaviors in observable and measurable terms. The DSP identifies the antecedents and consequences that stimulate and maintain the behavior. He or she reflects on whether these antecedents or consequences should be change in order to improve the person's quality of life or safety. If changes should be made, the summary statement will include details about how the DSP suggests they be changed. Behavioral terms and concepts are used accurately and effectively in the sample.
• � The direct support professional (DSP) reviews an example practice scenario that includes challenging behavior. The DSP includes a reflective statement that correctly identifies and describes the behavior. The DSP identifies likely antecedents and what is reinforcing the behavior. He or she offers reasonable interventions based on the information in the scenario. The reflect statement uses correct terminology and emphasizes a comprehensive intervention approach that includes a review of quality of life issues, and proactive as well as reactive strategies.

• The direct support professional (DSP) reviews a complete behavior support plan (BSP) for ethical issues. This BSP can be an actual work sample for experienced DSPs or a prepared instructor example for students. The DSP highlights areas on the BSP that attend to important areas that are likely to create ethical problems such as the person's lack of choice, communication barriers, or underlying physical or mental conditions. The DSP writes a reflective summary describing how well the BSP attends to these issues, noting the highlighted areas and anything that is missing from the DSP's perspective. A reflection on actual practices situations or likely practice situations is included in which the DSP describes conflicts or concerns or improvements he or she would suggest for the BSP.
• The direct support professional (DSP) includes a completed behavior support plan and a reflective statement that identifies the behavior, the function of the behavior, the antecedents, the consequences, any setting events, reactive strategies and proactive strategies as listed in the behavior support plan. The DSP includes work samples that reflect implementation of this behavior support plan. A summary statement in regards to the effectiveness of having this plan and its strengths and weaknesses in practice is included.
• The direct support professional (DSP) gathers work samples that reflect a behavioral issue that the DSP faces in working with an individual. Using the work samples as a basis, the DSP includes a summary statement that represents an informal functional assessment of the behavior. The summary should include all the components of a good hypothesis statement such as: An objective description of the behavior, antecedents, consequences, function, and context including setting events or problem routines. Based on this informal functional assessment the DSP will describe changes he or she will make in the support setting to assist the person better. Work samples should be sufficient to help reviewer understand if hypothesis is likely to on target.

• The direct support professional (DSP) works to enhance the overall quality of life of a person being supported who exhibits challenging behavior. Work samples in conjunction with a summary statement help the reviewer understand the normal routine of the person and the approximate frequency, duration, intensity and form of challenging behavior prior to intervention and how that compares after durable changes were made. Areas of focus include how much choice the person has over daily routines, the amount of time the person spends in positive and personally meaningful activities including enjoyable employment, time with family and self-chosen friends, and other activities the person enjoys or feels good about. Part of the included summary statement with the sample reflects on the DSP's perception of how quality of life efforts affect positive behavior support overall and strengths and weaknesses to this approach to affecting behavior.
• The direct support professional (DSP) includes work samples over a period of time such as incident reports and behavioral charts or narratives and training logs that indicate the direct support professionals personal strengths and weaknesses in dealing with challenging behavior and his or her professional growth in this area. The sample includes a reflective summary by the DSP in regards to how well he or she feels she does in this area and what changes the DSP has made to enhance his or her ability in this area.
• � The direct support professional (DSP) does a research report on past behavioral interventions that includes review of historical documents and important events in civil rights for people with disabilities. The influence of important trends such as normalization, desegregation policies, and inclusion and person-centered planning movements are included. This research sample could be a personal story of one individual or focused on a state or region. A reflective essay that pulls together the full sample and gives the DSP perspective on current barriers yet to be overcome in this area, with suggestions for improvement is included.

• The direct support professional (DSP) uses authentic samples of work completed to demonstrate his or her capacity to use effective prevention strategies when working with people who exhibit challenging behaviors. Actual samples include documents, photo, videos, etc that demonstrate the implementation of formal or informal behavior support plan. A summary statement should tie the sample together by describing the issue, the approach, and the outcome of strategies. The statement includes a reflection in regards to which of the strategies were prevention strategies and how effective they were overall from the DSPs perspective in helping to change behavior as compared to response strategies.
• The direct support professional (DSP) demonstrates the ability to effectively support a person with challenging behavior to change behaviors over a period of time. Authentic work samples are included to demonstrate the form and frequency of the behavior. Supporting materials to show a decrease in the use of the behavior and interventions use are included. A summary statement is included in which the DSP describes the use of prevention strategies that were used and what changes were made as more was learn about the behavior or the person's capacity to self-manage increased.
• The direct support professional (DSP) includes work samples of different methods of teaching news behaviors that he or she has used in supporting people. A summary statement is included in which the DSP explains criteria he or she uses to identify what method of teaching might work best for the person.

• The direct support professional (DSP) provides a collection of work samples that demonstrates his or her capacity to correctly use consequence management as part of behavioral support. A summary statement is included that describes effective uses of consequences management and how this is related to the function of the behavior. The learner reflects on how consequences can be used effectively as well as the limitations of consequence management, using work samples as illustration of these concepts.
• The direct support professional (DSP) uses actual work place documentation around a critical incident that was behaviorally related (as opposed to for example, a medical emergency). A summary statement is included that describes how the situation was handled with the long term goals of supporting the person's eventual self-management of the behavior and protection of rights and safety in mind.
• When the direct support professional (DSP) is given a sample case study and/or hypothesis statement, he or she can describe a behavior support approach that is likely to be effective in helping the person learn and maintain new behaviors and decrease challenging behaviors. Specific methods of consequence management and their purpose are described. The statement uses methods that are leage, respectful, and emphasize the development of self-direction and self-management skills.

• The direct support professional (DSP) includes a sample behavior support plan (an actual support plan-names removed- or one provided by an instructor or trainer). The DSP highlights the important components of the plan (visually) and labels them. A summary statement from the perspective of the DSP in regards to the following is included: 1) the overall quality of the plan-does it make sense, is it likely to be possible to implement as written or not, is it likely to be effective or not. 2) describes any missing or poorly included components of the plan and the DSPs suggested substitution.
• The direct support professional (DSP) uses a behavior support plan and other authentic representations of actual work that reflect his or her role in being part of a team that develops, implements, and revises behavior support plans. A summary statement is included that describes the DSPs actual roles on an on-going basis. The DSP includes a reflection on his or her perception of what the DSP contributes and does well and what he or she could improve in these roles. The DSP reflects on new role he or she have taken on and benefits and barriers to participating in various aspects of behavior support plans. For any barrier listed the DSP should include a possible solution he or she is willing to try.
• The direct support professional (DSP) pulls together a sample of various methods of documentation he or she has completed in relation to tracking and describing behavior. A summary statement that describes the DSP's perspective on documentation as far as its value in understanding the effectiveness of interventions and the impact on the DSP's job is included. The statement includes a summary of methods the DSP has uses to ensure documentation is timely and accurate.

• The direct support professional (DSP) provides a copy of behavior support plan that he or she was responsible for implementing and that includes a restrictive procedure. (The DSP observes correct privacy and permission procedures in including this sample.) Sample of documentation in regards to implementation of this plan are also included (behavioral charting, incident reports, etc). A summary statement is included that describes the DSP's role in the developing, implementing, and revising the plan. The summary indicates how procedures to ensure protections of rights were included and the DSPs role in achieving this protection in daily practice. Areas on the copies of the actual documentation may be highlighted and annotated in order to help reviewer understand important components as listed in the summary statement.
• The direct support professional (DSP) assesses his or her work environment for rights restrictions. The DSP includes the initial dated assessment which lists known rights restrictions in the environment as well as possible rights restrictions. The DSP includes any use of locks, buzzers, or other method of tracking people or keeping them from full access to their environment. The DSP includes use of restraints such as straps, casts, special clothing, helmets, etc. He or she also includes formal or informal limits on personal choice in the environment. In a summary statement the DSP describes a process of reviewing the assessment, clarifying if each item is a rights restriction or not; and steps taken to change practices that are unnecessary or unapproved restrictions. A second, dated assessment is included to compare changes in the environment. The summary statement includes the DSP's perspective on the challenges and barriers to change, the effectiveness or change, and any next steps based on second assessment.
• The direct support professional (DSP) includes a list and copies of any federal, state or local laws or regulations that protect the rights of people he or she supports. The DSP includes a summary statement in regards to what is specified by law and what is not specified. The DSP describes his or her views in regards to whether the laws are effective in really providing freedom of rights restrictions for people or not. The DSP describes barriers and possible solutions to any common or potential rights restrictions.