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Standing at Sinai With Autism

A Young Man's Bar Mitzvah Journey

University of British Columbia, mhyman{at}mayinstitute.org

This article describes the journey that a family and community took to prepare Leon, a young man with autism, for his Bar Mitzvah. A positive behavior support (PBS) intervention was used to prepare Leon for this symbolic rite of passage into the Jewish culture. He had specific problem behaviors that needed to be addressed for him to participate in the ceremony. Specifically, his problem behaviors included noncompliance, inappropriate self-touching in public places, and difficulty sitting for long periods of time. Setting event, predictor, teaching, and consequence strategies were put into place to address these issues. The outcome of these supports was twofold: Not only did Leon successfully participate in all aspects of his Bar Mitzvah ceremony and celebration, but in so doing, he also provided a lesson about inclusion and hope to his community.

Key Words: autism • positive behavior support • Bar Mitzvah • Judaism • inclusion

This version was published on July 1, 2009

Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, Vol. 11, No. 3, 186-192 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1098300708329012


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