Rewarding Essential Skills

Official title: Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI)

Goal

Build essential skills by reinforcing positive behaviors that support independence, cooperation, and participation.

How

Choose a skill that the learner can do instead of the challenging behavior—like staying with the group, waiting, or participating. Reinforce this skill right away with a reward or a token, even if it’s not their first choice, to help it grow over time.

Context

This strategy is used when a learner has shown they can self-advocate but still engages in challenging behavior. It helps build essential skills like tolerance, flexibility, and emotional regulation by reinforcing behaviors that may be less preferred but are key for building independence and meaningful relationships.

Tip

Use strong, frequent reinforcement at first to help the skill feel worth doing. Over time, you can fade support using token boards, timers, or delayed rewards to help the learner become more resilient and independent.

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