A review of interventions to teach a mand repertoire

Abstract

Interventions which teach developmentally disabled persons to make requests and choices are now widely recommended. Recent changes in general approaches to teaching request-making have been noted which are consistent with theory and research concerning mands. Three categories of interventions, incidental teaching, choice making, and the interrupted behavior chain are also examined with regard to theory concerning the mand and establishing operations (EOs). Several of the critical features of EOs, and in particular the momentary aspect of EOs, have not been well incorporated into interventions. Suggestions for improvement of mand interventions are therefore proposed.