ABSTRACT
Functional communication training (FCT) uses a series of prompts and schedules of reinforcement to teach a socially appropriate method of communication to access a reinforcer that an interfering behavior was previously providing. Telehealth offers a platform for training professionals in FCT, providing them with the skills necessary to reduce interfering behaviors. The present study examined the use of a hybrid of telehealth and in-person delivered behavioral skills training (BST) to teach trainees to implement FCT to address escape-maintained interfering behaviors in children with ASD with a confederate learner. Three trainees participated in the study and received a hybrid BST package that combined in-person and telehealth components, while incorporating instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback. Following this training, trainees implemented FCT with high levels of accuracy during rehearsal sessions. These findings support further research on the use of a hybrid approach as an alternative means of delivering BST, promoting skill acquisition that is accurate, socially valid, generalizable, and maintained over time.