The International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support

Overview of PBS
Positive behavioural support (PBS) is a collaborative and person-centred approach to supporting individuals at risk of behaviours that challenge. It integrates values and human rights, with ethical and compassionate use of the science of behaviour analysis, as well as other evidence-based approaches (such as augmentative and alternative communication, cognitive behavioural therapy, and active support).

PBS aims to understand behaviours that challenge; work in partnership with individuals and their families, carers, educators and multi-disciplinary partners; promote quality of life; develop capable environments; and reduce and remove restrictions that impede quality of life. Throughout, PBS practitioners work to ensure that support is collaborative, personalised, culturally responsive, proactive, and evidence based.

Aims of the Journal
The International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support is a peer-reviewed publication that aims to:

• lead the further development and evolution of PBS, internationally
• promote good practice in the use of PBS by bridging the gap between academic research and PBS practice
• contribute to the evidence base for PBS, with a particular focus on improving quality of life
• encourage collaborative PBS research and practice with professionals, family carers, and the people that they support

While the primary focus of the Journal is the use of PBS approaches in supporting children and adults with intellectual disability, submissions concerning PBS with other populations are welcomed.

The Journal particularly welcomes submissions authored by or with people who have intellectual disabilities, autistic people or people with lived experience of PBS.

The Journal publishes research papers, practice papers and brief reports.

It is published as an online journal twice a year. Access to online back issues is available as part of the subscription.

The editors
Anne MacDonald, senior editor, University of Glasgow, UK
Darren Bowring, associate editor, Government of Jersey
Joseph M Lucyshyn, associate editor, University of British Columbia, Canada

News editor
Sarah Leitch, Bild, UK

Book review editor
John Shephard, Independent PBS Trainer, UK

Editorial Board
List of editorial board members can be downloaded here

Subscription costs

• Professional £56.67
• Student/family carer £41.67
• Organisation £93.33

Updated definition of PBS published in a special issue of the journal

Featuring in an open access paper, the ‘Positive Behavioural Support in the UK: A State of the Nation Report,’ reflects on key issues and PBS developments that have arisen since 2013 providing further clarity around the current evidence base and an initial logic model to guide future research and PBS practice in the UK.

The updated definition of PBS has been co-developed with people with lived experience of learning disabilities, and autistic people, as well as family carers and professionals from across disciplines.

To view the ‘Positive Behavioural Support in the UK: A State of the Nation Report’ open access, please click here.

Latest issue

The contents page and acess to a free article (for a limited time) from the latest issue of the journal can be viewed here:

• Contents page
• The quality of relationships between people with intellectual disabilities and support staff. Developing the Indicators of Rapport Measure Maria Hurman and Peter McGill
• Click here to watch a short video from Maria Hurman introducing their paper

Sample content
Sample articles and editorials from previous special issues can be downloaded for free here:

• Sample article Introduction and development of schoolwide
  positive behavioural support in Japan
• Reactive strategies for situational management - opening editorial
• Reactive strategies for situational management - closing editorial
• PBS, trauma and mental ill health editorial  
• Positive Behavioural Support in secure/forensic settings
• Clinical outcomes of staff training in positive behavioural support to reduce challenging behaviour in adults with intellectual disability: Further thoughts on intervention, implementation and interpretation

Submitting an article for publication in the journal
The journal’s aim is to increase awareness of the use of positive behavioural interventions. It will inform practice and increase knowledge related to the evidence base for effective behavioural support in educational settings, community settings, social care settings and healthcare settings. We accept three types of papers and you can download the guidelines here:

• Research paper guidelines
• Practice paper guidelines
• Brief report guidelines
• Discussion/concept guidelines
• Peer review process

Good Autism Practice

Including peer reviewed articles written by practitioners, academics, parents and people with autism, the journal encourages good and innovative practice in supporting autistic children and adults.

It is published as an online journal twice a year. Access to online back issues is available as part of the subscription.

The editor
Glenys Jones, University of Birmingham, UK

Subscription costs

• Professional £47.50
• Student/family carer £37.50
• Organisation £85.83

The latest issue of the journal has now been published.:

• Contents page
• Sample article: The autism worldview dilemma: to normalise or not to normalise, that is the question, Nick Chown, Shona Murphy and Elsa Suckle

Sample content
To give you a better idea of the kind of articles published in Good Autism Practice, you can download the articles below by clicking on the titles.

• Friendship and sociality in autism services
• Diagnosis of autism in adulthood what can we learn
• Creating ‘Autism Friendly’ education in an inclusive mainstream primary school

Submitting an article for publication in the journal
The aim of the journal is to publish examples of good practice (or an analysis of the issues affecting practice) in working with, or supporting, individuals with autism spectrum and their families throughout their lives. All submitted articles go through a peer review process. You can download the guidelines here:

• Guidelines for authors

Good Autism Practice is a collaborative journal produced by Bild in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, Autism West Midlands and Scottish Autism.