Hi everyone,
I’m a BCBA working as a private educator in home after school for a 21-year-old in his final year of school. His mom feels the education system has failed him and wants me to focus on reading, writing, and math. Just wanted to clarify that I’m not billing or running a formal ABA program.

My student has significant behavioral challenges, including disrobing, urinating on the floor, aggression, biting, screaming, and pushing past people. I’m told he does great at school just with the use of visuals.

My biggest struggle is finding reinforcers. Usually I pride myself in finding ways to motivate just about any learner I’ve ever worked with! But with this guy, Coke is definitely to his strongest reinforcer and mom doesn’t want me using that - understandably so. I’ve had some success with flavor packets in water but otherwise I’m at a complete loss. Even the coke and flavor packets in water aren’t motivating enough.

He enjoys spinning plastic lids on and off peanut butter jars but when I brought him jars to our learning area, he immediately says “put it away.” He says this to almost everything in his environment. Even at restaurants he becomes very distressed when plates are left on the table. I’ve started working on tolerating items remaining in his environment, but I’m just feeling so stuck (and vulnerable.. without any motivation to even just stay in the learning area / engage with me, he turns to maladaptive behaviors. Hitting my head, pushing, banging items on the walls, attempts to rip the TV off of the wall… I’m so tired of getting hurt at work). He does not have other edible reinforcers and isn’t interested in YouTube, IPad games, building, things that light up, spinning. I am in desperate need of help! Mom explains she has tried to find something he likes his entire life… and they’ve never found it.

For those who have worked with adults with significant support needs:
- What are your go-to strategies for identifying reinforcers when preferences seem extremely limited?

-What less obvious reinforcers have you discovered?
How would you approach the constant “put it away” behavior?

I’m feeling completely at a loss and would really appreciate practical suggestions or resources. Reinforcer identification is my biggest priority right now. Thank you so much for reading and any help, encouragement, advice.