WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Arlene (Clavette)Lynas-Dobie,
Clinical Pediatric Manager, Behaviour Therapist, Dual Diagnosis Manager and Early Childhood Educator.
"It's not every day that we get the opportunity to take pen in hand and bring testimony to someone who championed a cause so worthy of accolades and merit. Dr. Bob Carey, a master in the field of developmental disabilities has developed and put into action an effective and positive system approach to traditional behaviour modification with children and adults in south western, Ontario. His positive systemic approach helped staff, executives, programs hone in on the importance of effective functional analysis across environments. He taught us that with heightened resources and staff training with a good historical and current assessment could lead us to the function of behaviour and thereby shape the environment to be sensitive to each person’s preferences and rights to choose. He not only educated but modelled the way for the field to embrace positive methods. He took nothing away from what was clinically sound, and added everything that had been overlooked. His book has left us with a curriculum ready resource for the field of developmental disabilities. "
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Peggy Corrigan-Dench
Retired, Community Consultant with Regional Support Associates
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"As a Behavioural Consultant whose primary focus was on abuse prevention and healing, I worked with Dr. Bob Carey, for many years. I can say that when he developed Positive Systems Approach it transformed our work. We looked at a person's behaviour, using a holistic approach to assess the person, their environment, the ways in which they interacted, communicated and how that affected their behavioural outcomes. Using Positive Systems Approach helped us to shape how the person's supports were delivered. We used this method to train staff, parents and teachers to gather insight, interact and communicate positively. The care providers would make changes and subsequently they and their environments would benefit. The foundation would be strong and consistent and the support system would be tailored to the individual's needs. As a trauma focused provider, Positive Systems Approach fit with the work of healing and counselling that I provided to the people I worked with. I am so grateful to Dr. Carey, for his compassionate approach and for sharing his knowledge with so many, to make such a difference in their lives."
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Dinah Biddle, BA, MEd
Retired: Professor, Manager, Case Manager, Therapist
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The work of Dr. R Carey has had a significant impact on the delivery of support to persons living in the community over decades. He has provided compassionate consultation and recommendations to agencies, staff, management, therapists and caregivers. Positive Systems Approach focuses on the totality of the individual and their environment. Every individual functions systemically - interfacing and responding to elements of one another whereby the individual affects the system and the system impacts the individual, at times triggering and manifesting actions or behaviours. This approach is grounded in human sciences as well as biology. I had the pleasure and opportunity to work with Dr. Bob as well as his associates from RSA as a Manager of Developmental Services then as a Behaviour Therapist under his Clinical Supervision whereby we worked successfully with individuals who had complex behavioural challenges. I was impressed with Dr. Carey’s clinical skills including formal and informal assessments, analysis and recommended treatment plans. Further, I had the honour of Dr. Carey’s Placement Supervision during the completion of my Master of Education Research Thesis: Analysis of Positive Systems Approach. PSA was authored by Dr. Carey and I conducted an in-depth literature review and provided highlights of real life cases protecting privacy, from my field work exemplifying both individual & system factors as well as favourable outcomes. PSA resonates with me as I utilized the factors as a Professor, Manager, Case Manager and Therapist positions throughout my career in social services, mental health, and developmental services. I am pleased to see Dr Carey’s ongoing dedication. development and application of sound principles to promote heightened quality of care, communication and individualized community living. A focus of holistic individual support that is flexible and balanced is integral to responding to a person’s complex needs. Dr. Carey provides solid methodology to achieve an adaptive environment and optimal support efficacy. Further, application of the principles are easy to use, align with the positive vision and mission of caregivers and service providers and produce long-lasting meaningful results. Dr Bob provides a helpful resource book: Using Applied Behaviour Analysis within a Positive Systems Approach to Support Persons with Behavioural Challenges and online resources as well as training and consultation, if desired. As a caring professional, I highly recommend using this practical application of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) within a Positive Systems Approach (PSA) to support individuals facing challenging behaviors.
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J. Dale Munro, MSW, RSW, FAAIDD
2024 OASW Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
I truly believe that the most dedicated clinicians in the world work in the field of IDD & ASD. And Dr. Bob Carey and Terry Kirkpatrick are two of the very best and most experienced! They were “positive psychology” long before the term became part of our vernacular. They are passionate learning theory-based behaviourists -- but with a twist. They use a more sensitive and thorough approach to functional analysis, coupled with ongoing hypothesis-building. Their more comprehensive approach focuses more on the person’s life experiences, cultural background, physical and mental health (including trauma), and systems issues which affect behaviour. Issues too often minimized (for some unknown reason) by many behaviourists. They have a deep respect for direct-care personnel and encourage the healthy growth of their behaviour management skills. They believe families must be consulted, cared for and used as an important resource. Equally impressive is the very sincere manner in which individuals with IDD and ASD are viewed as people with intrinsic value and worth. People who must be approached with empathy and unconditional positive regard. It is refreshing that this approach does not believe in the use of physical restraints or secure isolation rooms. Their focus is always about using the least restrictive, most non-intrusive and non-punitive methods, even with the toughest cases. Behavioural outbursts are wisely reframed as a form of nonverbal communication that we must listen to and understand. The Positive Systems Approach emphasizes highly-principled, data-driven strategies, backed by a spirit of respect, pragmatism, creativity and kindness. I unequivocally endorse this book and this training, since I have seen these methods improve the lives of so many people.