Research to reduce the use of restrictive practices: a response to recommendation 6.38 of the Disability Royal Commission

Abstract

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability was concerned by the level of restrictive practices revealed in the evidence it received. As one of its recommendations, it suggested that a study be commissioned to examine the effectiveness of Positive Behaviour Support in reducing the use of these practices. In this article, we argue that Positive Behaviour Support is aimed at reducing behaviours of concern rather than restrictive practices and that these should not be conflated. We provide a discussion of some of the research design issues that need to be addressed if an investigation of ways to reduce reliance on restrictive practices is to be carried out.