An Overview of Basic Mand Training Procedures

Let’s look at the steps that are basic to the mand training process.

Mand Training in a Nutshell

• Identify strong motivators
• Select response form child will use to mand
• Pair staff with delivery of reinforcement
• Teach when motivation is strong (MO)
• Pair delivery of reinforcement with mand form (vocal word and sign)
• Prompt child to use mand form
• Fade prompts so the mand is spontaneous
• Teach appropriate sequence of mand forms
• Use data based decision making to adjust mand programming

An Example of the Steps in Mand Training for an Early Learner

• Establish Motivation: Teacher presents student with a sit and spin (contrives MO: spins it, etc.)
• Pair: Teacher delivers reinforcer with model (pairing trial)
• Prompt: Teacher pauses (time delay), prompts sign for spin, delivers spin
• Fades Prompts: Teacher again pauses (time delay), student signs spin, delivers spin

An Example of Use of a Transitive Motivative Operation to Teach A Mand to A Vocal Student

Day 1

• Establish Motivation: teacher tells student time to watch Dora (or some such show)
• Prompt: holds remote control says “ask for the remote.”; student says, “remote, please”

Day 2

• Establish Motivation: teacher tells student it is Dora time.
• Prompt: holds remote, no verbal prompt; student asks for remote (teacher not holding it, out of sight)

Day 3

• Establish Motivation: teacher tells student time to watch Dora
• No remote present, no verbal prompt; student asks for the remote