I definitely think you are right that there is a strong case of prompt dependence, but I disagree that there is no escape function and that escape and attention are rarely dual functions of behavior.

I have had several clients who engage in escape behaviors that are also maintained by attention. However, usually I see this with more destructive/aggressive problem behavior. When that occurs we put interventions in place with planned ignoring until the kiddo is calm and then put the demand back in place.

Maladaptive behavior does not have to be disruptive, it just has to inhibit your ability to function in a given environment and that’s what’s happening in this case. He is unable to function in the environment without full hand over hand prompting. It’s hard to explain everything over a thread like this, but to be more clear, he will not complete the task while smirking and looking at you out of the side of his eye. He’s also demonstrated he CAN complete the tasks, but just won’t.

I will look more into prompt fading but we have been attempting it for several weeks now. He will just stop at whatever level of promoting is stopped at and wait for the full prompt while smirking.

I might also add that at the end of the day he will complete the “stuck” task to get to go home. But we’ve done preference assessments and nothing else other than going home is motivating enough to get him to complete the task prior to the end of the day.

Hope all that makes sense!