Lesson SEN 27
Task: Open a door.
Prerequisites: SEN 11-SEN 13
Concept: This task is more complicated than the act of closing a door (SEN 26) because some finger control is needed for most doorknobs. Modifications to door hard-ware should be done if difficulties are encountered. Beyond performing the actual task, the most important outcome is that of increased independence.
Behavioral Objective: When requested to "please open the door," the student will open the indicated door far enough to allow entrance or exit to a 90% accuracy level for 20 trials.
Materials: An environment that is known to the student and that has commonly used doors.
Task Analysis:
1. Escort the student to the door that has been selected. Demonstrate to the student the action of opening and closing the door. Use the words "open" and "close" as you perform the action.
2. Close the door and physically guide the student through the process of opening the door, using the word "open" as you do it.
3. Reduce physical guidance and replace that action with gestural prompting. Continue using the single word "open" when that action takes place.
4. Reduce all prompting other than the word "open."
5. Expand the verbal prompt "open" to "please open the door." Continue until the objective is met.