We recently had the pleasure of filming with yet another great thinker.<\/p>\n
David Pitonyak has a way of understanding and communicating the needs of people with challenging behavior that is profoundly straightforward.<\/p>\n
The largest part of Pitonyak’s work involves meeting people who are said to exhibit “difficult behaviors.” Most of these people exhibit difficult behaviors because they are misunderstood and\/or because they are living lives that don’t make sense.\u00a0 Often they are lonely, or powerless, or without job\u00a0 Often they are devalued by others, or they lack the kinds of educational experience that most of us take for granted.\u00a0 Too often their troubling behaviors are the result of an illness, or even a delayed response to traumatic events.\u00a0 You might say their behaviors are “messages” which can tell us important things about their lives.\u00a0 Learning to listen to the person’s difficult behaviors is the first step in helping the person to find a new (and healthier) story.<\/p>\n
David also believes, to paraphrase Jean Clark, that a “person’s needs are best met by people whose needs are met.” Supporting a person with difficult behaviors also involves and honest assessment of and attention to the needs of a person’s supporters.<\/p>\n
In recent years, Pitonyak has provided consultation and training for individuals, families, and professionals throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, England, and the Republic of Ireland.<\/p>\n
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We are really excited to start developing the footage we collected. Stay tuned for more information. In the meantime learn more about david here\u00a0http:\/\/dimagine.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.openfuturelearning.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/David-Pitonyak-1024x684.jpg\" "\\"David")
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