Two principal goals of functional communication training (FCT) are to (a) eliminate destructive behavior and (b) establish a more acceptable, yet functionally equivalent, communication response (FCR). A related and critically important goal is to thin the schedule of reinforcement for the FCR to levels that are reasonably managed by caregivers. Researchers have described several approaches to thinning FCT reinforcement schedules. We summarized the results of 25 consecutive applications (amongst 20 cases) in which schedule-thinning procedures employed discriminative stimuli to signal when the FCR would and would not produce reinforcement (i.e., using multiple schedules, response restriction, or chained schedules). Results suggest schedule-thinning procedures that use discriminative stimuli can maintain the effectiveness of FCT while minimizing the need for punishment or other supplemental procedures.
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