Strengthening Behavior Plans: A Step Forward for Arizona’s DDD System

Berenice Curro
Apr 16
2 min read

The Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) has taken an important step forward in reinforcing expectations around behavior plan development, as highlighted in the April 2026 Vendor and Provider Newsletter.

Requiring behavior plan authors to truly know the individual, through direct observation, meaningful engagement with those closest to them, and thorough data review, is not simply best practice. It is essential.

For many professionals in the field, this shift has been long overdue.

Behavior plans should never be written for compliance alone. They should be written to improve a person’s quality of life.

Why This Matters

This is not just a philosophical stance, it is grounded in real experience.

In my final week serving as a Program Review Committee (PRC) Chair, I reviewed a behavior plan that, on the surface, appeared strong. It was well written, structured, and met documentation standards. The agency had clearly invested significant time and resources into its development. The plan focused on verbal aggression. However, during a deeper review of incident reports, my assistant identified something critical: the individual had recently been hospitalized following a suicide attempt.

While the plan addressed verbal aggression effectively, it failed to address the most serious and immediate risk to the individual’s safety and well-being.

Had the plan been approved as written, the individual would have received no meaningful supports targeting their most critical need.

The Core Issue

This example highlights a fundamental truth:

A well-written plan is not the same as an effective plan.

Without a full understanding of the person, their history, current risks, environment, and underlying needs, behavior plans can unintentionally miss what matters most.

This is why knowing the individual is not optional. It is foundational.

Moving Toward Meaningful Practice

When behavior plans are built on real understanding, they do more than meet regulatory expectations. They:

Guide staff in providing consistent and appropriate support
Protect the dignity and rights of the individual
Address root causes, not just surface behaviors
Lead to meaningful, measurable outcomes

The renewed emphasis from DDD strengthens both practice and accountability across the system. It reinforces that behavior support is not about checking boxes, it is about improving lives.