Below is a general skill sequence for the first stages of teaching learners how to wash their hands.

Where most protocols might call for immediately working on hand washing with a task analysis (TA), this skill sequence isolates component skills before working on hand washing with a TA. Strengthening these skills in isolation could—more effectively—prepare the learner for the TA that you’ll eventually teach.

Treatment Plan Goal Ideas

Treatment plan goal ideas for this particular skill area are as follows:

Learner will successfully perform three independent actions related to washing hands in contrived scenarios.

Learner will successfully perform five independent actions related to washing hands in contrived scenarios.

Learner will successfully perform ten independent actions related to washing hands in contrived scenarios.

Component Skills

Your learner may need to be fluent in these component skills first before introducing this goal/skill area. Component skills for this skill sequence may include skill areas that are fundamental to other areas. Fluency in the skill areas listed below may increase the likelihood that your learner will succeed in this skill sequence and those afterward.

Intro to Scanning

Intro to Matching (Visual Perception)

Intro to Reinforcer/Preference Expansion

Imitates Actions with Preferred Items

Performs Preferred Action with Preferred Item (LR)

Imitates Actions During Familiar Routines

Performs Action During Familiar Routines (LR)

Imitation with Uni-Functional Toys

Performs Actions with Uni-Functional Toys (LR)

Skill Possibilities

Below is a possible skill sequence for working on increasing your learner’s ability to wash their hands. Note that every learner is different and that you likely will need to tweak and vary some programming to their needs. Click the triangle icon to view the full description for each skill in the sequence/area.

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#1 Walks to the sink when asked to

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#2 Washes hands with hand over hand

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#3 Turns off water when asked to

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#4 Finds and/or labels soap

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#5 Pumps soap (bottle) one time

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#6 Uses automatic soap dispenser

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#7 Turns on water when asked to

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#8 Dries wet sink area

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#9 Turns on water to reasonable temp

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#10 Turns on water to reasonable flow

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#11 Scrubs hands

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#12 Dries hands with towel/paper towel

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#13 Uses bar soap

Concurrent Skills

Working on these skills at the same time could help with goal mastery. Maybe your learner has mastered these skills already. Perhaps they are already listed as component skills above. That’s okay! Targeting other learning channels might help your learner.

Imitates Gross Motor Actions

Imitates Fine Motor Actions

Performs Gross Motor Action (LR)

Performs Fine Motor Actions (LR)

Imitation with Multi-Functional Toys

Intro to Faucets/Dials

Wiping After Bowel Movements

Composite Skills

These are the possible next steps for learners who have mastered, or are mastering, the skills listed above. Note that new skill areas may require fluency in other component skills not listed above. Also, you can introduce composite skill sequences prematurely to keep your learner progressing, as generativity may occur earlier than expected.

Task Analyses for Washing Hands (Coming soon!)

Follow the link below to better understand component-composite analysis.

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Research and Resources

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Disclaimer

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