On what level do profoundly or severely developmentally disabled adults do their moral reasoning?

Unfortunately adults at that level respond in a child-like manner. React as if you were dealing with a child. Tell them what they have done wrong and then initiate a system of reward and punishment. Give a piece of candy or something on days where behavior was acceptable and not on days where there was hitting. Just taping a dandilion on their clothing could be reward enough in some cases.

This would not be appropriate if the person had dementia because they dont even realize what they are doing anymore nor do they remember it--you are just going to have to be prepared to be in a combative situation from time to time in that case. In many cases the elderly or mentally handicapped are medicated to keep them calm if overly combative. It isnt the most moral solution to the problem but it is done to keep caretakers safe if the patient has the capability to injur them.

Having worked with developmentally disabled adults for years I can tell you that a lot depends on the persons level of understanding. If the behavior is not severe perhaps a planed ignoring technique can be used where as you block the hitting and give no attention to it, or a cause and effect technique, but to answer your question yes you could use the same technique for both just to a different degree. The challenge is to find the reasoning that they understand and use it properly.

Khafi has the right answer! There are different types of jobs for developmentally disabled people to perform. Seeing a job coach would help. It's a free service for disabled people who aren't currently working. They tend to be in larger cities - so check around. I work now, and am teetering on the brink of unemployment. If I do become unemployed, I will definitely use that resource to help me through!

The flaw in your question is that each person, disabled or not, is an individual--different to all others. So what might work for one would only aggravate someone else. There are no "blanket solutions" when dealing with human beings.

You need to talk to someone with experience in the field, preferably someone who knows the person you're dealing with.

I don't believe that persons with profound and severe levels of mental retardation have the capabilities to reason at that level. When they hit somone, it is not with the intention of hurting them as they cannot reason to that extent. They are usually looking for some sort of attention or are trying to communicate something such as hunger, pain, etc. You may attempt some sort of behavior modification program, but the results at this functioning level are usually disappointing.

Teach them reciprocation for hitting or something like that.

If you hit me, I hit you back (many would reciprocate even harder).

It's also how chidren learn the concept of reciprocation.

Now, going topless can only be learned through punishment for said social crime - just like a child. Time outs tend to work.

I didn't know there was another way to teach anybody about those things. What way did you have in mind? All teaching is done by example and reasoning.

I'm not sure if this would really work, but maybe use conditional affection...(if your good-I'll love you)..sometimes they will do what they know is inappropriate..because they know it will irritate you (and will get them attention).

clueless

ask a professional in that field

Monkey see monkey do...