Herbert Lovett

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Herbert Lovett (1949–1998) was an American psychologist known for his contributions to the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. He was an advocate for inclusive support and equal access to education, work, housing, and human rights for children and adults with disabilities.[1][2]

Education and career[edit]

Lovett received his education from Bowdoin College, Yale University, Harvard University, and the University of Rhode Island, where he earned his PhD in clinical psychology. He taught at the University of New Hampshire as a faculty member and traveled throughout the United States and other countries as a consultant to promote changes in the treatment and perception of individuals with behavioral difficulties. Lovett co-founded and served as the past president of the Autism National Committee,[2] and advised People First of Ontario.[1]

Lovett wrote two books, Cognitive Counseling and Persons with Special Needs (1985) and Learning to Listen: Positive Approaches and People with Difficult Behavior (1996).

Contributions[edit]

Lovett was an opponent of the use of punishment and aversive procedures in the treatment of individuals with autism and difficult behaviors, opposing the Behavioral Research Institute, which used these types of behavioral modification procedures.[3][2][1] Lovett considered the failure to listen to be a significant factor leading to difficult behavior[4] and argued that valuing people as people in a non-hypocritical manner was a prerequisite to effective support.[5] He thought being guided by a "medical model" of care resulted in overlooking a person's communication and deeper motivations.[6]

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities cites Lovett as one of a number of clinician-advocates who changed the focus of behavioral support for people with intellectual disabilities to prioritize communication.[7] In 1991 Lovett summed up his approach "... the key variable in helping one another change is the mutuality of our relationships; how we cannot change others in a real way without ourselves in turn being changed; that difficult behaviors call us to listen to the person and to reflect what we need to change in our own lives and practices."[8] Others working in the fields of autism and intellectual disabilities note Lovett's early contributions to establishing more person-centered care in the context of deinstitutionalization,[9] and to positive behaviour support.[10][11][12] With John O'Brien (advocate), Lovett co-wrote “Finding A Way Toward Everyday Lives,” a paper cited by others in the disabilities field as a significant reference point in the early development of person-centered planning.[13][14][15] [16] [17]

Bibliography[edit]

  • Lovett, Herbert (1985). Cognitive Counseling and Persons with Special Needs. Human Sciences Press. ISBN 978-0-27591-651-0.
  • Lovett, Herbert (1996). Learning to Listen: Positive Approaches and People with Difficult Behavior. Brookes Publishing. ISBN 978-1-55766-164-7.

Personal life[edit]

Lovett was also a musician, writer, and community activist. He lived in South Boston with his partner, artist Michael Dowling,[18] and died in February 1998 in a car accident.[19] [20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Dr. Herb Lovett Biography". Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "IN MEMORIAM Herb Lovett, PhD 1949–1998". The Communicator – AutCom's NewsletterSummer 1998.
  3. ^ "Change Makers Resources for Inclusion: Herb Lovett". inclusion.com. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  4. ^ Clift, Julie; Hannon, Lynn (2010). General Hospital Care for People with Learning Disabilities. Wiley.
  5. ^ Secrets to Success for Professionals in the autism Field Gunilla Gerland, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2012.
  6. ^ Morris, Jenny (1997). Community Care: Working in partnership with service users. Venture Press.
  7. ^ Dufresne, Derick. Positive Approaches:The History and Evolution of Behavioral Approaches and Positive Behavioral Interventions.
  8. ^ Lovett, Herbert (1991). "CHAPTER 40 Empowerment and Choices". In Luanna Meyer; Charles Peck; Lou Brown (eds.). Critical issues in the lives of people with severe disabilities. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc. p. 626.
  9. ^ Power, Andrew; Lord, Janet; DeFranco, Allison (2013). Active Citizenship and Disability: Implementing the Personalisation of Support. Cambridge University Press. p. 129. ISBN 9781107029910.
  10. ^ Bambara, Linda M. (August 13, 2016). "Are You a Behaviorist or a Bonder? Smashing Artificial Dichotomies and Entering Into a Dialogue of Shared Knowledge and Multiple Perspectives". Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions. 4 (11): 17–20. doi:10.1177/109830070200400103. S2CID 144963239.
  11. ^ Stillman, William (2010). The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Asperger's Syndrome. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781440503955.
  12. ^ Kluth, Paula (2003). You're Going to Love This Kid!" Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. p. 174. ISBN 9781557666147.
  13. ^ O'Brien, John; Lovett, Herbert (February 1993). Finding a Way toward Everyday Lives: The Contribution of Person Centered Planning. ERIC ED356596.
  14. ^ Schwartz, David B (February 2000). "'A Little Book About Person Centered Planning,' edited by John O'Briend and Connie Lyle O'Brien (Book Review)". Mental Retardation. 38 (1): 78. doi:10.1352/0047-6765(2000)038<0078:BR>2.0.CO;2.
  15. ^ O'Brien, Connie Lyle; O'Brien, John (2000). "The Origins of Person-Centered Planning: A Community of Practice Perspective". ERIC ED456599.
  16. ^ Falvey, M. A., Forest, M., Pearpoint, J., & Rosenberg, R. L. (1997). All My Life's a Circle: Using the Tools: Circles, MAPS & PATHS. Inclusion Press. Quotation: “MAPS and PATH MAPS and PATH are two other tools developed and written about extensively by Jack Pearpoint, Marsha Forest, John O’Brien and Judith Snow. They come under the broad category of Person Centered Planning (see Everyday Lives: The Contribution of Person Centered Planning. John O’Brien and Herbert Lovett, Pennsylvania Office of Mental Retardation, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.)” p. 97 https://openlibrary.org/works/OL8915093W/All_My_Life%27s_a_Circle?edition=key%3A/books/OL8724914M
  17. ^ Sanderson, H. (1997). People, Plans & Possibilities: Exploring Person Centred Planning. Sanderson, the leading authority in the UK on person-centered planning, begins a book on the subject quoting O’Brien and Lovett: “Person-centred planning creates a compelling image of a desirable future and invites people to join with the person to make it happen.” Sanderson quotes Lovett & O'Brien a number of times throughout the book. https://openlibrary.org/works/OL8772283W/People_plans_possibilities https://openlibrary.org/books/OL12252712M/People_Plans_and_Possibilities
  18. ^ "Herb Lovett".
  19. ^ "Remembering A Visionary: Herb Lovett 1949–1998". Virily. January 3, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  20. ^ Accident victim had premonition of death - Boston Herald (MA) - March 23, 1998 - page 7 March 23, 1998 | Boston Herald (MA) | Kay Lazar | Page 7.