Behavioral assessment procedures were used to prescribe and evaluate treatments of maladaptive behavior for 2 children with severe multiple handicaps. In Experiment 1, the results of an assessment of reinforcer preference were used in conjunction with a functional analysis of the conditions maintaining self‐injurious behavior to prescribe a treatment for a child with severe disabilities. The treatment procedure involved the use of a pressure‐sensitive microswitch to activate reinforcing stimuli during two solitary conditions, during which self‐injurious behavior had occurred at high rates. The results were evaluated with a multiple baseline across settings design and indicated that self‐injury decreased with concomitant increases in microswitch activation. Results were maintained at 6 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months. In Experiment 2, the results of behavioral assessments of reinforcer preference and self‐injurious behavior were combined to develop a treatment for a second severely handicapped child, who exhibited high rates of self‐injury in demand situations. This treatment was evaluated with a multiple baseline across tasks design and resulted in the elimination of self‐injury for up