Association for Behavior Analysis International

Compassionate applied behavior analysis (ABA) encompasses components of Trauma-informed Care and autistic-affirming socially valid assessment and treatment approaches. There is a large movement in the ABA field to promote and disseminate these practices to embrace a growing trend towards a more inclusive field. This symposium will focus on, not only how to practice compassionate ABA, but provides empirical evidence for doing so. A mixed methods survey was conducted in Study 1 to directly assess the perspectives of autistic individuals, and other stakeholders, regarding the educational decision-making process. The results from the respondents indicate the need for respecting autistic culture and selecting procedures that consider social and emotional needs. Study 2, introduces a novel, trauma-informed assessment of problem behavior that (a) reduces exposure to evocative situations that could potentially re-traumatize the individual and (b) ensures that the child maintains a level of control over their own environment. The authors validated the procedures among multiple participants by conducting function-based treatments informed by the results of the assessment to reduce problem behavior. The authors of Study 3 used the trauma-informed framework to incorporate the principles throughout the design of the entire assessment and treatment process of problem behavior. Following which, caregivers were presented with a series of questionnaires to determine the level of (a) stress experienced throughout and following the process and (b) acceptability of the comprehensive strategies employed. In Study 4, the implications of behavioral history in ABA are discussed. The authors propose how knowing an individual’s behavioral and medical history can assist in the development of compassionate treatment of problem behavior.

Audience should be interested in learning about autistic-affirming practices, trauma-informed functional analysis and treatment of problem behavior, compassionate applied behavior analysis, and the implications of behavioral and medical history.

The new perspectives of applied behavior analysis (ABA) are leading behavior analysts to assume that patients exhibiting problem behavior have experienced multiple adverse events, many of which passed the criteria to be recognized as trauma. Within the conceptual framework of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC), we will illustrate how to incorporate this framework in ABA by promoting safety, trust, and governance. We will emphasize how the core TIC commitments could be applied to the assessment and treatment of problem behavior using the Practical Functional Assessment (PFA) and Skill-Based Treatment (SBT; Hanley et al., 2014). Our participants were two autistic 6-year-old twin girls who engaged in severe problem behavior. Our intervention prioritized client safety and compassionate practice to mitigate the risk of trauma while fostering the development of skills. The full treatment was generalized to the parents. The Parenting Stress Index was used to evaluate the magnitude of stress in the parent–child system. Social validity was assessed using a 7-point scale. Results showed the effectiveness of the PFA and SBT in reducing problem behavior and in increasing communication, toleration, and cooperation skills. The caregivers reported high levels of satisfaction and usability and lower stress levels after treatment.