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The Autism Society Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Commission: Making Informed Decisions |
Sunday, May 26, 2024 |
4:00 PM–4:50 PM |
Convention Center, 100 Level, 103 C |
Area: AUT/CSS; Domain: Service Delivery |
CE Instructor: Jack Scott, Ph.D. |
Chair: Jack Scott (Florida Atlantic University) |
KIYA OLSON (Therapy Pathways, LLC; Member of the Autism Society of America Panel of Professional Advisors: and Board member of the Illinois Autism Task Force) |
ALLIE TASCHE (Vice President of National Programs, Autism Society of America) |
Abstract: Parents of children with autism and other consumers need access to accurate information about ABA services. The Autism Society (AS) is the largest grassroots autism organization in the US. In response to concerns and complaints about the nature and quality of ABA services voiced by many parents and adult self-advocates, the Autism Society convened an ABA Commission to address these issues. The Commission consisted of members of the Autism Society staff, the Panel of Professional Advisors, the Council of Autism Advisors, autism self-advocates, and others. Three online Town Hall meetings were held with speakers selected to represent varied constituencies (i.e., self-advocates, parents of children who have received ABA, and professionals across related fields). Transcriptions of comments were analyzed by the ABA Commission to determine the nature and strength of concerns. The Commission compiled summaries of the proceedings and developed a guide for consumers. The guide “Making Informed Decisions: Understanding and Navigating Applied Behavior Analysis” addressed misconceptions about ABA, identified common concerns and benefits of ABA treatment, and, with adherence to the behavioral literature on ABA for persons with autism, identified best practices and red flags. This guide has been posted on the Autism Society website and viewed over 4,000 times. |
Instruction Level: Intermediate |
Target Audience: Target audience: Intermediate-level attendees should have experience in delivering and supervising ABA interventions for persons with autism. They must also be able to recognize improper delivery of ABA services. |
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to: (1) state the most frequently reported self-advocate concerns about ABA services, (2) state the most frequently reported parent concerns about potential harm to their child from receiving ABA services, and (3) direct parents and other consumers to the Autism Society ABA Services Guide. |
Keyword(s): ABA complaints, autism services, Autistic concerns, Parent concerns |
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