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| Defining and Measuring Meaningful Outcomes in ABA Services for Autism Spectrum Disorders |
| Monday, May 26, 2025 |
| 3:00 PM–3:50 PM |
| Marriott Marquis, M2 Level, Marquis Salon 1-5 |
| Area: AUT/PRA; Domain: Service Delivery |
| Chair: Sarah Frampton (University of Nebraska Omaha) |
| CE Instructor: Ivy M Chong, Ph.D. |
| Presenting Author: IVY M CHONG (Little Leaves Behavioral Services) |
| Abstract: Many individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) require continuous healthcare and social services to meet their evolving needs, with lifetime costs estimated at up to $2.4 million (Buescher et al., 2014). While many treatment modalities exist, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is considered the gold standard and remains the only evidence-based practice for treating ASD. As a result, there is increasing discussion around meaningful outcomes associated with ABA services for individuals with ASD. However, there is still no industry consensus on what outcomes should be measured or how to assess meaningful impact. This session will explore two frameworks—ICHOM and BHCOE—that have been developed to drive consensus on the measurement of outcomes. Additionally, the session will provide an overview of key terminology, including a discussion of quality, quality control, and quality assurance. An Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) model will be used as an example to offer practical guidance for measurement in practice. Finally, barriers to implementation and the need for alignment among providers, patients, and payers will be addressed. |
| Instruction Level: Intermediate |
| Target Audience: This presentation is intended for behavior analysts and senior leadership overseeing ABA service programs for individuals with ASD. Attendees should have an understanding of common measurement practices used in ABA services, including norm referenced and skill based assessments. |
Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will be able to explain the significance of outcome measurement in ABA services for individuals with ASD to improve treatment planning.
2. Participants will be able to describe outcome measures as related to quality assurance and quality control in the context of ABA services.
3. Participants will be able to identify and describe two key frameworks—ICHOM and BHCOE—developed to standardize outcome measurement in ABA therapy and how these can be applied in clinical practice. |
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| IVY M CHONG (Little Leaves Behavioral Services) |
 Dr. Ivy Chong is the Chief Clinical Officer of Little Leaves Behavioral Services and brings 26 years of experience working with individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. She earned her doctorate in Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University and later obtained an MBA in Healthcare Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. From 2017 to 2023, Ivy served as Senior Vice President of Children’s Services at the May Institute. Prior to that, she held the role of Director of Autism Services and Training at the Scott Center for Autism Treatment and was an Associate Professor in the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts at the Florida Institute of Technology from 2008 to 2017. Since 2005, Ivy has been an active Subject Matter Expert (SME) with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), where she currently serves on the board of directors and is the Treasurer. |
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