Association for Behavior Analysis International

It is the responsibility of every ABA supervisor to provide efficacious supervision to current and prospective certificants (BACB, 2014). The ABA Supervision Handbook offers a systematic method for assessing and training professional behavior analysts to acquire clinical competency. Additionally, it allows for the identification of supervisees’ skills and needs, helps to structure the supervision experience, operationalizes the practice of supervision, provides competency-based measures, and helps fulfill the supervisor's duty to develop ethical decision-making systems. As a result, organizations will benefit from improved supervisory practices and competent staff.

Prerequisite include BCBA practicing for 1+ years with completion of 8-hour Supervision Course.

This international panel will describe how a group of colleagues maintained and strengthened relationships, sustained mental health, and perpetuated optimism via scheduled zoom meetings during the pandemic. The panel will describe the specific strategies used, including the use of behavior analytic themed assignments, the discussion of empowering stories (incorporating the inclusion of current events), the establishment of systems supports, and the sharing of the individual impacts of the pandemic. Regular meetings were structured around affirming principles and positive supports related to the pandemic, with meetings scheduled to best accommodate the timetables of those participating. Among the assignments were discussions of seminal presentations and personally relevant articles that each participant felt were meaningful in shaping their careers, including stories of how important factors and/or mentors impacted lives and practices. Participants discussed how they coped with the of challenges posed by the restrictive isolation, significant and stressful changes in working conditions, as well as new requirements that dramatically altered the practice of behavior analysis during the Covid-19 crisis. The importance of collaborative self-care and relationship maintenance will be emphasized, along with the focus on the other ethical requirements related to one’s responsibility as a general professional, practitioner, supervisor, researcher, colleague etc.

All behavior analysts particularly those who provide or will be providing supervision.

For the most part, supervision has primarily focused on teaching skills from the task list. However, as supervisors, we often receive feedback regarding supervisee acquisition and mastery of “soft skills”. Also known as “common skills” or “core skills”, these may include critical thinking, problem solving, public speaking, professional writing, teamwork, leadership, professional attitude, work ethic, career management, and cultural humility among others. Additionally, supervisors are often at a loss regarding how to systematically fade their supervisory support. Until now, there has not been a sequential means for supervisors to accomplish this, leaving students ready to pass the exam, but unprepared to effectively work as BCBAs or supervisors themselves. This panel will highlight a competency-based approach to guiding and measuring soft skills. This includes how to systematically supervise, manage cases, build skills to demonstrate professionalism, as well as how to fade supervision ethically; thus ensuring supervisees demonstrate competency, readiness, and independence.

Supervising BCaBAs, BCBAs, and BCBA-D. New supervisors and those taking the 8 -hour supervision course.

Telehealth provides an alternative modality of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) service which can be tailored to meet the unique and individual needs of clients across the globe. With rates of Autism on the rise, a steep increase in the need and desire of ABA has been noted in ample communities throughout the world. The lack of access to care, particularly in underserved communities, has always existed but has become more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals affected by Autism, whether it be children or adults, in developing countries have limited access to resources and qualified practitioners capable of providing services to those in need. QABA holds its certificants to the highest standards while advocating for ethical and efficient use of telehealth services for those with limited access to service. Telehealth can provide an advantage to individuals who reside in isolated and/or rural areas. The numerous benefits of telehealth services can offer to those in need include parent training, program modification, and access to care amongst many others. Telehealth is an innovative means of service delivery which can have a positive impact on individuals, families, and their communities.

Professionals in the field of applied behavior analysis, especially those residing in developing countries and those in need of more information on telehealth.