| Abstract: The purposes of the Autism Special Interest Group (Autism SIG) are to (1) promote evidence based practices in regard to treatment for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); (2) promote best practices as it relates to procedures/interventions based upon the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) as it relates to individuals diagnosed with ASD; (3) help individuals diagnosed with ASD, families of individuals diagnosed with ASD, and consumers to identify components of evidence based practices, quality behavioral intervention, and effective treatments; (4) help protect individuals diagnosed with ASD and their families from ineffective, non-evidence based, and/or potential harmful treatment(s); (5) serve as a scientific and professional reference and networking group for its members; and (6) organize an annual meeting to provide a forum for discussion of the affairs of the SIG. In this talk we will briefly describe recent developments that have occurred within the Autism SIG as well as future plans in the upcoming year. |
 Dr. Cihon received his B.S. in special education from Fontbonne University, M.S. in behavior analysis at the University of North Texas under the mentorship of Dr. Shahla Ala’i, Dr. Jesus Rosales-Ruiz, and Dr. Manish Vaidya, and his Ph.D. at Endicott College under the mentorship of Dr. Mary Jane Weiss. He is currently the Co-Director of Research at Autism Partnership Foundation, adjunct professor at Endicott College, and the Secretary/Treasurer of the Autism Special Interest Group. Joe has over fifteen years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities in home, school, and community settings. His research interests are broad and include, but are not limited to, evaluating approach-based interventions, shaping, increasing favorable interactions among children, their families, and interventionists, developing contingencies to promote generalization and maintenance, and improving mealtimes for selective eaters. Joe has numerous publications in several behavior analytic journals and has served as a reviewer for several journals inducing Behavior Analysis in Practice, the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, the Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, the Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, the Journal of Developmental Neurorehabilitation, and the Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. |