Interactive Videos

Sexuality is emerging as a more commonly occurring clinical concern within behavior analytic work. With sexuality, gender identity, orientation, and other topics found within the National Sex Education Standards becoming more normalized in discussions, behavior analysts find themselves struggling to catch up to the necessary competencies to work in this field. However, the need is urgent as concerns around sexuality also mean concerns with safety and well-being. In this talk, Dr. Shane T. Spiker will discuss some of the primary concerns that arise in this area of practice as well as some ways to ensure that your clients remain safe.

About the Speaker

Shane Spiker is a BCBA in Ormond Beach, Florida. Shane received his MS of Psychology in 2012 from the University of Phoenix. In May 2019, he graduated with his PhD in Clinical Psychology with a concentration on instructional design from Walden University. He has been immersed in the field of ABA for 12 years, with the majority of his experience with adults with autism and other disabilities. Shane specializes working with teens and adults with dangerous problem behavior, sexual behavior as well as medically complex individuals. Primarily, Shane serves as the Director of Training and Dissemination at PBS, Corp. Currently, Shane previously served as the Vice President of the Sexual Behavior: Research and Practice SIG through ABAI. He has written and published several articles related to behavior analysis and practice. Additionally, he serves as a co-instructor at Florida Institute of Technology, Arizona State University, and Regis College, where he teaches graduate level coursework. More than anything, he enjoys a good cup of coffee.

Abstract

Challenging behaviors are often the result of a child’s inability to meet their needs appropriately. One reason children with ASD engage in these responses may be due to insufficient learning opportunities in their environments. Scripts and script fading have shown to be effective at teaching language skills to individuals with ASD (Akers et al., 2015). Scripts can include pictures (Akers et al., 2018), text (Roche et al., 2019), or audio stimuli (Szmacinski et al., 2018) that function as prompts (which are systematically removed) for an individual to independently emit words or phrases. We sought out to see how scripts have been used to decrease maladaptive behaviors. However, the current literature doesn’t discuss the use of scripts as an intervention for decreasing maladaptive behaviors. Scripts have shown to be effective at promoting language development for manding (Brodhead et al., 2016), play skills (Ledbetter-Cho et al., 2015), and social interactions (Wichnick-Gillis et al., 2016). FCT is an evidenced-based treatment that abates maladaptive behaviors while teaching appropriate responses that serve the same function (Durand & Moskowitz, 2015). In the initial phases of FCT, similar to scripts, a prompt is provided to teach a functional communicative response (Tigers et al., 2008). Because FCT can easily incorporate scripts, we are presenting treatment options that incorporate using scripts as antecedent strategies to abate maladaptive behaviors while establishing functionally equivalent responses. We will discuss current literature and how these two interventions can be used together to decrease maladaptive behaviors by replacing them with functionally equivalent responses.

About the Speakers

Dr. Jessica Korneder is an Assistant Professor and Director the ABA Clinic at Oakland University. Payton Boudreau received her MEd in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from Oakland University and became a BCBA in 2020. She has been providing services to children diagnosed with ASD for five years, and is the founder of INSPIRE Autism. Anna Jenkins received her MEd in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from Oakland University and became a BCBA in 2020. She currently works as a BCBA at INSPIRE Autism and has been providing services to children diagnosed with ASD for five years.

Pseudoscientific practices are commonly used and promoted in the field of developmental disabilities. Behavior analysts should anticipate encountering such treatments in practice and understand their ethical obligations with regard to these practices. This presentation will present a model to prepare behavior analysts for how to address situations in which clients may ask them to use pseudoscientific practices, as well as reviewing resources for ethical guidance and evidence-based practices.

[su_accordion]
[su_spoiler title=”About the Speakers” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus”]
Angela Capuano is a licensed clinical psychologist and BCBA-D who teaches in the undergraduate and graduate Applied Behavior Analysis program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She also practices and sees children, families, and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other mental health disorders.

Dr. Kim Killu is a professor in the special education and applied behavior analysis programs at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She has worked with all categories of exceptionality as a psychologist and a Board Certi�ed Behavior Analyst.
[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”Survey Results” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus”]
[surveyresults module=”Addressing Pseudoscientific Practices in Applied Behavior Analysis”]
[/su_spoiler]
[/su_accordion]