Please join us for Autism 203: ABA – What Parents Need To Know, on March 18, 2021, a virtual panel presentation about Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Presenters:

  • Katherine Bateman, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA is a Research Scientist and Project Director in the Area of Special Education at the University of Washington
  • Ilene Schwartz, PhD, BCBA-D is a professor of Special Education at the University of Washington and the Director of the Haring Center for Inclusive Education at the University of Washington
  • Mendy Minjarez, PhD, is Executive Director, Seattle Children’s Autism Center, Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences University of Washington, Director, Applied Behavior Analysis Early Intervention Program, Seattle Children’s Autism Center
  • Nancy Rosenberg, PhD, BCBA-D is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Special Education department at the University of Washington and the Director of the UW Applied Behavior Analysis program

Intervention using the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has long been considered an effective and gold standard treatment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, ABA is frequently misunderstood. Perceptions of ABA have recently been a “hot button” issue, due to reports that this intervention can lead to trauma. In addition, ABA advocates and members of the neurodiversity movement have sometimes been at odds, the former advocating for intensive treatment and the latter arguing that autism must be accepted as a form of diversity. This mixed information can be confusing for parents who are striving to choose the best therapeutic interventions for their child with ASD. This presentation will explore these perceptions of ABA and provide clarification of the scientific evidence for various claims, with the goal of helping parents navigate the confusion and controversy and confidently identify the best therapeutic intervention for their child and family.

This panel presentation will include:

• Brief overview of ABA including different applications of ABA (parent education, social skills, 1:1 intensive intervention, etc.)
• Brief overview of scientific evidence for ABA
• Discussion of benefits and criticisms of ABA for children with ASD and related disorders
• How parents can become educated consumers of ABA
• ABA and neurodiversity

Date: March 18, 2020

Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m. PT

Registration is not required

Watch live on Seattle Children’s Facebook page.

The event will start at 7:00 p.m. and will include time for questions at the end of the presentation.

Following the presentation, it can be viewed on Seattle Children’s Facebook and will be added to Seattle Children’s Autism 200 YouTube channel within two weeks of the lecture date.