Disseminating Behavior Analysis to Help People

Todd A. Ward, PhD, BCBA-D & Zachary H. Morford, PhD, BCBA-D

bSci21 Media, LLC

Brett DiNovi, M.A., BCBA

Brett DiNovi & Associates

Behavior analysts have worked in areas outside of autism for decades, but the field of autism still reigns supreme among professionals. According to a 2016 survey of over 7,000 BCBAs, about 76% of BCBAs work in the areas of autism (67.7%) or developmental disabilities (8.3%). Yet behavior analysts have much to offer in other fields. In a recent video by Brett DiNovi and Associates, Brett discusses with BDA employees some of the ways that BDA helps people.

In addition to traditional autism services, behavior analysis also works in Organizational Behavior Management (OBM). OBM has a long and respected history in behavior analysis, with its own journal and professional network. OBM allows behavior analysts to consult with organizations that hold themselves to a high ethical standard, word hard, and are going to use behavioral science. They can help companies to either prevent failure or produce growth.

Behavior analysts also provides home services, through which families and caregivers can receive either 12 or 16 hours of direct support, one-on-one evaluations, the social skills limo, movement matters program, and several services related to education, including consultation services for schools, RBT training, and type 2 continuing education credits for BCBAs and BCaBAs. Behavior analysts also work at the school-wide level providing Positive Behavioral Supports (PBS) services. For readers who may be unfamiliar, PBS is a three-tiered behavior management system used to determine the amount of behavioral support needed for students. According to the PBS model, roughly 80% of students can be served properly through school or classroom-wide behavior systems (tier 1, or primary prevention), 15% of students require specialized group interventions (tier 2, or secondary prevention), and 5% of students need specialized individualized behavior support (tier 3, or tertiary prevention).

Brett briefly discusses an approach called “SPA”—or Safe and Positive Approach. SPA helps to ensure that interactions with clients are as safe and positive as possible, and includes crisis training provided by professionals to ensure this outcome.

An employee in the video demonstrates his dedication to providing only the highest quality of services. He gave an example of how a client might want him to run an assessment or provide a clinical associate (CA) to do so. However, if he or the CA do not know how to run the assessment, then they either find someone who is fluent with the assessment, or they won’t do it at all. They want to ensure that they put their best foot forward when doing their work. Not only does this create a great reputation within the community, but it ensures that you set up your employees and colleagues to succeed, and provide a more positive work environment.

Brett discusses brings up several interesting points at the end of the video. First, the more you say no, the more other people will want you. He suggests that saying “no” may serve as an EO. And second, when you believe in what you do, you don’t have to sell anything.

Be sure to check out the full video, and to subscribe to Brett DiNovi’s YouTube channel and let him know what you would like to see in future videos. Also be sure to subscribe to bSci21 via email to receive the latest articles directly to your inbox!

Todd A. Ward, PhD, BCBA-D is the President and Founder of bSci21Media, LLC, which owns the top behavior analytic media outlet in the world, bSci21.org.  bSci21Media aims to disseminate behavior analysis to the world and to support ABA companies around the globe through the Behavioral Science in the 21st Century blog and its subsidiaries, bSciEntrepreneurial, bSciWebDesign, bSciWriting, and the ABA Outside the Box CEU series.  Dr. Ward received his PhD in behavior analysis from the University of Nevada, Reno under Dr. Ramona Houmanfar.  He has served as a Guest Associate Editor of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, and as an Editorial Board member of Behavior and Social Issues.  Dr. Ward has also provided ABA services to children and adults with various developmental disabilities in day centers, in-home, residential, and school settings, and previously served as Faculty Director of Behavior Analysis Online at the University of North Texas.  Dr. Ward is passionate about disseminating behavior analysis to the world and growing the field through entrepreneurship. Todd can be reached at [email protected]

Zach Morford, PhD, BCBA-D, has been in the field of behavior analysis for 10 years. In that time, he has worked in varied areas of behavior analysis, including autism, animal training, OBM, education, and instructional design. Dr. Morford has also taught undergraduate and graduate behavior analysis courses at three different universities, presented internationally, trained behavior analysts in Italy and Saudi Arabia, and published peer-reviewed papers in multiple behavior analytic outlets regarding applied, experimental, and theoretical issues. His primary interest in the field is the large-scale application of behavioral principles to issues of social importance. Currently, Dr. Morford serves as the Executive Director of the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis (TxABA), and is the co-owner and founder of Zuce Technologies, LLC, a small-business consulting and instructional design company. You can contact him at [email protected]

Brett DiNovi, M.A., BCBA has the unique and distinguished experience of studying the principles of applied behavior analysis under the rigorous scrutiny of both Dr. Julie S. Vargas (formerly Skinner) and Dr. E.A. Vargas at West Virginia University’s internationally recognized program. For the past 26 years, Brett has used behavior analytic principles to create large scale change across school districts, Fortune 500 companies using principles of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), and across individual learners. Brett has been a OBM consultant in Morgantown WV, an instructor at West Virginia University, a guest lecturer at numerous universities, a speaker on multiple Comcast Newsmakers TV programs, an expert witness in due process hearings, has publications in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, and has been in in executive leadership positions across schools and residential programs nationwide. In addition to an award from South Jersey Biz Magazine for “Best Places to Work,” an award for “Best of Families” in Suburban Magazine, and the distinguished “Top Ranked U.S. Executives” award, Brett’s proudest accomplishment is being a role model and father for his daughter and two stepchildren (one of which has autism). Brett can be reached at [email protected]

 

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