(REC) “Treat”ments Not “Trick”ments: How to Improve the Reputation of ABA By Improving the Practice

This presentation includes the negative history of our field, how it relates to the time period, and how we can better educate others on what we do. The content includes information about Ivar Lovaas, how our field is perceived by other therapy practitioners, and how some of our language can be confusing without context. The webinar provides examples of how to practice better ABA in a client-focused manner that is driven by client consent.

Learning Objectives:

• The participant will be able to identify the trouble with the infamous Lovaas interview and how it can be interpreted and misinterpreted based on the time period.
• The participant will be able to provide examples of uncomfortable topics in our field and what they can do to improve our practice.
• The participant will be able to explain commonly misunderstood ABA terminology in easy-to-understand terms.The participant will be able to explain how we can ethically increase our own scope of practice.
• The participant will be able to provide examples of behaviors that we should ethically target to increase or decrease, as well as behaviors that should not be targeted.

PRESENTER(S): Angela Moering

Hi! I’m Angela Ingrassia Moering, Owner and Clinical Director of Creative ABA Connections, Inc. I hold a BA in Psychology (2007) and an MA in Exceptional Student Education (2010) from the University of Central Florida. After 10 years as a special education teacher, I completed my training in Applied Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2018. Since then, I have worked in various settings, including clinics, homes, schools, and supported living environments.