BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies - ECPv6.15.13//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://behavior.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20240101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250404 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250405 DTSTAMP:20260426T000802 CREATED:20240806T191738Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251001T213313Z UID:21697-1743724800-1743811199@behavior.org SUMMARY:18th Annual Conference on Autism: Research-Based Solutions DESCRIPTION:NOTE: Presentation recording links were emailed to those registered on 4/7/2 at 5:45 pm. IF you did not receive\, contact Rebekah Pavlik at pa****@******or.org. \n\nA one-day conference featuring leading experts in fields of Science\, Special Education\, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. \nFriday\, April 4\, 2025 – 9:00 am – 5:15 pm (Eastern Timezone) \nThis is a hybrid in-person and virtual conference. Recordings will be available for 14 days post-conference. (For those seeking Psychology CE Credits\, there is an additional testing process to be completed for asynchronous/home-study completion.) \nOf benefit to Behavior Analysts\, Psychologists\, Teachers\, Speech-Language Pathologists\, Special Education Providers\, School Administrators\, Students and Parents & Caregivers \nRecordings will be available for 14-days post-conference for home-study. \nGroups of five (5) or more coming in-person from one organization/team are offered a discount. (See pricing.) If you have a group of 20 or more for in-person or virtual\, please contact pa****@******or.org. \n \n IN-PERSON REGISTRATION\n \n VIRTUAL REGISTRATION\n \n \n \n \n \n Invited Speakers & Moderators\n \n \n \n \n \n Bridget A. Taylor\, PsyD\, BCBA-D\, Moderator with Panel: Caring for Caregivers: Discussing the Role of Compassionate Practices in Applied Behavior Analysis\n Bridget A. Taylor\, PsyD\, BCBA-DCo-founder and CEO\, Alpine Learning GroupSenior Clinical Advisor\, Rethink \nwith \nNancy Marchese\, PhD\, CPsych\, RBA (Ont)\, BCBA-DCEO and FounderBreakthrough Autism \nBritany Melton\, MEd\, BCBADirector of Research and Training\,Journeys Autism Center \nMary Jane Weiss\, PhD\, BCBA-D\, LABADean\, Institute for Applied Behavioral ScienceDirector\, PhD Program in Applied Behavior Analysis\, Endicott College \nCaring for Caregivers: Discussing the Role of Compassionate Practices in Applied Behavior Analysis\nAbstract:\nTaylor et al (2019) issued a call to action to the field of ABA to evaluate the integration of compassionate care into service delivery. Compassionate care is a foundational value within the science of ABA\, but more attention is needed to define\, measure\, and teach these skills to practitioners. In this panel\, various approaches to studying compassionate care will be reviewed\, including qualitative interviews with caregivers\, the identification of component skills important to supporting parents of children with autism\, and the measurement of behaviors that convey compassion in direct service interactions with clients. The panel will address challenges in definition\, measurement\, training\, and generalization. \nLearning Objectives:\nAt the conclusion of this presentation\, participants will be able to: \n\nIdentify at least 2 component skills relating to supporting children with autism and their family.\nIdentify at least 2 ways to measure compassionate behaviors in direct service contexts.\nIdentify at least 3 themes from qualitative interviews with caregivers that are important during service delivery.\n\nPresenter Bios:\n \nDr. Bridget A. Taylor is the co-founder and CEO of Alpine Learning Group and serves as the Senior Clinical Advisor for Rethink Behavioral Health. She co-hosts Our Next Guest\, a popular interview-style webinar series featuring live discussions with renowned behavior analysts on topics relevant to both clinicians and families. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Licensed Psychologist\, Dr. Taylor has played a pivotal role in the field of applied behavior analysis and autism intervention for over 35 years. She is a past president of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and a former Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Currently\, she serves on the board of the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (SEAB). Dr. Taylor’s recent work explores compassionate relationship-building with families when providing clinical services to individuals with autism. In recognition of her outstanding contributions\, she has been honored by the Association for Applied Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and awarded the prestigious ABAI Fellow designation. \n  \n \nBritany Melton\, MEd\, BCBA\, is the Director of Research and Training and has been in the field of ABA for over 10 years. She received her master’s degree from Endicott College in Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis.  Britany has worked in a variety of settings including educational\, residential\, and clinical and is currently the Director of Research and Staff Training at Journeys.    Britany has extensive experience managing ABA clinics and organizational behavior management.  Her research and practice interests include compassionate care\, functional long-term outcomes\, and the treatment of severe problem behavior.  Britany’s passion for ABA and science has led her to pursue her PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis at Endicott College where she is currently enrolled. \n \nNancy Marchese discovered her passion for the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 1998 when she first started working with children and adolescents with autism. Since then\, she’s had the privilege of working with hundreds of children and adolescents with autism and their families across Ontario\, Canada. Nancy is the CEO and Founder of Breakthrough Autism. \nA Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral Level (BCBA-D) and Clinical Psychologist\, Nancy completed on her PhD in Behavior Analysis through Endicott College. She takes pride in the fact that she stays connected with the latest research\, which she incorporates into her client’s programming. Nancy has published research in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) and Behavior Analysis in Practice (BAP). She has also presented at both local and international conferences. She is the 2020 recipient of the Patrick Judge Clinical Dissemination Award presented by Endicott College. She is also the 2019 recipient of the “President’s Award for Service Excellence” award and the 2015 recipient of the “Excellence in the Contribution to Behavior Analysis” award both presented by the Ontario Association of Behavior Analysts (ONTABA). Nancy is the Past President of ONTABA. Finally\, based on her extensive expertise and clinical experience\, Nancy was appointed to serve on the ASD-Clinical Expert Committee (CEC) for what was formerly known as the Ministry of Children and Youth Services in Ontario\, Canada. \n \nMary Jane Weiss\, PhD\, BCBA-D\, LABA\, is the Dean of the Institute for Applied Behavioral Science and is Director of the Ph.D. Program in ABA at Endicott College\, where she has been for 11 years. She also works with the research and training teams at Melmark. She has worked in the field of ABA and Autism for over 35 years. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University in 1990 and she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2000. She previously worked for 16 years at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers University. Her clinical and research interests center on defining best practice ABA techniques\, integrating compassionate care and cultural responsiveness into ABA service delivery\, exploring ways to enhance the ethical conduct of practitioners\, training staff to be optimally effective at instruction and at collaboration\, and maximizing family members’ expertise and adaptation.  She serves on the Scientific Council of the Organization for Autism Research\, is on the board of Association for Science in Autism Treatment\, is a regular contributor to the ABA Ethics Hotline\, is on the editorial board of Behavior Analysis in practice\, and is a Trustee of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. She is a regular presenter at national and international conferences and is a frequent member of service committees for a variety of organizations. \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n Pamela Peterson (She/Her) PhD\, BCBA-D\, LABA: Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention: Considerations for Service Delivery \n Pamela Peterson (She/Her) PhD\, BCBA-D\, LABADirector of Early Intervention\, Melmark New England \nEarly Intensive Behavioral Intervention: Considerations for Service Delivery\nAbstract:\nEarly Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) is the implementation of behavioral intervention with young children during the first several years of life. EIBI is often provided for children with autism ranging in age from 1 to 5 years of age in home-based or community (i.e.\, childcare) settings. Several factors present unique considerations related to service delivery for children receiving EIBI. For example\, families with children entering EIBI have often received fairly recent news of their child’s diagnosis. As a result\, EIBI is often the family’s first exposure to autism and behavior analytic intervention\, placing clinicians in the position of both building rapport with and educating families who are in the initial stages of processing a diagnosis\, are managing stressors related to having a child with autism\, and who may enter intervention with misconceptions related to ABA and autism. Additionally\, behavior analysts working with young children are also often responsible for establishing foundational “learning-to-learn” skills that facilitate learning and set the occasion for more complex repertoires. Direct care staff are often asked to teach these skills in the context of play and to utilize natural environment teaching (NET) techniques during daily routines\, both of which require a level of fluency with these strategies in order to take advantage of multiple learning opportunities while maintaining the child’s interest and attention. Lastly\, behavior analysts delivering EIBI are tasked with collaborating with families on the identification of skills that may decrease or prevent the development of severe topographies of challenging behavior while acknowledging that young children often engage in developmentally- and socially-appropriate forms of challenging behavior. This presentation will discuss these and other considerations related to the delivery of EIBI in naturalistic settings. \nLearning Objectives:\nAt the conclusion of this presentation\, participants will be able to: \n\nDescribe three considerations related to the implementation of EIBI with families with a young child with autism.\nIdentify considerations for promoting caregiver implementation of and participation in behavioral intervention.\nDescribe the benefits of natural environment teaching (NET) strategies in the implementation of EIBI and the challenges of effectively training direct care staff to implement NET.\nIdentify foundational learning-to-learn skills that are targeted in EIBI and how they relate to more complex behavioral repertoires.\n\nPresenter Bio:\nDr. Pamela Peterson is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and licensed applied behavior analyst specializing in early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for young children with autism. Dr. Peterson has been working in the field of ABA with a focus on EIBI for over 12 years and is currently the director of early intervention at Melmark New England. She received her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and her masters and doctorate degrees in Behavior Analysis through Western New England University. Dr. Peterson has co-authored book chapters on common components of EIBI as well as a peer-reviewed article on the establishment of social referencing in young children with autism in the presence of safe and dangerous stimuli. She currently services as an adjunct lecturer for Regis College and Western New England University. Her current research interests include the emergence and maintenance of complex social repertoires such as imitation\, joint attention\, social referencing\, and observational learning; the implementation of incidental teaching strategies by providers and caregivers; and the evaluation of outcomes of early intensive behavioral intervention for children and their families. \n \n \n \n \n \n Kimberly A. Schreck\, PhD\, BCBA-D: The War on Science II: Avoiding Disaster and Protecting the Vulnerable\n Kimberly A. Schreck\, PhD\, BCBA-DProfessor of Psychology\, Penn State Harrisburg \nThe War on Science II: Avoiding Disaster and Protecting the Vulnerable\nAbstract:\nThe war on science has invaded many areas of our lives. Conspiracy theorists and main stream Americans attack scientific results on many battle fronts (e.g.\, the shape of the earth\, vaccines causing autism\, climate change\, safe health practices). Although during behavior analysis training we must learn the scientific foundations and applications of science\, research supports that the war on science has invaded Applied Behavior Analysis. This presentation will protest the war on science by providing (a) continuing evidence on how the war on science has invaded our discipline\, (b) strategies for identifying the battles and the variables contributing to their continuation\, (c) examples of the ethical implications for avoiding disaster and protecting the vulnerable through science\, and (d) battle strategies as you stand on the clinical front lines. \nLearning Objectives:\nAt the conclusion of this presentation\, participants will be able to: \n\nIdentify how behavior analysis has been invaded by the war on science particularly in choices and use of evidence-based practice.\nIdentify the important battles and variables influencing behavior analysts’ support of non-scientifically based practices and use of treatment practices.\nIdentify the ethical implications of using non-scientifically based practices in behavior analysis practices.\nProvide strategies for evaluating evidence for practices and ethically persuading others to use them.\n\nPresenter Bio:\nKimberly Anne Schreck\, Ph.D.\, BCBA-D® is a Professor at Penn State Harrisburg\, where she assisted in creating the Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis program. She directed the ABA Master’s for the majority of the program’s existence. Dr. Schreck has worked in the field of Psychology and ABA for over 30 years\, with 25 years as a faculty member (teaching psychology\, ABA\, and special education courses). She received her Ph.D. in Psychology (specializing in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) from the Ohio State University. Dr. Schreck completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at Columbus Children’s Hospital (now Nationwide Children’s Hospital) with co-appointments with the Heinzerling Memorial Foundation\, the Heinzerling Developmental Center\, and the Ohio State University. She continues her clinical experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities\, autism\, and neurodegenerative diseases from early intervention to adulthood\, with families\, and with educational organizations. \nDr. Schreck’s clinical and research interests include ethical practices and evidence-based practices\, autism and related issues (e.g.\, sleep)\, intellectual and developmental disabilities (e.g.\, MPS-IIIA)\, interventions for skill acquisition\, and behavior issues. She has published numerous publications classics related to sleep and feeding issues. Dr. Schreck also publishes and presents nationally and internationally on ethical practice. She is a regular reviewer of scientific manuscripts\, a member of journal editorial boards\, reviewer for national and international dissertations\, and a grant reviewer. She has served in a variety of professional service positions including Associate Editor of Behavioral Interventions\, member of the Penn ABA Executive Council\, grant consultant\, member of human research review and human rights committees for various organizations\, and a senior research mentor for multiple professionals across disciplines. \n \n \n \n \n \n Helena Maguire\, MS\, LABA\, BCBA\, CDE®\, Moderator with Panel: From Risks to Results: Applying Organizational Behavior Management to Workplace Safety in Human Services Organizations\n Helena Maguire\, MS\, LABA\, BCBA\, CDE®Vice President and Chief Clinical OfficerMelmark New England at Melmark Inc. \nwith Panel \nJill Harper\, PhD\, BCBA-D\, LABA\, CDE®Senior Director of Professional Development\, Clinical Training\, and ResearchMelmark New England \nKatie Salvatore\, MEd\, BCBA\, LABAExecutive Director Melmark New England \nFreddie Scibelli\, MEd\, BCBA\, LABAClinical Services Compliance Analyst\, Melmark \nFrom Risks to Results: Applying Organizational Behavior Management to Workplace Safety in Human Services Organizations\nAbstract:\nOrganizational Behavior Management (OBM) is a subspecialty of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) focused on applying learning principles to enhance employee performance in business\, industry\, manufacturing\, and similar sectors. OBM also has strong evidence-based support within human service organizations\, particularly for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A critical aspect of OBM is implementing evidence-based safety practices that promote a culture of safety\, reduce serious incidents\, and enhance employee well-being. This presentation/workshop will introduce a behavioral approach within the OBM framework to improve workplace safety in human service organizations. It will address common areas of risk\, identify where injuries are most likely to occur\, and demonstrate how to design and implement effective systems to enhance safety and ensure system integrity. The discussion will focus on key OBM strategies to address priority safety objectives\, specifically (a) behavioral safety practices (b) performance diagnostics (c) staff training and supervision and (d) data collection and analysis relevant to safety in the workplace. Critical components of each area will be presented\, supported by case studies and research examples. These case studies will illustrate practical strategies for overcoming barriers\, ensuring intervention integrity\, and achieving sustainable practices. Emphasis will be placed on navigating real-world challenges and assessing the social validity of interventions within the workforce. \nLearning Objectives:\nAt the conclusion of this presentation\, participants will be able to: \n\nIdentify fundamental OBM principles and design strategies aimed at improving workplace safety.\nDescribe key features of assessment and intervention design for effective safety management.\nIdentify measurement procedures and performance metrics necessary for evaluating and enhancing systems intervention success.\nAnalyze case examples to determine and propose appropriate solutions.\n\nPresenter Bios:\n \nHelena Maguire\, MS\, LABA\, BCBA\, CDE®: Helena Maguire serves as the Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer of Melmark. She oversees the development and implementation of programs and services\, as well as the daily operations for Melmark New England. She develops strategic objectives for the Massachusetts division\, and provides leadership to direct reports in order to assure the achievement of these objectives. Mrs. Maguire supports the CEO through various committees and activities\, and assumes responsibility for policy development\, quality assurance\, risk management\, regulatory compliance\, fiscal integrity\, and excellence in care and delivery of all services. \nMrs. Maguire has worked extensively in the field of community based human service delivery systems in Massachusetts. She has served as a Program Director at Vinfen Corporation and as the Director of Adult Services at the May Institute. In both of these positions\, Mrs. Maguire was responsible for the development and implementation of the staff orientation training curriculum\, training for supervisory personnel and in-service training for all staff.  Mrs. Maguire has presented numerous papers on staff management and staff training techniques\, both at the local level and at the national level. \nMrs. Maguire is an Adjunct Professor at Endicott College and the University of Massachusetts-Boston and is an instructor for a five-course graduate series on Applied Behavior Analysis. \nShe earned her Master of Science in Human Services Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. She earned her Board Certification in Behavior Analysis (BCBA) in May 2002. \n  \n \nDr. Harper serves as the Senior Director of Professional Development\, Clinical Training\, and Research at Melmark New England. Dr. Harper received her PhD. in Psychology with a concentration in Behavior Analysis from the University of Florida. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst\, Licensed Behavior Analyst with the State of Massachusetts\, and a Certified Diversity Executive®. Dr. Harper received the 2013 Jerry Shook Practitioner Award from BABAT\, Massachusetts’ professional organization for behavior analysts\, for excellence in clinical practice. In addition to direct service\, she has been actively involved in the field of behavior analysis through academic instruction\, training and supervision of staff\, as well as the design and dissemination of applied research. Dr. Harper holds an adjunct faculty position teaching and mentoring masters and doctorate level students through Endicott College.  Her research interests include the assessment and treatment of severe behavior disorders\, mechanisms responsible for behavior change\, and maintenance and generalization of treatment effects.  Dr. Harper has published her work in several peer-reviewed journals and regularly presents as regional and national conferences. \nKatherine “Katie” Salvatore is a Masters level\, Board Certified Behavior Analyst currently pursuing her a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in behavior analysis at Capella University. Katie has over 20 years of experience working in the field of children’s day\, adult residential\, public special education\, and multi-state insurance-based autism services. \nIn her role as Executive Director of Melmark New England\, Katie supports Melmark’s CEO\, CCO and COO through committees and activities\, and assumes responsibility for policy development\, quality assurance\, risk management\, regulatory compliance\, fiscal integrity\, and excellence in care and delivery of all programmatic services throughout Melmark New England. \nShe earned her Master of Education at the University of Massachusetts Boston\, has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2011 and is licensed as both a behavior analyst and special education administrator in Massachusetts. \n \nFrederick Scibelli serves as the Clinical Services Compliance Analyst at Melmark New England. He obtained his Master’s degree in severe Special Education from Simmons College in 2011 and completed the University of Massachusetts Applied Behavior Analysis Series\, obtaining his Board Certification as an Associate Behavior Analyst in 2014. Joining Melmark New England in 2007\, he has held a variety of roles within the organization including ABA counselor\, lead special educational teacher\, educational coordinator\, afterschool program coordinator\, and clinical coordinator. In his current role\, Freddie supports the Department of Professional Development\, Training and Research\, assisting with the design and implementation of new hire training and advanced professional trainings\, clinical quality assurances\, restraint regulation and monitoring compliance training. \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n Robert H. LaRue\, PhD\, BCBA-D: Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals Diagnosed with ASD \n Robert H. LaRue\, PhD\, BCBA-DClinical Professor\, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP)Director of Behavioral Services\, Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center (DDDC)Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS)Rutgers\, The State University of New Jersey \nImproving Employment Outcomes for Individuals Diagnosed with ASD\nAbstract:\nThe transition from the public school system to adulthood represents a challenging and stressful period for individuals with ASD and their families. Supports and services that were entitlements during their school-age years are no longer available\, and families often struggle to identify needed resources. The ability to obtain and maintain employment represents a critical developmental step in the lives of most people. While the public school system does well in this regard for individuals who are neurotypical\, less favorable outcomes are observed for adolescents and adults with an ASD diagnosis (Friedman et al.\, 2013; Taylor et al.\, 2015). In fact\, estimates indicate that approximately 50% to 75% of adults with ASD are unemployed after graduation (Bush & Tassé\, 2017; Howlin et al.\, 2004). Despite the importance of employment\, the existing research regarding assessment\, intervention\, and outcomes for individuals with ASD remains relatively sparse. While there have been several studies documenting that people with ASD tend to be employed less\, there have been few studies outlining what constitutes best practice to improve employment outcomes. The purpose of the current workshop is to explore some of the barriers that contribute to these poor outcomes and discuss strategies that can be used to overcome them. We will review useful vocational assessment models and to suggest intervention strategies to improve outcomes for this population. The primary goal of the workshop will be to discuss empirically-supported assessment and intervention strategies that can lead to more supportive work environments\, better job matching\, and improved long-term outcomes. \nLearning Objectives:\nAt the conclusion of this presentation\, participants will be able to: \n\nDescribe common employment outcomes for older individuals diagnosed with ASD.\nArticulate common barriers to employment for people diagnosed with autism.\nDescribe evidence-based models of vocational assessment.\nDescribe intervention strategies to improve employment outcomes.\n\nPresenter Bio:\nRobert H. LaRue\, Ph.D.\, BCBA-D is a Clinical Professor at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University. He earned a dual doctorate in biological and school psychology from Louisiana State University in 2002. He completed his predoctoral internship with the Kennedy Krieger Institute at Johns Hopkins University and a postdoctoral fellowship with the Marcus Institute (now the Marcus Autism Center) at Emory University. He currently serves as the Director of Behavioral Services at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center (DDDC) and the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services (RCAAS)\, where he provides consultative support for students and staff providing intensive behavioral services to students and adults within the Centers. His research interests include the assessment and treatment of maladaptive behavior\, improving transitional outcomes for adolescents and adults with ASD\, the use of behavioral economics in intervention\, and the evaluation of psychotropic medications used with at-risk populations. He has authored articles in peer-reviewed journals\, written several book chapters\, and presented at national and international conferences. \n \n \n \n \n \n Paul J. Waga\, MPP\, MEd\, BCBA with Co-Presenter: Quality of Life Indicators for Adults Living with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities\n Paul J. Waga\, MPP\, MEd\, BCBASenior Director of Adult Services\, Melmark \nwith \nAshley Benedetto\, MS Ed\, BCBASenior Director of Educational Services\, Melmark PA \nQuality of Life Indicators for Adults Living with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities\nAbstract:\nQuality of Life (QoL) is defined by the World Health Organization as an individual’s perception of their life position within cultural and personal contexts\, influenced by relationships\, health\, safety\, autonomy\, community inclusion\, and meaningful engagement. \nThe presentation will focus on the QoL of adults living with autism and intellectual disabilities\, emphasizing its importance in service provision. The presenters will discuss why QoL is crucial for individuals diagnosed with autism and other disabilities and the direct impact to the individual’s well-being\, independence\, and overall fulfillment. \nThe presentation will examine QoL through ethical principles such as compassion\, dignity\, and respect\, aligning with professional values like beneficence and integrity. The presenters will also discuss how to integrate contemporary care models at it relates to; compassionate care\, cultural responsiveness\, trauma-informed care\, and assent to illustrate how these variables shape service delivery. \nThroughout the presentation\, the presenters will offer practical\, evidence-based strategies for enhancing QoL through individualized support and advocacy\, promoting autonomy and self-direction for a more fulfilling life. \nLearning Objectives:\nAt the conclusion of this presentation\, participants will be able to: \n\nIdentify strategies to support individuals with autism and other disabilities in ways that upholds humanity\, dignity and compassion.\n\n\nIdentify strategies to support assertiveness and choice making to empower others.\n\n\nDescribe how to incorporate various quality of life indicators into an individualized service delivery model.\n\nPresenter Bios:\n \nPaul J. Waga\, MPP\, MEd\, BCBA\, is the Senior Director at Melmark Pennsylvania and oversees delivery of quality support and services to all the Melmark Adult Facilities in PA.  He has extensive experience working in licensed facilities both on campus-based and in community-based settings. Paul earned a bachelors’ degree in psychology from Rowan University\, NJ and a master’s degree in public policy from Drexel University\, PA. Since joining Melmark\, Paul received his master’s degree in Education in Applied Behavior Analysis from Endicott College and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Paul brings more than 22 years of experience in the field of intellectual disabilities and Autism. When Paul is not focused on service delivery to the individuals entrusted to his care\, you will find him with his significant other in Chestertown\, Maryland enjoying gardening and the Sassafras River. Paul also enjoys traveling to Kenya\, Africa where he as a large extended family. \n \nAshley Benedetto\, MEd\, BCBA\, is an accomplished leader in the field of special education and applied behavior analysis\, with a career spanning over a decade in diverse roles across educational\, residential\, vocational\, and community-based programs. She has a strong background in program development\, staff training\, and the implementation of evidence-based instructional and behavioral strategies. \nAshley’s career began in direct support roles\, where she developed a deep understanding of individualized care and behavioral interventions. She has since progressed through various leadership positions\, including Program Manager\, Behavior Specialist\, Assistant Director\, and Director roles\, each providing her with valuable experience in managing diverse programs and teams. Currently\, Ashley serves as the Senior Director of Educational Services at Melmark PA\, where she oversees comprehensive educational programs\, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards and best practices in special education. In this role\, she is responsible for strategic planning\, program evaluation\, and fostering inclusive learning environments that empower students to reach their full potential. \nAshley holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from West Chester University and a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Temple University. As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)\, utilizes a data-informed approach to educational leadership\, focusing on personalized instruction\, evidence-based behavioral supports\, and the effective supervision and development of staff. \nAshley is committed to ongoing professional development and collaboration to enhance educational programming and improve outcomes for individuals with special needs. \n \n Student Research Posters\n \n Schedule\n \n Presentations - Bios/Abstracts/Continuing Education\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Student Poster Submission Instructions\n \n \n \n \n \n Continuing Education Opportunities\n Continuing Education opportunities: \nBACB® Learning CEUs and Psychology CE Credits (Includes Licensed psychologists\, school psychologists\, and EdDs/educational psychologists) \nThis is a hybrid in-person and virtual conference. Recordings will be available for 14 days. (For those seeking Psychology CE Credits\, there is an additional testing process to be completed for asynchronous/home-study completion.) \n \nBACB® Learning CEUs (6.0 Anticipated): The Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies is an approved Type 2 CE Provider by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) and is authorized to offer 6.0 CE units for this conference. Continuing Education Provider No.: OP-04-0058 \nAttendees must complete all six presentations in-person\, virtually or through recordings available for 14 days post-conference for asynchronous home-study to earn CEs. (Partial credit will not be issued.) An evaluation and code quiz with a 100% score needs to be completed for issuance of continuing education. \nAPA Approved Sponsor \nPsychology CE Credits (6.0 Anticipated)*: Amego Prepare is a co-sponsor of this conference for Continuing Education Credits for Psychologists. Amego Prepare is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Amego Prepare maintains responsibility for this program and its content. \nIn case of a complaint\, about Psychology CE Credits\, contact Amergo Prepare directly through Dr. Michael Weinberg at MW*******@******nc.org. \nAttendees must complete all six presentations in-person\, virtually or through home-study* to earn Psychology CE Credits. (Partial credit will not be issued.) An evaluation and code quiz with a 100% score needs to be completed for issuance of continuing education. *If you are completing the conference through recordings for home-study\, there is a DIFFERENT process through Amego Prepare for those seeking a certificate for Psychology CE Credits. Contact Michael Weinberg at MW*******@******nc.org. \nQuestions or concerns? Contact Rebekah Pavlik at pa****@******or.org. \nParticipants are responsible for knowing and meeting the CE requirements of their licenses or certifications. \n \n \n \n \n \n Location\n In-Person on the campus of Melmark in Berwyn\, Pennsylvania or online\, virtually through Zoom.\nMelmark2600 Wayland RoadBerwyn\, PA 19312 \nCampus Map and Parking (PDF) \n \nRecommended nearby hotels: \nHilton Garden Inn Newtown Square Radnor \nTeca Newtown Square \n  \n \n IN-PERSON REGISTRATION\n \n VIRTUAL REGISTRATION\n \n \n \n \n \n Thank you to our Conference Hostand Platinum Sponsor\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thank You to Our Gold Sponsor\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thank You to Our Silver Sponsor\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Thank You to Our Bronze Sponsors\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n IN-PERSON REGISTRATION\n \n VIRTUAL REGISTRATION\n \n Student Research Posters\n \n Schedule\n \n Presentations - Bios/Abstracts/Continuing Education\n \n \n \n \n \n Invited Speakers & Moderators\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Bridget A. Taylor\, PsyD\, BCBA-DCo-founder and CEO\nAlpine Learning Group \nSenior Clinical Advisor\nRethink \n \n \n \n \n Pamela Peterson\, PhD\, BCBA-D\, LABADirector of Early Intervention\nMelmark New England \n \n \n \n \n Kimberly A. Schreck\, PhDProfessor of Psychology\nSchool of Behavioral Sciences and Education Penn State Harrisburg\n \n \n \n \n \n Helena Maguire\, MS\, LABA\, BCBA\, CDE®Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer\nMelmark New England at Melmark Inc.\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Robert H. LaRue\, PhD\, BCBA-DClinical Professor\nDirector of Behavioral Services\nGraduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology\nRutgers University \n \n \n \n \n Paul Waga\, MPP\, MEd\, BCBASenior Director of Adult Services\nMelmark PA \n \n \n \n \n Opening remarks by:\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rob Holdsambeck\, EdD\, LCP\, BCBA-DCambridge Center for Behavioral Studies™ URL:https://behavior.org/event/18th-annual-conference-on-autism-research-based-solutions/ LOCATION:KS CATEGORIES:Conferences ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://behavior.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/General-Autism2025-Banner-1-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250424T180000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250424T200000 DTSTAMP:20260426T000803 CREATED:20250324T222901Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250324T225549Z UID:23469-1745517600-1745524800@behavior.org SUMMARY:ABACLive Webinar with Dr. Mary Jane Weiss DESCRIPTION:Presented through the ABACLive Cambridge Center Series. Helping those who help others\, one live webinar at a time. \nCCBS Trustee Mary Jane Weiss\, PhD\, BCBA-D\, LABA presents “Compassionate Care in Behavior Analytic Work: Progress in Defining\, Measuring\, Teaching\, and Training this Skillset”\nThursday\, April 24\, 2025\n6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Eastern/NY)\nRecordings available until 05/09/25 \nThis event is FREE for the general public. Or available for a discounted price with: \nThis Program is Approved for the Following CE Credit Types: \n\n0.2 IACET CEUs\n2.0 BACB CEUs: Learning\n2.0 QABA CEUs\n2.0 Credit Hours for Psychologists* (Intermediate)\n2.0 IBAO CEUs: General\nCEUs available for watching live or viewing the recording. See brochure for more information about our continuing education requirements.\n\n*ABAC is an APA Approved Continuing Education Sponsor. APA has requested that Sponsors not use the phrase “APA credit Hours” as this implies that APA is awarding credit. CE credit is awarded by ABAC\, which is approved by APA to offer CE to psychologists. APA approval to award CE credit is also accepted by other professional organizations. \nPlease link to the Event on ABAC for detailed Applicable CE provider/sponsor statements. \nRegister on ABAC Website – FREE (NO CEs) \nRegister on ABAC Website to Earn Continuing Education \nAbstract\nCompassionate care has received a great deal of attention within the field of behavior analysis since the publication of the Taylor et al. (2019) call to action; there is a great deal of consensus about the need to incorporate more training in interpersonal skills to ensure that our clients and stakeholders feel maximally respected and supported. Progress has been made in recent years in several areas that are relevant to this goal; clarity in definitional elements of compassionate care has improved and component skills have been posited. In addition\, qualitative research has broadened our understanding of the skill set\, tools to measure the demonstration of component skills have been developed\, and pilot studies have used evidence-based interventions to teach this clinical repertoire. In this presentation\, research in these areas will be highlighted. Additionally\, clinical issues such as social validity\, generality\, and authenticity will be discussed\, as well as priorities for future research. \nLearning Objectives:\nBy the end of this event\, participants should be able to: \n\nLearners will identify definitional elements of compassionate care and component skills associated with practice.\nLearners will identify tools to assess components of compassionate care in behavior analytic practice contexts.\nLearners will identify interventions that have been used to train behavior analysts to engage in behaviors associated with compassionate care.\nLearners will identify research priorities\, including the assessment of generalization and authenticity in the demonstration of compassionate care.\n\nPresenter Bio: \n \nMary Jane Weiss\, Ph.D.\, BCBA-D\, LABA is the Dean of Institute for Applied Behavioral Science and Director of the Ph.D. Program in ABA at Endicott College\, where she has been for 14 years. She previously served as Director of Research and Training at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers University for 16 years. Her research interests center on defining best practice and humane ABA approaches\, integrating compassionate care and cultural responsiveness into behavior analytic service delivery\, enhancing the ethical conduct of practitioners\, training clinicians to be effective at collaboration\, and identifying effective instructional strategies for graduate education in behavior analysis. Mary Jane is also a long-standing member of the research team at Melmark. Mary Jane serves on the Scientific Council of the Organization for Autism Research\, is Vice President of the board of Association for Science in Autism Treatment\, is on the editorial board of Behavior Analysis in Practice\, is on the ABA Ethics Hotline\, and serves as a Trustee of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. \n*This event is FREE for the general public. For those that want a certificate of completion for continuing education credits please purchase the discounted CEs. Register on ABAC Website – FREE (NO CEs) \nThis event is being offered at the discounted ABACLive Cambridge Center Series price for CEUs (Learning). Behavior Analysts may earn continuing education for viewing the live event or recording. Behavior Analysts: 2 CEUs (Learning) Register on ABAC Website to Earn Continuing Education \nThe ABACLive Cambridge Center Series of webinars are presented by Board of Directors\, Trustees\, Advisors\, Senior Fellows of the prestigious Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. \nThe ABACLive Cambridge Center Series is the result of a collaboration between The Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies (CCBS) and The Applied Behavior Analysis Center\, Inc (ABAC) designed to make behavioral health education accessible to the global community of professionals working to make a positive difference in the lives of others. \nRegister on ABAC Website – FREE (NO CEs) \nRegister on ABAC Website to Earn Continuing Education \nGo to ABAC Website for ongoing continuing education opportunities. URL:https://behavior.org/event/abaclive-webinar-with-dr-mary-jane-weiss/ LOCATION:Your desktop or mobile device! ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://behavior.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Weiss_ABAC.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR