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Click here to learn more about the QC Graduate program 

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Invited Keynote Presenters:

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Morning Keynote Presenter:

Bridget Taylor, PsyD BCBA- Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer of Alpine Learning Group

Bridget Taylor, PsyD BCBA, is a clinician, scholar, and pioneer in the education of individuals with autism. At the forefront of her field for more than 30 years, Dr. Taylor has been a consistent innovator in the clinical and experimental examination of complex social and learning issues, such as joint attention and observational learning. Her most recent work explores the impact of compassionate relationship building with families in the provision of therapeutic services to individuals with autism.

Dr. Taylor is unique in her ability to marry practical, real-world applications and rigorous scientific research. She is a contributor to the leading peer-reviewed journals in her field, including Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis in Practice, Behavioral Interventions, and The Behavior Analyst, and has served on the editorial boards of many of the same publications. Past President of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board, Dr. Taylor currently sits on the board of the Society for Experimental Analysis of Behavior (SEAB) and on the Autism Advisor Group of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. She is also Senior Clinical Advisor for Rethink Behavioral Health. Dr. Taylor has been recognized by the Association for Applied Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) for her outstanding contributions to applied behavior analysis and given ABAI’s Fellow designation.

Deeply invested in the future of autism services and future generations of students and clinicians, Dr. Taylor and her team have built in Alpine Learning Group a dynamic learning and teaching community grounded in science and the shared values of innovation, excellence, and compassion, and a tireless commitment to the betterment of the lives of individuals with autism.

Dr. Taylor’s reach and impact extend far beyond the Alpine campus: she is an internationally sought-after consultant and speaker, and has shared her expertise with professional associations, school programs, and treatment centers across the world, including in Italy, India, Kosovo, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.

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Afternoon Keynote Presenter:

Jonathan Tarbox, PhD, BCBA-D

Jonathan Tarbox, PhD, BCBA-D, is the Program Director of the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis program at the University of Southern California, as well as Director of Research at FirstSteps for Kids. Dr. Tarbox is the incoming Editor of the journal Behavior Analysis in Practice and serves on the editorial boards of five major scientific journals related to autism and behavior analysis. He has published four books on autism treatment and well over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters in scientific texts. His research focuses on behavioral interventions for teaching complex skills to individuals with autism, treatment of feeding disorders, and technology in autism treatment. He is a frequent presenter at autism and ABA conferences worldwide, and a regular guest on television and radio.

Title: Preliminary Tenets of Compassion-Focused Applied Behavior Analysis

Authors: Jonathan Tarbox, Kristine Rodriguez, & Courtney Tarbox

Abstract:

The field of applied behavior analysis is currently undergoing several evolutions that are converging into the position that the purpose of ABA is to nurture human beings. Trauma-informed ABA, neurodiversity-affirming ABA, and social justice work in ABA all contribute to a vision for ABA that our purpose is not, and arguably has never been, to increase and decrease behaviors. Our purpose is to empower whole human beings to thrive in their own chosen paths in life. For almost a century, our founders made it clear that liberating human beings from coercion and aversive control, to the greatest extent possible, was a functional analytic path to this purpose. The concept of compassion, when approached from a functional perspective, directs behavior analysts to identify suffering and aversive control wherever it is present, including in our own practices, and to use the principles of the science of behavior analysis to empower ourselves and others to root out and dismantle coercion. This presentation will review existing behavior analytic work on compassion and will discuss a proposed set of tenets that define compassion-focused ABA, as described in a recent paper by Rodriguez and colleagues (2023). The definition of compassion-focused ABA is preliminary and will require the research, practice, and stakeholder communities to engage the definition, with data, and improve it. We propose that adopting a compassion-focused approach has the potential to reconnect ABA with our moral roots, to help us respond with openness and humility to our greatest critics, to help us more fully engage our clients as whole human beings, and to breath new meaning and purpose into our daily work.

Learning objectives:

• Attendees will be able to define compassion in functional analytic terms
• Attendees will be able to list four defining tenets of compassion-focused ABA
• Attendees will be able to identify common practices in ABA that rely on coercion
• Attendees will be able to describe a framework behavior analysts can use for self-reflection for the purposes of enhancing compassion in our daily practice

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Adithyan Rajaraman, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA-TN

Affiliations:TRIAD – The Autism Institute at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Adithyan (Dithu) Rajaraman has been blessed to teach, interact with, and learn from children and adolescents with and without disabilities for 15 years. Dithu completed his Doctoral training in Behavior Analysis at Western New England University, under the advisement of Dr. Greg Hanley. In 2019, he joined the faculty at UMBC, where he taught and mentored undergraduate and graduate students in behavior analysis. In the fall of 2022, Dithu joined the faculty at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, where he serves as Director of Behavior Analysis Research within TRIAD: the Autism Institute at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. In his current position, Dithu works alongside neurodivergent professionals and advocates, behavior analysts, students, and public school educators on a broad research agenda aimed at refining and scaling trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming approaches to functional assessment and intervention for dangerous behavior. This research aim is intimately connected to the goal of being able to provide safe, dignifying, yet highly effective behavior-analytic services to underrepresented individuals in underserved communities.

Title: Advocating for Trauma-informed Care and Incorporating it into Applied Behavior Analytic Practice and Research

Presenting Author: Adithyan Rajaraman, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA-TN

Affiliations:

1. TRIAD – The Autism Institute at Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
2. Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Abstract:

Although the construct of trauma has largely eluded a thorough behavior analysis, considerations surrounding trauma and trauma-informed care (TIC) have indubitably entered mainstream applied behavior analysis (ABA). In the absence of clear findings and guidance from a TIC research program, conversations surrounding the matter—which have permeated published literature, peer review, everyday practice interactions, and social media—have been polarizing. Some submit that ABA has not done enough to incorporate TIC, while others assert it is entirely unnecessary, perhaps even harmful for the discipline. Yet others remain skeptical to embrace TIC in ABA until more data reveal the utility (or lack thereof) of the framework. This talk is an attempt to bring clarity, vocabulary, and nuance to this timely discussion. I will first define trauma across multiple levels of scientific understanding and provide a defensible behavior-analytic interpretation. I will outline core commitments of a TIC framework and describe how to incorporate them into ABA. Then, I will articulate and respond to several concerns and questions that have entered the discourse surrounding trauma and TIC. Finally, I will describe a set of procedures—grounded in ABA and TIC—to address behavioral crisis. My primary intention is to increase your capacity and willingness to advocate for TIC in ABA in conversations and collaborations with colleagues, caregivers, and clients.

Desired Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this presentation, attendees should be able to:

1. Define trauma across descriptive, predictive, and explanatory levels of understanding
2. Delineate behavioral and medical health risks associated with experiencing potentially traumatic events
3. Articulate reasons why trauma may be more pervasive than most prevalence estimates suggest
4. Outline the core commitments of trauma-informed care as they relate to ABA
5. Recognize that we have a responsibility to not contribute to trauma in the name of ABA

Ethics Statement: This presentation should be eligible for BACB Ethics CEUs because it will discuss content relevant to, but not limited to, the following components of the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts:

1. Core principle #2 – Treat others with compassion, dignity, and respect
2. 2.01 – Providing effective treatment
3. 2.14 – Selecting, designing, and implementing behavior-change interventions
4. 2.15 – Minimizing risk of behavior-change interventions
5. 2.16 – Describing behavior-change interventions before implementation
6. 3.01 – Responsibility to Clients

 

 

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Lauren Beaulieu, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA

Bio:

Dr. Beaulieu earned her BS in Psychology from Florida State, her MS in Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida Institute of Technology, and her PhD in Behavior Analysis from Western New England University. She received training as a Clinical Specialist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Beaulieu is currently a District Behavior Analyst for Newton Public Schools in Massachusetts. She was previously an Associate Professor at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Prior to her appointment at FIT, she founded and directed the Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis program at Regis College in Weston, MA where she earned tenure in 2017. She also held a faculty appointment at the University of Massachusetts Lowell's MS in Autism Spectrum Disorders program from 2011-2013. Dr. Beaulieu has been a practitioner and researcher in behavior analysis for 20 years across a variety of settings including public schools, clients' homes, residential psychiatric hospitals, and group homes with individuals diagnosed with and without disabilities. She has also consulted internationally with BCBAs on conducting functional analyses, improving cooperation with young children, and improving sleep. Her research has been recognized by the Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy and the Association for Behavior Analysis International. In 2023, she received the Distinguished Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award from the Association of Behavior Analysis International, and her paper titled “Cultural responsiveness in applied behavior analysis: Self-assessment” was awarded Contribution of the Year for 2022 from the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. She is currently serving as a Guest Associate Editor for the special issue on trauma for the journal Behavior Analysis and Practice and has previously served on the editorial boards for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and the journal Behavioral Interventions.

Title: Incorporating culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices into service delivery

Presenter: Lauren Beaulieu, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA

BACB#: 1-07-3456

Duration: 75 minutes

• Learning Objectives:
• Attendees will identify the necessity of considering culture and trauma for improved service delivery and a more complete understanding of human behavior.
• Attendees will learn ways their biases may impact their delivery of behavioral services.
• Attendees will learn ways to self-identify their biases in action and methods to reduce the impact of their biases on their service delivery.
• Attendees will learn several ways to implement culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices into their service delivery

Abstract:

Culture has a substantial impact on a wide range of behaviors related to behavioral research and services. As we move along the continuum of cultural responsiveness, it becomes clear how we must also consider the impact of trauma to ensure we are providing equitable services. Although there is an increasing number of publications on cultural responsiveness and trauma-informed care in behavior analysis, it can be challenging for behavior analysts to incorporate existing literature into practice. In this talk, I highlight the necessity of considering culture and trauma histories for improved service delivery. I will describe actionable steps with examples of how behavior analysts can incorporate culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices into their service delivery. Further, I will discuss how delivering culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices aligns with providing compassionate care.

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Johanna Staubitz Ph.D., BCBA-D

Johanna (Joey) Staubitz completed her doctoral studies in special education at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in 2017 and has since worked as a clinical faculty member in Vanderbilt’s top-ranked Department of Special Education. She currently directs Vanderbilt’s applied behavior analysis master’s degree program and was recently appointed to the rank of assistant professor of the practice of applied behavior analysis. Before her time in higher education, Joey practiced as a classroom teacher and district behavior analyst. In both roles, she had firsthand encounters with the importance and challenge of providing individualized, integrated supports for academic learning and behavior. These observations not only initially drove Joey to pursue doctoral training, but also continue to motivate Joey’s research, training, and teaching endeavors. Her collective efforts are dedicated to developing, adapting, evaluating, and disseminating procedures that are effective, practical, and safe for adoption in schools, to improve the possibility high-quality behavioral services are embedded into the free and appropriate public education to which all children are entitled.

Title: Supporting Children with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in Educational Settings

Abstract: Children with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) are highly likely to have experienced trauma. In fact, the rate of post-traumatic stress disorder among children with EBD mirrors the rate observed in populations of abused youths (Meuser & Taub, 2008). This outcome underscores the particular importance of developing and applying trauma-informed practices for assessing and treating dangerous behavior in the EBD population. Fortunately, the practical functional assessment and enhanced choice model of skill-based treatment (ECM-SBT) package employs several elements of trauma-informed practice and has demonstrated promise for school-based application to the behavior of children with EBD (Rajaraman et al., 2022; Staubitz et al., 2022). These advances are encouraging, though further modification may yet be needed to tailor assessment and treatment procedures. An important consideration is the relatively sophisticated verbal repertoires of children with EBD – functional assessment for individuals with more complex verbal repertoires may be less likely to yield a conclusive outcome that can be used to inform treatment (Belisle et al., 2017). Furthermore, undifferentiated analysis outcomes can lead to procedural modifications that negatively impact the safety of the assessment process (e.g., extending exposure to evocative events, observing additional problem behavior; Jessel et al., 2023; Rajaraman et al., 2021). Thus, this presentation will focus not only on (a) procedures and outcomes of a series of studies evaluating the effects of ECM-SBT for children with EBD but also (b) the issue of interaction between rule-governed and contingency-shaped behavior during functional analysis, along with proposed modifications and data-based case applications in which modifications were used. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of implications and recommendations for school-based practice.

Learning Objectives

1. The learner will be able to describe the critical features of the enhanced choice model of skill-based treatment.
2. The learner will be able to describe language-related challenges to the safety and treatment utility of functional analysis.
3. The learner will be able to describe modifications to functional analysis procedures that may mitigate language-related challenges.

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Summer Mingo, BCBA

Beyond the ABC Chart: A Compassionate Approach to Building Familial Involvement

Abstract: 75 minutes 1.5 CEs

The field of behavior analysis has long focused on modifying behavior through the principles of reinforcement, punishment, and environmental manipulation. While these principles have been invaluable in promoting behavior change, there is an emerging recognition of the importance of compassion in creating sustainable and meaningful outcomes for clients and their families. This presentation aims to explore the integration of compassion within family systems of support to build sustainable environmental contexts that support families and foster the generalization of desired outcomes. This presentation offers actionable tools, provide supporting materials shown, and outline how to assess program modifications to be sustained across settings. Behavior analysts can establish a foundation of trust, empathy, and responsiveness that serves as a catalyst for positive change. Values woven through the presentation are: humanistic views, cultural humility, neurodiversity-aligned, and compassionate care. Concepts addressed will cover considerations for promoting self-care among families, enhancing community engagement, and educating/collaborating with caregivers in developing long-term familial support systems rooted in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis.

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Kerry Ann Conde, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA

 

TBD

 

 

 

 

 

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Gerald Lachter Scholarship Fund

This fund exists to honor the memory of Dr. Gerald Lachter, our dear friend and colleague. Each year at LIBAC, one promising individual will receive a grant to help further their education in Behavior Analysis at LIU Post or Queens College.

 

Please consider making a donation to the fund.

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The ELIJA Foundation is an approved provider of BACB Type II CE credits. BACB® Provider OP-07-0143

Pricing

*Member pricing only applies to currentmembers of The ELIJA Foundation. Memberships purchased within 60 days of LIBAC do not qualify. Purchase membership here

	Early Bird Registration Until 10/13	Open Registration  10/14-11/17	Late Registration 11/18-12/1	Walk in Registration ELIJA membership accepted
1 Day (non-member)	$135	$160	$185	$215
1 Day (member)	$110	$110	$110	$110
2 Day (non-member)	$235	$285	$310	$340
2 Day (member)	$185	$185	$185	$185

 

 

Attendees belonging to school districts that will be paying the registration fee should contact ELIJA at 516-216-5270 directly to register.

To be eligible for member pricing, attendees must be a member of The ELIJA Foundation at least 60 days prior to conference date.

Organizations who register 10 people or more will receive a 10% discount. Payment must be made under one purchase order to receive the group discount. Please call ELIJA at 516-216-5270 to register with a group discount.

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Sponsorships

Continuous Reinforcer - $10,000
Logo Displayed Alongside LIBAC, Logo Displayed on promotional giveaway, Signage Displayed During Conference, Verbal Recognition During Conference, Outside Back Cover Ad, Logo & Link on ELIJA Website, Listing in ELIJA Newsletter, Vendor Table (Fri & Sat), Conference Registration for 14 People.

Primary Reinforcer - $7,500
Logo Displayed Alongside LIBAC, Signage Displayed During Conference, Verbal Recognition During Conference, Inside Front Cover Ad, Logo & Link on ELIJA Website, Listing in ELIJA Newsletter, Vendor Table (Friday Only), Conference Registration for 10 People

Conditioned Reinforcer (Professional Networking Event & Poster Session) - $5,000
Signage Displayed During Conference, Full Page Ad, Logo & Link on ELIJA Website, Listing in ELIJA Newsletter, Vendor Table (Friday Only), Conference Registration for 4 People

Premack Reinforcer - $2,500
Signage Displayed at Lunch and During Conference, Full Page Ad, Logo on ELIJA Website, Listing in ELIJA Newsletter, Vendor Table (Fri Only), Conference Registration for 2 People

Generalized Reinforcer - $1,000
Signage Displayed at Lunch and During Conference, Full Page Ad, Logo on ELIJA Website, Listing in ELIJA Newsletter, Vendor Table (Fri Only)

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Conference Program

Inside Front Cover - $1,000

Inside Back Cover - $750

Full-Page - $500

Half-Page - $250

Quarter Page - $125

Tote Bag Insert Option ($300 per inserted item) Send us your brochures, flyers, pens, etc. We will make sure that your goodies are in every attendees bag. Please provide us with 300 of each item you want inserted.

Sponsorship Registration deadline is November 17.

Vendor Tables for Friday, December 1st Only

Vendor: $525; Non Profit: $325. Includes one 6-foot table with tablecloth with two chairs. Comes with one ticket to attend the conference. 

Table Registration deadline is November 17.

Friday, December 1st, 2022

Morning Address: 8:45am-9:00am

Morning Keynote: 9:00am-10:40am • Bridget A. Taylor  (PhD, BCBA-D)

2 BACB CE's

Morning Breakout Session(A): 11:00am-12:15pm • TBD (PhD, BCBA-D, LBA)

1.5 BACB CE'S

Morning Breakout Session(B): 11:00am-12:15pm • TBD  (PhD, BCBA-D, LBA)

1.5 BACB CE'S

Lunch: 12:15-1:15pm - Scholarship recipient announced

Afternoon Keynote: 1:15pm-3:05pm • TBD

2 BACB CE'S

Afternoon Breakout Session(A): 3:25pm-4:40pm • TBD  (PhD, BCBA-D)

1.5 BACB CE'S

Afternoon Breakout Session(B): 3:25pm-4:40pm • TBD (PhD, BCBA-D)

1.5 BACB CE'S

Saturday, December 2nd, 2022

Morning Workshop: 9:00am - Noon •  (PhD, BCBA-D, LBA)

3.5 BACB CE'S

Afternoon Workshop: 1:00pm - 4:00pm • TBD

3.5 BACB CE'S

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Vendors

ELIJA

Thivierge & Rothberg, PC

 

Cona Elder Law

 

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Venue

Long Island Marriott, 101 James Doolittle Blvd, Uniondale, NY 11553

About

LI-BAG was founded to meet the need of supporting  Behavior Analysts in the Long Island area servicing children and adults with developmental disabilities. LI-BAG serves as a resource, a professional networking group, and a support to the professionals who provide support to families. Another vital role of LI-BAG is to provide a strong, unified body to represent its members in the professional community, to highlight the value of ABA and create standard bestpractice guidelines. The LIBAC Conference was a natural outgrowth of LI-BAG’s mission. The conference affords an opportunity for BCBAs practicing on Long Island and throughout the Tri-State area to learn from top experts in the field.

Debora Thivierge, BCaBA, CBAA Deb@ELIJA.org

Debora received her BA in Sociology from Hofstra University and is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst. She serves as the Founder and CEO of The ELIJA School, Founder of The ELIJA Foundation, the ELIJA Farm, and ELIJA’s Transition Program and Services (TPS). Debora has volunteered her time to numerous Autism groups such as Nassau County’s Department of Health Early Intervention Coordinating Council, New York State Association of Behavior Analysis, Nassau County Autism Coalition run by the County Executive and served as a board member of The Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) for 5 years. She was appointed to the New York State Licensure Board for Applied Behavior Analysis in 2014 and served until 2018, when she stepped down to advocate for the advancement of the field in ABA. She is currently serving as a board member for the Behavior Analyst Leadership Council to help address the need for professional development opportunities within the field of Behavior Analysis. She has been providing advocacy to families and conducted training workshops to promote evidence based instruction for families and educators who have been touched by Autism. Her most recent projects include inclusive housing initiatives and expanding work opportunities for people living with autism. She has a 24 year old son with Autism.

Bobby Newman, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA

Bobby Newman is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Behavior Analyst in New York and Tennessee, and Licensed Psychologist. Affectionately known as the Dark Overlord of ABA, Bobby is the first author on thirteen books regarding behavior therapy, the philosophy of behaviorism, the autism spectrum disorders, utopian literature, and fitness. He has published over two dozen articles in professional journals, as well as numerous popular magazine articles and has hosted two series of radio call-in shows. Bobby is the Past-President of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment and the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis. A popular speaker, Bobby also provides direct treatment, staff training and consultation around the world, and has been honored for this work by several parents and professional groups. He is the Executive Director of Clinical Services for Proud Moments. Bobby is also a certified personal trainer, obstacle course racer and marathoner and is an Ambassador for the Great Sportsmanship Programme. Bobby teaches non-violent crisis intervention philosophy and techniques for agencies and families. Bobby was a final four finalist for the 2016 For Those Who Would Humanitarian Award.

JoAnn Scanlon, MS, BCBA, LBA JScanlon@mksallc.com

JoAnn received her BS in Business Administration from SUNY Albany and her MS in Special Education from Adelphi University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a NYS Licensed Behavior Analyst. JoAnn is the co-owner and Executive Director of MKSA LLC, an agency that provides services to children with autism and other developmental delays. She has worked in this field for the last 25 years as a therapist, consultant and administrator. For 15 years, JoAnn was an adjunct professor at Adelphi University’s Early Childhood Special Education program. She has been an active member of both the Nassau and the Suffolk Early Intervention (LEICC) Committee on Autism for 20 She years and chairs the Suffolk committee. She has presented numerous presentations and workshop for parents and professionals; school districts and the Departments of Health.

JoAnn serves on the Board of Directors of the ELIJA School and has been affiliated with Elija from its inception. In partnership with Autism Care Partners, her company, MKSA now operates a clinic that provides services to individuals with Autism through private insurance. She volunteers her time to various organizations in support of children with special needs, and professional organizations striving to improve the quality services provided to those children. She is also the parent of an adult son with Asperger’s Syndrome.