Quality Treatment Through Collaboration (APFCON 2023) | BCBA CEU | Learning | 1 Hour

 This panel focuses on improving quality treatment for individuals with autism through meaningful collaboration. The first speaker emphasizes that collaboration is central to quality treatment, describing partnerships among parents, professionals, teachers, providers, and clients as essential for meaningful change and improved quality of life. He highlights high expectations as critical, noting that meager expectations result in limited progress and that expectations should include thriving, independence, meaningful relationships, and conversational language for nonverbal children. He also argues that training in ABA must be comprehensive, ongoing, and competency-based rather than time-limited or paper-and-pencil focused, and stresses individualized programming, whole-person focus, critical thinking, and compassion in treatment.

The second speaker discusses collaboration from policy, legal, and provider perspectives. She describes efforts to expand insurance coverage for ABA through state-level legislation, emphasizing that these successes required partnerships with local providers and families. She also outlines ongoing collaboration through a trade association designed to help providers share solutions and promote high standards.

The third speaker describes Autism Speaks’ role in support services, research, and advocacy, highlighting tools such as the Autism Response Team and the development of data resources. The final speaker, who identifies as autistic, reflects on receiving ABA from age three, the importance of being treated with dignity, and the need for continued collaboration that considers the autistic person’s perspective.