Advances in Applied Behavior Analysis Conference at Caldwell University

Caldwell, N.J., April 30, 2018 – As part of its Autism Awareness Month celebration, the Caldwell University Department of Applied Behavior Analysis hosted the “Advances in Applied Behavior Analysis Conference” on April 20.

Accomplished faculty provided their research findings to more than 200 students, educators, administrators and non-profit leaders.

Tina M. Sidener, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, professor of applied behavior analysis, presented on “Toilet Training Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”  Jason C. Vladescu, Ph.D., BCBA-D, NCSP, LBA, associate professor of applied behavior analysis, gave a workshop on “Teaching Safety Skills to Children.”  Kenneth F. Reeve, Ph.D., BCBA-D, the Alvin Calman Professor in applied behavior analysis, spoke on “Using Stimulus Equivalence-Based Instruction to Teach Behavior-Analytic Content to Staff.”  Ruth M. DeBar, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, associate professor and director of outreach,  presented on “Video-Based Instruction to Teach Conversational, Leisure, and Community Skills to Individuals with ASD.”  Sharon A. Reeve, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, chair of the Applied Behavior Analysis Department, gave a forum on “Teaching Generalized Repertoires of Joint Attending, Empathy, and Conversation Skills to Children with ASD.”

Nicole Bednarski runs Hand over Hand, LLC in Morris County and is an alumna of Caldwell’s master’s program in ABA. She said the presentations were very well done and  relevant to her work with children and young adults with varied diagnoses.

Rosiland Franklin-Petersen, who works in the Preschool Intervention and Referral Team, Office of Early Childhood for the Newark Public Schools and is alumna of Caldwell University’s master’s in educational leadership program, attended the program.  She found the toilet training workshop to be very helpful. “This type of information is invaluable to support the health and safety needs for students. This workshop promoted skills to increase positive social emotional confidence and growth in students.”

Adrienne Jennings, a graduate assistant in the university’s Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis, was very pleased with the opportunity to hear some of the most recent findings in the field. “Each presenter explained the most efficient and effective teaching strategy based on their findings. Their recommendations spanned across populations and skill levels. The
information was highly relevant and delivered in a digestible manner.”

Jacqueline Carrow, a Ph.D. ABA student, was very happy to hear from a diverse group of speakers. “Each presenter shed light on meaningful topics in our field applicable to all children.”

Caldwell University’s state-of-the-art Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis provides graduate students with the opportunity to work hands-on with children on the spectrum with the guidance of accomplished faculty.