Join us for the official kickoff of Northeast Symposium – Day 1 as we warmly welcome all attendees and set the stage for the day ahead. This brief session will highlight key information about the event and include helpful housekeeping notes to ensure a smooth and engaging experience. We’re excited to begin the day with you!​​

The phrase “It depends" is often used in behavior analysis to acknowledge complexity, but when applied without cultural awareness, it can become a barrier to ethical and effective care. This keynote challenges behavior analysts to move beyond generic flexibility and embrace a deeper, more intentional approach; One that honors the cultural values, lived experiences, and everyday realities of the individuals and families we serve. Attendees will explore practical strategies for adapting assessments, goals, and interventions to be culturally relevant and socially valid, especially in home and community settings. Grounded in recent research and field-based examples, this session highlights how cultural responsiveness is not a specialty—it's a necessity. By reframing how we think about “it depends," participants will be empowered to deliver behavior analytic services that reflect both scientific integrity and cultural responsiveness.​

The discussion about humble behaviorism, humility, and compassion have all become important talking points over the past few years. With the current state of the world, criticisms of behavior analysis, and emerging discussion papers on the topic, the field is left with the question…where do we go from here? In this discussion, Dr. Shane T. Spiker will discuss our current state and where we need to go in the intervening years. More importantly, what can we do TODAY to begin to foster a softer but effective science that will improve outcomes for every life we touch?​ ​​​​​​​​​ ​

​As analysts, we have many opportunities to work within the school setting. However, often analysts and RBTS find themselves in situations where they feel there is a lack of collaboration and communication. In addition, analysts and RBTs feel pressures from the families we serve advocating, to ending up more as an advocate during contentious situations. This talk will present discussions from both a BCBA school expert along with former district level school administrators on some of the pitfalls BCBA/RBTs engage in along with solutions on how to build positive relationships that both schools and families appreciate.​

Take this time to enjoy lunch, recharge, and connect with colleagues.​​

This presentation would be a review of a primary research study conducted by this presenter in 2024. This study investigated an asynchronous competency-based methodology to improve a behavior analysts culturally responsive clinical repertoire, a critical skill in fostering effective and responsive clinician-client interactions. The training specifically aimed to enhance an individual's ability to identify and demonstrate culturally responsive intake interview skills. Given that cultural variables are context-dependent and influence rapport-building, the study focused on training professionals to recognize, arrange, and appropriately respond to salient cultural factors during an intake interview. The research addressed four key questions: (1) Can an asynchronous training approach improve analysts ability to identify culturally informed practices? (2) Will this method improve their capacity to conduct culturally responsive interviews? (3) Can the training generate flexible, adaptive responses in untrained cultural contexts? (4) Will the training support the long-term maintenance of those target repertoires? The main findings from this study suggest the asynchronous training model as a potentially useful tool to improve the demonstration of culturally informed intake interviewing skills. However, the same technology was not an effective training option to improve the identification of culturally informed intake interviewing skills. Ultimately, these research findings were preliminary and require additional investigation in the future to replicate and extend the results, as well as address key limitations. PBS providers deliver services to a wide variety of clients across all walks of life, so the takeaways from this burgeoning area of primary research hold considerable value. ​ ​ ​ ​

Join us for an engaging session designed to inform, inspire, and support your professional development. This presentation will offer valuable insights and practical strategies relevant to the field. Full session details, including learning objectives, will be added shortly. Stay tuned!​

​This group supervision series is designed for student analysts seeking structured, high-quality guidance as they progress toward certification and the opportunity to earn unrestricted supervision hours. Each session covers essential topics from the BACB® task list, including assessment, intervention, measurement, ethical decision-making, and professional conduct. Through collaborative discussions, practical exercises, and real-world application, participants will deepen their understanding of behavior analytic principles while developing critical skills for both clinical and professional success.​

Autistic individuals are more likely to experience sexual abuse than neurotypical peers. While caregivers may be hesitant to address skills related to sexual health and relationships, as behavior analysts we can address barriers and make the connection between teaching social, advocacy, and personal care skills to the prevention of abuse. This symposium will include two different sets of skills that can be taught with the goal of increasing independence and autonomy while reducing opportunities for intimate abuse. In the first talk, Jennifer Tessier-Williford will present on teaching nuances of consent and intimacy as an intervention for prevention of abuse and violence. In our second talk, Rebecca Cachat will present on teaching menstrual care skills to increase independence in hygiene routines. ​

​This group supervision series is designed for student analysts seeking structured, high-quality guidance as they progress toward certification and the opportunity to earn unrestricted supervision hours. Each session covers essential topics from the BACB® task list, including assessment, intervention, measurement, ethical decision-making, and professional conduct. Through collaborative discussions, practical exercises, and real-world application, participants will deepen their understanding of behavior analytic principles while developing critical skills for both clinical and professional success.​

​The literature outlines a range of evidence-based treatments for severe problem behavior, many of which are function-based. However, these interventions are frequently evaluated in highly controlled settings (e.g., clinics, residential programs) and implemented by experienced professionals. Translating these procedures to home or community settings presents challenges, particularly when using a tiered service delivery model (e.g., a behavior analyst supervising a Registered Behavior Technician) and when safety concerns are present. This presentation will discuss key considerations for treating severe problem behavior in less controlled environments, with a focus on supporting staff, clients, and families to promote safety and client outcomes.​

Have you as a clinician ever had the thought, "What is a provider manual" or "There is a location modifier on that code?" If so, this is the talk for you. Indirect work is an essential part of providing applied behavior analysis services. Many behavior analysts are provided guidance on specific tasks and tools that fall within the science of behavior analysis, however many do not come into contact with standardized healthcare requirements. In this paper session, the authors, both Certified Professional Compliance Officers (CPCOs), hope to bridge the gap in this knowledge by educating clinicians on indirect work as it relates to insurers and healthcare under the scope of billing practices. To do this, the authors will be discussing what is important for a clinician to know while working under third-party funder contracts. In addition, the authors will discuss why there are specific regulations and policies within standardized healthcare, and how behavior analysts can play in the sandbox with third-party insurers. As clinicians, these requirements may seem arbitrary because we do not use the lens of a healthcare provider. With the understanding that ABA providers are also healthcare providers, we can support the application of behavior analysis by completing thorough and complete indirect work to support compliance with healthcare standards.

​Effective leadership is critical to the success of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) organizations. Within this presentation, we will explore how purposeful, values-driven leadership can enhance clinical outcomes, support staff growth, and foster high-performing, ethically grounded teams. Participants will examine the intersection of behavioral principles and leadership strategies, including how reinforcement, shaping, and feedback can be applied to strengthen team performance and morale. The session will address ethical responsibilities of leaders, characteristics of effective teams, and strategies for building psychological safety and trust. Attendees will engage with practical tools for aligning team goals with client-centered outcomes, managing conflict, and sustaining a culture of continuous improvement. This session is designed for all in the field of ABA including, BCBAs, supervisors, and organizational leaders seeking to lead with intention, accountability, and a commitment to excellence in the delivery of ABA services.

​This group supervision series is designed for student analysts seeking structured, high-quality guidance as they progress toward certification and the opportunity to earn unrestricted supervision hours. Each session covers essential topics from the BACB® task list, including assessment, intervention, measurement, ethical decision-making, and professional conduct. Through collaborative discussions, practical exercises, and real-world application, participants will deepen their understanding of behavior analytic principles while developing critical skills for both clinical and professional success.​

Join us for an engaging session designed to inform, inspire, and support your professional development. This presentation will offer valuable insights and practical strategies relevant to the field. Full session details, including learning objectives, will be added shortly. Stay tuned!​

​This group supervision series is designed for student analysts seeking structured, high-quality guidance as they progress toward certification and the opportunity to earn unrestricted supervision hours. Each session covers essential topics from the BACB® task list, including assessment, intervention, measurement, ethical decision-making, and professional conduct. Through collaborative discussions, practical exercises, and real-world application, participants will deepen their understanding of behavior analytic principles while developing critical skills for both clinical and professional success.​

Join us for relaxed evening of connection and conversation! Enjoy PBS-sponsored appetizers and unwind with two complimentary drink tickets. It's the perfect opportunity to network, mingle with colleagues, and celebrate a great day together.​