May Clinicians Present at 2019 BABAT Conference

Eleven May Institute clinicians will present at the 40th annual conference of the Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy (BABAT) – Striving Toward Excellence– on October 2, 3, and 4, 2019, at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.



[Full Conference Program]

THURSDAY OCTOBER 3rd, 2019

10:00 AM – 11:20 AM

Symposium:An Evaluation of Training Behavior Analytic Skills for Practitioners and Parents and Professionalism for Undergraduates. 

Chair: TANYA MOUZAKES (Crossroads School, Western New England University)

Discussant: ALICE SHILLINGSBURG (May Institute)

E-mail Professionalism for Undergraduates. THOMAS G. FARNSWORTH (Western New England University); Rachel H. Thompson (Western New England University); Sabrina Minic (Western New England University); Joseph Van Allen (Western New England University); Tylynn Kuralt (Western New England University).

An Evaluation of a Home-Based, Parent Training Program Addressing Emergent Problem Behavior. KELSEY W. RUPPEL (FTF Behavioral Consulting, Western New England University); Gregory P. Hanley (FTF Behavioral Consulting); Robin K. Landa (May Institute, Western New England University); Adithyan Rajaraman (Western New England University).

Evaluating the Short and Long-term Effects of Training Practitioners to Conduct the IISCA: An RCT. CORY J. WHELAN (The Autism Community Therapists, Western New England University); Gregory P. Hanley (FTF Behavioral Consulting); Robin K.  Landa (May Institute, Western New England University); Emily Sullivan (The May Institute, Western New England University); Rachel Metras (Western New England University); Kara  Lacroix (The Autism Community Therapists, Western New England University).

10:00 AM – 11:20 AM

Symposium: Treating Dangerous Problem Behavior without Physical Management: Extensions of the Enhanced Choice Model. (1.5 CEUs: BACB)

Chair: HOLLY GOVER (Western New England University)

Procedures, Outcomes, and Implications of the Enhanced-Choice Model of Skill-Based Treatment within a Public-School Setting. MARNEY POLLACK (Vanderbilt University); Johanna Staubitz (Vanderbilt University); John Staubitz (Vanderbilt University Medical Center); Michelle Hopton (Vanderbilt University Medical Center); Rachel Haws (Vanderbilt University).

Distance-Based Collaborations for Assessing and Treating Problem Behavior. RACHEL METRAS (Western New England University); Gregory Hanley (Western New England University).

Small-Group Implementation of Functional Analyses and Skill-Based Treatment. ROBIN LANDA (May Institute); Amy Rosenblum (May Institute).

On the Generality of the Preference for Contingent Reinforcement. HOLLY GOVER (Western New England University); Gregory Hanley (Western New England University).

1:30 PM - 2:50PM 

Symposium: Analyses and Tips for Consulting: How to be Ethical and Likeable. (1.5 CEUs: BACB ETHICS)

Chair: JUDAH B. AXE (Simmons University) 

Discussant: Dennis H. Reid (Carolina Behavior Analysis and Support Center)

Scope of Competence in Behavior Analytic Consultation: Ethical Considerations. SARAH E. FRAMPTON (Simmons University, May Institute); Judah B. Axe (Simmons University).

How to Win Friends and Influence…Consultees: A Behavior Analytic Conceptualization of Dale Carnegie’s Work. RENEE HARTZ (Simmons University, Melmark New England); Judah B. Axe (Simmons University).

A Conceptual Analysis of Rapport in the Consultative Relationship. KENDRA E. GUINNESS (Simmons University, TACT); Judah B. Axe (Simmons University).

3:00 PM - 3:50PM

Invited Address: School-Based Interventions for Children with Autism: Progressing from Single Case Research to Randomized Controlled Trials. (1.0 CEU: BACB and PSYCH) CYNTHIA ANDERSON (May Institute). 

Behavior analytic interventions addressing the core and associated features of ASD are well supported by empirical literature. Generally speaking, interventions can be categorized as focused or comprehensive. Focused interventions, which comprise the bulk of behavior analytic research using single-case designs and address a small range of targets using very specific procedures. In contrast, comprehensive interventions (such as EIBI) address most or all features of ASD and use many different procedures. Comprehensive interventions tend to be evaluated using RCTs. While the empirical literature supporting behavior analytic interventions for children with ASD is impressive, the bulk of this research has been conducted in clinical settings and there are no comprehensive interventions with documented efficacy in school settings. This is unfortunate as research consistently shows that evidence-based interventions for students with ASD are used only rarely in school settings. In this presentation, barriers to implementation of evidence-based practice will be discussed, as will strategies for addressing barriers. I will argue that effective and sustainable interventions for educators will be developed only through a comprehensive research agenda focusing on both effectiveness and feasibility and that this will require a combination of qualitative, single-case, and group design methodologies.  

Friday, OCTOBER 4, 2019

Symposium: Novel Methods for Improving the Validity and Quality of Data Collection and Behavioral Interventions. 

Chair: JENNIFER ZARCONE (May Institute) 

Discussant: MICHAEL DORSEY (Amego INC.) 
Establishing Validity of Parent Report: Can Parents Detect Effective Treatments for Severe Problem Behavior? Michael Cataldo (Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine); JESSICA BECRAFT (Kennedy Krieger Institute); Patricia Kurtz (Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine); Helen Yu-Lefler (Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health); Usai Bah (Kennedy Krieger Institute).

The Use of Computerized Prompts to Improve Behavioral Data Collection in a Medical Setting. GREGORY YOUNG (Franciscan Children's); Mary Laurette Hughes (Franciscan Children's); Aimee Lyons (Franciscan Children's).

Evaluating Quality of Behavior Support Plans. URIAH HEDRICH (May Institute); Sarah Frampton (May Institute); Clare Liddon (May Institute); Yannick Schenk (May Institute); Michael Mullane (May Institute); Kelsey Ventura (May Institute); Cynthia Anderson (May Institute).

3:00 PM - 3:50 PM

Invited Address: Measuring the Effects of Psychotropic Medication. (1.0 CEU: BACB and PSYCH) JENNIFER ZARCONE (May Institute).