We are thrilled to announce our amazing lineup of speakers for our NHABA 2020 conference:

Agenda:

• 7:30 AM: Zoom online session open, Conference Kickoff!
• 8:00-8:50 : Dr. Solandy Forte, A Quest to Becoming Culturally Competent (Ethics CEU)
• 9:00-9:50: Dr. Deb Grossett, Behavioral Approach to Psychotropic Medication Review
• 10:15-11:05: Dr. Bridget Taylor, Fostering relationships with family members: Compassionate care in applied behavior analysis
• 11:15-12:05: Dr. Alyssa Wilson, Clinical Applications and Ethical Considerations for Using ACTr in Behavior Analytic Practice: A Call to Action (Ethics CEU)
• 12:05-12:50: LUNCH
• 1:00-1:50: Dr. Camille Kolu, Trauma and Our Clients: On using a trauma-informed behavior analytic approach with clients, their caregivers, and teams
• 2:00-3:40: Dr. Emily Sandoz, (KEYNOTE) Returning to Roots to Reach New Heights: How ACT as Clinical Behavior Analysis Enhances Language-Based Interventions for Meaningful Behavior Change

Speaker Bios:

Dr. Solandy Forte

Solandy Forte, PhD, LCSW, LBA, BCBA-D, is the Director of Consultation Services and Community Outreach at Milestones Behavioral Services. She is a doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst licensed in Connecticut and Massachusetts and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Dr. Forte provides consultation services to the school programs at Milestones serving individuals with a diverse set of complex learning needs. In addition to providing direct consultation to children within the private school setting she also has provided consultation to multi-disciplinary teams within the public school setting where she assisted with program development initiatives to promote building capacity for educating children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders within the least restrictive educational setting. Dr. Forte has experience working with children and young adults with special needs in their homes, schools, and community settings. She is an adjunct professor for the Institute of Autism and Behavioral Studies at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford,  Connecticut and the Institute of Behavioral Studies at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Dr. Deb Grossett

Dr. Grossett obtained her Ph.D. in psychology from Western Michigan University.  She is currently the Director of the Central Autism Treatment Center at Central Michigan University.  She is a licensed behavior analyst and licensed psychologist in Michigan and in Texas.  She is BCBA-D and is board certified in advanced psychopharmacology by the International College of Professional Psychology.  In 2015, she received the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis Career Contributions to Behavior Analysis in Texas Award.  She has over 35 years of experience working with individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and related conditions.  Dr. Grossett has published journal articles in behavior analysis, behavioral pharmacology, and developmental disabilities and book chapters on prevention of behavior problems, single-subject research design, and sleep disorders.  She has provided several presentations on a variety of topics including aging, applied behavior analysis, behavioral pharmacology, behavior therapy, ethics, and OBM.

Dr. Bridget Taylor

Dr. Bridget A. Taylor is co-founder and CEO of Alpine Learning Group and is Senior Clinical Advisor for Rethink. She holds a Doctorate of Psychology from Rutgers University, and received her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Columbia University. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Psychologist. Dr. Taylor is President of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and serves on the Autism Advisory Group for the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. She is past Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. She also serves on the editorial board of Behavioral Interventions. Active in the autism research community, Dr. Taylor has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on effective interventions for autism. She is a national and international presenter and serves in an advisory capacity for autism education and treatment programs both locally and abroad. Dr. Taylor was recently recognized by the Association for Applied Behavior Analysis International for her outstanding contributions to behavior analysis and was given ABAI’s Fellow designation. Dr. Taylor is considered a leading authority on effective, and innovative interventions for autism.

Dr. Alyssa Wilson

Alyssa N. Wilson, Ph.D., is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst Doctoral (BCBA-D), and a Licensed Behavior Analyst in the state of Missouri. Dr. Wilson has provided clinical behavior analytic services to children, adolescents, and adults across a range of clinical settings. Her research focuses on how humans make decisions and engage in maladaptive behavior, to determine intervention strategies for behavioral change. Dr. Wilson has published articles on the assessment and treatment of challenging behaviors (broadly defined), and acceptance and mindfulness-based intervention strategies. She is an Associate Editor for Behavior Analysis in Practice and an editorial board member for Journal of Contextual Behavior Science and Perspectives of Behavior Science.

Dr. Camille Kolu

Dr. Camille Kolu is a behavioral scientist and BCBA-D in Denver, Colorado. She is the owner of Cusp Emergence, a private practice in which she joins families and agencies to engineer behavioral cusps for individuals and their loved ones. After training, supervision and work at the University of North Texas, Dr. Kolu earned a Ph.D. in Biopsychology and Behavioral Neuroscience at Rutgers University, where she developed neurobiological animal models of autism and examined olfactory and social contextual conditioning. Dr. Kolu practices behavior analysis across the lifespan with individuals and families affected by autism, foster care or adoption, mental illness, and/or developmental and intellectual disabilities. She partners with health and human service agencies, mental hospitals, schools, community centered boards, and the University of Colorado Denver, where she enjoys designing and teaching courses in behavior analysis and ethics. Dr. Kolu has published in peer-reviewed journals, and serves on the advisory board of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. She is active in local behavior analytic groups. Dr. Kolu explores research interests in verbal communities of reinforcement and stimulus schedules in the everyday interactions of families affected by disruption or trauma, while using her private practice to provide training, education, and behavior analytic mentorship and supervision.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Emily Sandoz

Dr. Emily K. Sandoz is the Emma Louise LeBlanc Burguieres/BORSF Endowed Professor of Social Sciences in the Psychology Department at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Emily is the Director of the Louisiana Contextual Science Research Group and an Associate Editor with the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. She has co-authored three books on acceptance and commitment therapy for struggles with eating and body image, along with chapters and journal articles on ACT, Relational Frame Theory, values, the therapeutic relationship, and psychological flexibility. Emily has led more than 70 professional training workshops around the world, and serves as a peer-reviewed ACT trainer. She also practices as a Clinical Psychologist, focusing on clinical behavior analysis of body-related difficulties.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CONFERENCE REGISTRATION:

As a result of the current COVID-19 Pandemic, NHABA recognizes that many in our community have suffered hardships. COVID-19 has impacted each of us in different ways and has created many barriers within the ABA community. NHABA has made the decision to host its annual conference for 2020 in a virtual format. We feel this will create the safest platform for all who wish to attend to do so. We also want to acknowledge the financial hardship that some of our members are also facing. We have decided, for the 2020 Virtual NHABA Conference to set up registration on a Flexibility-Based Registration Fee. NHABA will have suggested registration fees and a minimum amount and attendees will be able to decide how much they are able to pay for registration, with no further questions asked. We do not want registration fees to be a barrier to accessing and attending our conference. We hope this feels supportive and meaningful as you consider attending our NHABA 2020 conference.