Caitlin Ambrosia

Caitlin Ambrosia, BCBA

Abstract: Systematic desensitisation and assent-led intervention strategies are essential for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delays who experience distress in medical settings. This case study examines a non-vocal 9-year-old autistic male with intellectual disability who had not left his home for two years and exhibited severe distressed behaviors. Due to frequent illness, he required medical care but was unable to access necessary appointments without forced restraint and sedation.

Utilising Skills-Based Treatment and assent-led approaches, this study introduced gradual exposure to medical equipment within the safety of the client’s home. By building trust and prioritising autonomy, the client voluntarily engaged with medical procedures. This success led to participation in an Ear, Nose, and Throat exam and an eye exam. Medical professionals were guided in honoring his communication and gaining his assent, allowing him to opt out at any time. The client successfully completed an ear exam for the first time since infancy and tolerated eye drops after extensive preparation, without distress.

This study highlights the effectiveness of assent-led, compassionate behavior-analytic strategies in reducing distress and increasing medical cooperation. The findings emphasise patient autonomy and structured desensitisation as a model for ethical and effective medical preparation for individuals with ASD.

Target Audience: For practitioners who have clients that emit distressed behaviours which prevent them from accessing medical care

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, delegates will be able to:

1. Describe the principles of assent-led intervention and systematic desensitisation for individuals with trauma histories in medical settings.
2. Identify key components of Skills-Based Treatment (SBT) and how they can be applied to increase medical cooperation while minimising patient distress.
3. Apply ethical and compassionate strategies to support individuals in tolerating necessary medical procedures without the use of restraint or sedation.

BACB CE Instructor: Caitlin Ambrosia

Merryll-Anne Cobb-Clark¹ & Anne-Louise Finlayson²

¹UNSW; ²Speak to Me Speech

Abstract: 

Target Audience: Behaviour analysts have an ethical obligation to collaborate with other professionals to meet the needs of the individuals we serve. While interdisciplinary collaboration is widely acknowledged as essential to achieving optimal outcomes, behaviour analysts experience significant barriers in our current professional climate. Training gaps exacerbate these challenges, with research indicating that two-thirds of BCBAs lack formal coursework on collaborative practices (Henderson et al., 2023). Consequently, critical skills such as understanding and respecting the professional scope of others, effective knowledge sharing, and active listening are not developed prior to entering the profession.

Interprofessional scope-of-practice knowledge gaps hinder communication, often resulting in unnecessary costs, professional overlap, and sub-optimal client outcomes. This presentation explores proposed frameworks for improving collaboration, such as Melmark's Collaboration Learning Series (Boivin et al, 2021), which emphasizes mastering terminology in relevant allied health fields to facilitate effective communication. Using examples from clinical practice, this presentation highlights strategies for overcoming this barrier and fostering effective collaboration. By addressing this we aim to bridge these gaps in training and practice to promote an integrated approach to service delivery across the sector.

Learning Objective:  At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• list 5 strategies to promote collaboration with other professionals.
• list and discuss ethical standards relevant to collaboration.

BACB CE Instructor: Merryll-Anne Cobb-Clark

Nur Raihan Suhaimi & Oliver B Roschke

Lojic

Abstract: The use of polypharmacy is substantially higher among people with disabilities with psychotropic medications being prescribed even in the absence of psychiatric disorders (NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, 2020). Prolonged use of psychotropic medications carries an elevated risk of serious side effects, including a higher likelihood of developing diabetes (Holt, 2019; Yood et al., 2009), an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attack (Pillinger et al., 2020; Zivkovic et al., 2019) and significant weight gain (Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2008; Bak et al., 2014; Holt, 2019). While the role of behaviour support practitioners in Australia includes the reduction and elimination of chemical restraints (NDIS, 2024), there continues to be little training and guidance for behaviour analysts to navigate the complex intersection between medications and behaviour analytic interventions (Li & Poling, 2018). In response, we aim to offer practical guidelines based on behaviour analytic- and other relevant research, illustrated through case study examples, to help practitioners effectively communicate and collaborate with psychiatrists and other physicians, in order to better monitor and evaluate psychotropic drugs as well as less restrictive, alternative interventions.

Target Audience: NDIS participants, behaviour support practitioners, stakeholders

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, delegates will be able to:

1. Describe common risks associated with psychotropic medications prescribed for behaviour management of individuals with disabilities

2. Describe common barriers related to the evaluation and withdrawal of psychotropic medications

3. Describe what activities are within the scope of practice of behaviour analysts working with individuals with disabilities who are prescribed psychotropic medications

4. Describe tactics behaviour analysts can use to foster collaboration with prescribing medical professionals

BACB CE Instructor: Nur Raihan Suhaimi