B2-A: Using Applied Behavior Analysis to Support and Enhance Routine Medical and Health Care for Individuals with Autism

Individuals on the autism spectrum and their families frequently struggle with accessing routine medical and health care and wind up in difficult situations as a result.  This can include everything from toe walking resulting in heel cord (check spelling) reduction that may end in a referral for surgery, abscess dental infections, tooth decay and other permanent damage that can reduce longevity and quality of life. The field of behavior analysis provides tools to support families and adults to develop skills that make routine health care visits run smoothly, and more can be done to infuse these routines into behavior intervention plans, as well as to collaborate with health care professionals to create supports for success.  This presentation will review the results of research studies that have demonstrated what is possible using a collaborative approach between behavior analysts, families and health care professionals, and provide recommendations for moving toward a more collaborative model.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Participants will describe at least two ways that ABA can support medical providers.
2. Participants will describe one method for measuring stress in autistic patients and how ABA procedures can help ameliorate medically-related stress.
3. Participants will identify how a collaborative approach with ABA providers can result in less stressful medical visits and help inform treatment recommendations.

Speakers