About the presentation:
Autism necessitates comprehensive care. To meet the complex needs of individuals with ASD, multiple professions must work collaboratively and in an interdisciplinary framework. Working alongside professionals from other disciplines involves addressing differences in worldview, in the definition of evidence, and in the concept of evidence-based practice. Opinions about assessment and intervention may be discrepant, and the gulfs in views can be difficult to close. The successful navigation of these challenges leads to more effective team processes and improved outcomes for clients. It also leads to mutually respectful interactions among professionals. Flexibility and interpersonal skills are needed, and clinicians need to appreciate the unique expertise offered by members of allied professions. Understanding differences of perspective and treatment requires openness to the process and recognition of the improved outcomes that stem from successfully integrated treatment. Resources that can assist in collaboration include position statements on interventions, evidence-based categorizations of treatments, and decision making tools and trees. This presentation will highlight the resources and skill development that can prepare behavior analysts for successful interprofessional collaboration. Advancing this goal can enhance outcomes for individuals served, can equip practitioners with essential skill sets, can assist organizations in achieving interdisciplinary care, and can enhance the reputation of the field.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will list the benefits of interprofessional collaboration for autism service intervention
- Participants will be able to identify multiple resources to guide teams in the selection of evidence-based interventions
- Participants will be able to describe core components of the interprofessional collaboration skillset
About the presenter:
Mary Jane Weiss, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA is the Dean of the Institute for Applied Behavioral Science and is Director of the Ph.D. Program in ABA at Endicott College, where she has been for 11 years. She also works with the research and training teams at Melmark. She has worked in the field of ABA and Autism for over 35 years. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University in 1990 and she became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2000. She previously worked for 16 years at the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers University. Her clinical and research interests center on defining best practice ABA techniques, integrating compassionate care and cultural responsiveness into ABA service delivery, exploring ways to enhance the ethical conduct of practitioners, training staff to be optimally effective at instruction and at collaboration, and maximizing family members’ expertise and adaptation. She serves on the Scientific Council of the Organization for Autism Research, is on the board of Association for Science in Autism Treatment, is a regular contributor to the ABA Ethics Hotline, is on the editorial board of Behavior Analysis in practice, and is an advisor to the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. She is a regular presenter at national and international conferences and is a frequent member of service committees for a variety of organizations.