An analysis of a system under pandemic conditions
A full CABAS agency switched to telehealth overnight and stayed effective.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Oblak (2021) tracked one ABA agency that flipped to full telehealth when COVID-19 hit. The team used a CABAS model to keep classes, supervision, and parent meetings online.
The paper is a case study. It shows how the agency moved every part of the program to screens in days, not weeks.
What they found
Services kept running and outcomes stayed positive. Staff, parents, and learners stayed engaged through the lockdown.
No in-person sessions were needed to keep the program effective.
How this fits with other research
Tomlinson et al. (2018) drew a fast roadmap for moving special-ed behavior supports online. Oblak (2021) followed the same sprint plan but inside a CABAS agency, showing the steps work across settings.
Koudys et al. (2025) later proved telehealth PECS training can hit large effect sizes in the community. Their strong data backs up Oblak’s claim that remote ABA can stay potent.
Frederick et al. (2022) added a troubleshooting guide for technician-level telehealth. Together the papers form a full toolkit: Oblak shows the big system, Frederick shows how to fix daily glitches.
Why it matters
You now have proof that an entire CABAS program can pivot to telehealth without losing quality. Use the agency’s move as a checklist: secure devices, train staff, schedule parent coaching blocks, and keep supervision loops tight. If another crisis hits, you can keep medically necessary ABA going from day one.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Recent events have emphasized the need for behavior-analytic service delivery models that can remain clinically consistent and produce high-quality outcomes while adapting to environmental change. This paper reports outcomes of an organization that adapted to changes in its service delivery model during a worldwide pandemic. The organization utilized components from the Comprehensive Application of Behavior Analysis to Schooling (CABAS®) model. The components were interconnected within the system and linked by specific interlocking contingencies. Performance data were used to make decisions within the organization on both individual and organizational levels during the transition to telehealth for clients and staff. Results are discussed in terms of how the interconnectedness of components within the organization contributed to the reliable, positive outcomes of the system during the transition to telehealth.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2021 · doi:10.1002/jaba.836