From Eugenics to Neurodiversity with Dr. Sneha Mathur belongs in serious BCBA study because it shapes whether behavior-analytic decisions stay useful once they leave a clean training example and enter clinical documentation, payer communication, supervision records, and leadership review.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Association of Professional Behavior Analysts
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Join Free →The purpose of this presentation is to provide an introductory overview of the primary historical issues, questions, concerns, and developments that directly (and often without our awareness) impact our current thought and action around disability and inclusion of disabled people in society. While we often assume a "current state of affairs" or "way things are" with the treatment of people of people with disabilities, we tend to have little understanding of how what we think is currently going on actually came about. This presentation examines the historical underpinnings of and precursors to the current psychological theories and practices concerning disabled people in American society today. The focus is to see how our efforts are best spent on the more recent activities that we can conceptually and thematically relate to current day issues and practices within Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). In relation to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), given the propensity of non-evidence based, "fad" and pseudoscientific interventions, particular emphasis will be given to evaluating evidence-based treatment (including ABA) and understanding best practices for the autistic population. This presentation will also assess autism throughout the life time, from early diagnosis to adulthood. Attendees will learn to view social issues from a neurodiverse lens, understanding and learning from the lived experiences of autistic individuals. Learning Objectives: Attendees will learn to recognize how differences between people in American Society are not innate but rather "socially constructed," and greatly influenced by the field of psychology, gaining appreciation for how the historical experience of prejudice and discrimination in American society impact us today and how social structures persist – and change – through individual actions. Attendees will examine how prejudice and discrimination are related and how to recognize and confront these processes within ABA. Attendees will explore the origins, persistence, and impact of psychological practices on perpetuating and/or diminishing stereotypes. The ultimate aim of this presentation is to enable attendees to gain a greater appreciation for diversity, commit to continued growth and learning, and achieve these goals by understanding the history of disability through the lens of psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | General |
| COA | 0 | — |
Sneha Kohli Mathur considers herself an ally to the disability and autism communities. She is a BCBA, has a Bachelors and Masters degree in Psychology, and a Doctorate in Education and Disability Studies. She currently is a faculty member at the University of Southern California (USC), where she teaches ABA Masters courses and undergraduate psychology courses related to neurodiversity. Sneha is the co-author of Understanding the Lived Experiences of Autistic Adults, which she co-wrote with Adam, an autistic adult. What makes Sneha’s research, teaching, and consulting unique is her expertise in two very distinct areas, ABA and disability studies. She is able to layout behaviorally supported practices within a caring social-model context and neurodiversity affirming care.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
280 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
244 research articles with practitioner takeaways
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.