From Referent to Repertoire: Verbal Behavior Training through Referent-Based Instruction matters because it changes what a BCBA notices when decisions have to hold up in home routines and caregiver-led implementation, school teams and classroom routines. In Verbal Behavior Training through Referent-Based Instruction, for this course, the practical stakes show up in clearer case conceptualization, better instructional targets, and stronger generalization, not in abstract discussion alone.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Utah Association for Behavior Analysis
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Join Free →Referent-Based Instruction (RBI) is a structured, naturalistic model that focuses on developing balanced verbal repertoires by systematically teaching across Skinner's elementary verbal operants- echoics, tacts, mands, and intraverbals- and providing individualized, prescribed instruction through rich, contextual learning opportunities. This presentation introduces the conceptual foundation and core components of RBI, designed to promote generative, flexible language. Drawing on research conducted in various settings, including clinics, public schools, and homes, this discussion will provide practical strategies, outcome data, and lessons learned, as well as describe Parent-Mediated Referent-Based Instruction, a method for coaching caregivers to promote meaningful communication through functional language analysis and natural environment training. Participants will learn how RBI provides a scalable and culturally responsive approach to teaching language, supporting professionals and families in fostering meaningful communication for children with autism and related disorders. At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to: (1) explain how stimulus overselectivity impedes effective communication; (2) explain the significance of assessing proportionate levels of stimulus control over the verbal operants in designing a treatment plan; (3) explain how RBI is distinct from other forms of incidental teaching. Presenter Bio: Janet Sanchez Enriquez, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, is a bilingual behavior analyst, educator, and researcher dedicated to advancing equitable and culturally responsive applications of behavior analysis. She earned her PhD from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte as an OSEP scholar under the mentorship of Dr. Rob Pennington. Her work focuses on expanding access to behavior analytic services among vulnerable and diverse populations, with an emphasis on developing culturally and linguistically appropriate verbal behavior assessments and interventions. Dr. Sanchez Enriquez is a founding member and current Secretary of the Mexican Organization of Practitioners of Applied Behavior Analysis (OMPAC). She serves as Vice President of the World Behavior Analysis Day Organization, Board Member and Newsletter Editor for the Verbal Behavior Special Interest Group, and is a member of the Executive Council for the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis. She also co-hosts the World Behavior Analysis Day Podcast, a global platform for highlighting impactful voices in the field. In addition to her leadership roles, she teaches graduate ABA courses and mentors students in culturally responsive practice. Her work spans clinical, educational, and telehealth settings and was awarded a SABA Public Awareness Grant to develop bilingual ABA resources for Latin American communities.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | General |
| COA | 1 | — |
Janet Sanchez Enriquez, PhD, BCBA-D attended the University of North Carolina Charlotte as an OSEP scholar working under the mentorship of Dr. Rob Pennington.Her research interests include working alongside vulnerable and diverse populations promoting applied behavior analysis for teaching and learning through research and the development of culturally and linguistically diverse verbal behavior assessments and interventions. She is a founding member and Secretary of the non-profit the Mexican Organization of Practitioners of Applied Behavior Analysis (Organización Mexicana de Practicantes del Análisis Conductual Aplicado, serves on the Board of Directors for the World Behavior Analysis Day Alliance, sits on the Executive Council for the Texas Association of Behavior Analysis and was previously the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Autism Developmental Disabilities DEI Student Liaison.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
256 research articles with practitioner takeaways
224 research articles with practitioner takeaways
195 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.