Ignites at Night followed by the Friday Night Social. In Ignites at Night followed by the Friday, belongs in serious BCBA study because it shapes whether behavior-analytic decisions stay useful once they leave a clean training example and enter case conceptualization, intervention design, staff training, and literature-informed problem solving.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Florida Association of Behavior Analysis
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Join Free →Come spend an evening laughing and cheering on those brave Ignite presenters! Bored? The slide will change in just 5 seconds! Cheer them on and then head over to the Friday night social: the only place to celebrate FABA's 45th Birthday! Florida by the Numbers: The Wild Stats Behind Our ABA Workforce Florida isn't just the Sunshine State—it's the Behavior Analysis State. With nearly 49,000 Registered Behavior Technicians, we have more RBTs than entire towns have people! Seriously, if Florida's RBTs banded together and formed their own city, it'd be bigger than hundreds of towns across America... including our host city, Ponte Vedra! This Ignite Talk is your backstage pass to the wild world of Florida's ABA workforce. We're talking how many BCBAs, BCaBAs, and RBTs are out there, where they're hiding (or multiplying), and how Florida compares to the rest of the country. From counties bursting at the seams (looking at you, Miami-Dade!) to regions still waiting for their first provider, this talk is packed with data, trends, and eyebrow-raising surprises. It's fast. It's funny. It's Florida. Come for the charts, stay for the chaos, and leave with a deeper (and slightly shocked) understanding of the epic behavioral boom happening right here in the Sunshine State. And remember: statistically speaking... even Florida Man might be an RBT! Parent Buy In is a Behavior: Shape It with Motivational Interviewing Applied Behavior Analysis offers powerful tools for teaching new skills and shaping behavior, yet even the best protocols fall flat without parent engagement. This IGNITE session explores how integrating principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI) into ABA parent training can boost buy-in, increase follow-through, and support meaningful, sustained change. In five minutes, attendees will be taken on a fast-paced journey through the art and science of using empathy, autonomy, and strategic listening to align behavioral strategies with what parents truly value. Through real-world examples, visuals, and zero fluff, this session delivers actionable ideas for every behavior analyst who has ever heard a parent say or think, "I don't have time for that plan." Reimagine parent training, not as a script to follow, but as a collaborative, compassionate, and evidence based conversational style. Are We Practicing ABA Or Just What The Insurance Pays For? Here Is How We Make That Ethical And Still Get Paid Are We Practicing ABA or Just What the Insurance Pays For? Here's How We Make That Ethical and Still Get Paid In the evolving landscape of applied behavior analysis (ABA), a crucial question lingers beneath the surface: Are we genuinely practicing the science of behavior change, or simply delivering what insurance deems reimbursable? This presentation confronts that uncomfortable truth head-on, examining how practitioners often find themselves navigating the complex intersection between ethical clinical practice and the rigid frameworks of insurance-funded care. With honesty at its core, this session explores the widening gap between the individualized, experimental nature of true ABA and the narrow definitions of "medical necessity" enforced by third-party payers. Through candid reflection, we dissect the pressures that push clinicians into clinical corners—where creative coding, strategic language, and ethical discomfort become routine. But rather than accept this status quo, we offer actionable strategies to realign practice with integrity. Attendees will learn how to advocate effectively without inflating, document with clarity rather than creativity, and ensure that every plan stands on the solid ground of measurable, objective data. This discussion does not shy away from the grey areas; instead, it provides practical tools to navigate them while protecting clients, practitioners, and the heart of the field itself. At its foundation, this talk is a call to reclaim ABA's essence within the constraints of the medical model—not by defying the system, but by working ethically and intelligently within it. By fostering honesty, modeling integrity, and choosing compassion over compliance, we can protect the people we serve and the profession we love. Because while we may not be practicing ABA as it was originally envisioned, we have the power—and the duty—to make it better. Hello! Have You Heard the Good Word About Behavior? In our enthusiasm for behavior analysis, we often find ourselves evangelizing the science, with behaviorism as our doctrine and Skinner as our prophet. But when our communication starts to resemble proselytizing rather than partnering, we risk turning clients, caregivers, and colleagues off instead of on to effective behavior change. We'll take a few moments to explore how behavior missionaries push too hard to convert others to our worldview, and hopefully leave with strategies for making behavior analysis more approachable, flexible, and collaborative...no white shirt or name tag required. How Social Media Helps Make ABA More Accessible Karina and Mel carved out their own path—online. As two Latina moms and behavior analytic professionals, we've spent the last two years using social media to bring ABA out of the clinic and into real life. We are passionate about creating daily relatable, bite-sized content that helps families understand core concepts like the functions of behavior, reinforcement, prompting, and more—without needing a referral, a diagnosis, or a background in psychology. We will discuss how accessibility isn't just about physical spaces—it's about language, representation, and showing up authentically. We'll share how social media allows us to support families who never even knew ABA was an option, and how future BCBAs can make a real impact without following a traditional mold. Whether you're a behavior analyst, a student, a parent, or someone trying to figure out how to blend your identity with your profession, this is your permission slip to create your own lane. Because you don't need to fit a mold to do meaningful work. This presentation invites you to reimagine how you share your work, who you reach, and why your voice matters in this field. ABA Company Values: Acceptance & Inclusion (But Not for Staff...?) Many ABA companies pride themselves on their success in improving support for, and the quality of life of, their neurodiverse clients. However, most companies tend to fall short in upholding and translating these values when the person implementing the protocols is neurodiverse themselves. This short presentation will highlight key challenges faced by neurodiverse staff members, including lived experiences shared by the presenter as a neurodiverse BCBA, and offer ways companies can improve their policies to better accommodate staff. Additionally, the presentation will discuss how to work with and appreciate the unique strengths of neurodiverse RBTs and BCBAs. Can't Stop the Science: ABA in a Post-Apocalyptic World The world is ending! I haven't seen the news, but it could be due to zombies, fungal-related creatures, or extraterrestrial anomalies. Regardless of the cause, I'm sure you're all wondering the same thing: How will you get your billable hours in when everything is underwater, on fire, or when a T1000 is chasing you? This brief presentation will examine our role as behavior scientists after everything has fallen apart and how we can rebuild it together. I'll cover critical topics like reinforcing survival-related behavior, shaping post-apocalyptic work ethic, and, of course, whether non-competes are still enforceable during alien invasions. ABA Rizz Training 101 "Rizz"—shorthand for magnetic charisma—has cemented its place in the slang lexicon as "the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner." This ignite will explore how behavior science intertwines with romance, relationships, and attraction. From Analyst to Advocate: Reclaiming Behavior Science Through the P.A.R.T.N.E.R. Model Behavior Analysts are often called in when things go wrong—expected to fix, manage, or redirect. But what if our true power lies not in solving problems, but in preventing them through connection, collaboration, and values-based practice? In this fast-paced, reflective IGNITE talk, we introduce the P.A.R.T.N.E.R model: a behavior science-informed framework for professionals working in schools and community spaces. Developed by two long-time practitioners who entered the field before diagnosis dictated direction, the model invites us to reconsider how we engage with others—not just as technicians or teachers, but as transformative partners. Blending the 7 dimensions of ABA with self-assessment, cultural humility, and real-world experience, we'll explore how to shift from compliance-driven models to compassionate, sustainable change. Through rapid slides and real talk, we ask: Are we empowering or overpowering? Are we building trust, or simply building programs? This session offers a fresh lens for Behavior Scientists ready to reclaim their role as collaborative advocates - ethically, effectively, and authentically. It's time to shift the narrative: less protocol, more partnership. Let's make it make sense, and make it stick. Parent Buy In is a Behavior: Shape It with Motivational Interviewing Applied Behavior Analysis offers powerful tools for teaching new skills and shaping behavior, yet even the best protocols fall flat without parent engagement. This IGNITE session explores how integrating principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI) into ABA parent training can boost buy-in, increase follow-through, and support meaningful, sustained change. In five minutes, attendees will be taken on a fast-paced journey through the art and science of using empathy, autonomy, and strategic listening to align behavioral strategies with what parents truly value. Through real-world examples, visuals, and zero fluff, this session delivers actionable ideas for every behavior analyst who has ever heard a parent say or think, "I don't have time for that." Get ready to reimagine parent training, not as a script to follow, but as a collaborative, compassionate, and evidence based conversational style. Seeing it I2I: A Behavioral Analysis Of A Goofy Movie 1995's A Goofy Movie, turning thirty this year, is a cult classic loved by many people of my generation. But did you know that it stands out as having many illustrative exemplars of behavior analytic concepts and principles? Join me on the open road as I do a behavior-analytic deep dive on this wacky, one might say 'goofy', little film, and learn about the benefits of using media as a tool for teaching behavior-analytic content. After today, you'll never see this film the same way again! Do You Do As They Say, or Do As You Do? How BCBAs ACTUALLY Deal With Burnout If you've had a job for more than 3 weeks and haven't heard about burnou, that's very impressive (or maybe concerning). All the research and therapists say that they know the best ways of handling burnout... but does our data driven field actually follow the data on this one? This talk will compare the research with survey data gathered from a bunch of doom-scrolling ABA professionals to determine the most common—and theoretically most effective—methods of dealing with burnout, some of which may surprise you. By the end of this talk you may learn some new ideas for handling your own mental health—but if instead you learn some things to avoid in your own quest for happiness, that's okay too.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 0 | — |
| COA | 1 | — |
| FL MH/PSY | 0 | — |
Michelle Castanos is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 19 years of experience in Applied Behavior Analysis. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in special education from the University of North Florida. Her journey into ABA was inspired by her cousin, Miguel, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 1997. Michelle began her career as a technician in 2004, starting at the age of 18. By 2007, she founded a company offering behavioral-based babysitting services for children with Autism. Over time, this venture has grown into what is today South Florida Behavior, a comprehensive pediatric ABA center with locations in Miami, FL, and Weston, FL. In addition to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Michelle is one of the founders of THRIVE, the first post-secondary college support program for degree-seeking students with ASD in Florida, situated at the University of North Florida. She has also worked on mobile crisis teams and in institutional settings for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and dual diagnoses. Presently, Michelle serves as the President of SOFABA, the South Florida Chapter of FABA. She is also the founder and moderator for the Florida Medicaid ABA Facebook forum and is an elected Member-at-Large on the FABA board, completing her final year of her three-year term.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
280 research articles with practitioner takeaways
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 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.