Many children receiving ABA services are simultaneously enrolled in school-based special education programs. While both systems aim to support developmental progress for children with autism and related disabilities, they operate under fundamentally different legislative mandates, funding mechanisms, eligibility frameworks, and service delivery philosophies.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Gracent
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Join Free →This presentation, Navigating ABA and School-Based Services: What Caregivers and Clinicians Need to Know, provides an overview of the differences between clinic-based applied behavior analysis (ABA) services and school-based educational supports, with a focus on how caregivers and professionals can collaborate effectively across systems. Participants will learn about the goals, eligibility requirements, funding sources, and providers that define each model. Key distinctions, such as the medical versus educational basis for service provision, the differences in assessment tools, and the typical intensity of services, are highlighted to clarify why expectations often differ between families and schools. The session also explores practical strategies for collaboration and advocacy in school settings, including how parents can build constructive relationships with IEP teams and how clinicians can navigate systems that operate outside of a behavioral framework. By the end of this session, participants will be better equipped to work across settings to support children's needs and promote consistency between clinical and educational environments.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | General |
| ASHA | 0 | — |
| COA | 1 | — |
| PACE ASWB | 0 | — |
Dr. Chivon Niziolek is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the doctoral level (BCBA-D) and serves as the Program Chair and Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Behavior Analysis at The Chicago School’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies.She earned her Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where she also completed a Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Niziolek worked across various clinical, educational, and adult service settings, applying behavior analysis to diverse populations.Her research and professional interests focus on the dissemination of behavior analysis and its application to organizational challenges, particularly in workplace safety, employee wellness, and retention. She is dedicated to advancing the field through teaching, research, and applied work that enhances organizational effectiveness and well-being.
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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.