What Do They Want. Assent-Based Care in Zoo Animals and Children with Communication Challenges belongs in serious BCBA study because it shapes whether behavior-analytic decisions stay useful once they leave a clean training example and enter animal care routines, enrichment planning, staff consultation, and welfare review.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Behavior Analysis Association of Michigan
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Join Free →Assent-based treatment is not a new concept in applied behavior analysis (Skinner, 1959; 1999), but it has received more attention in recent years (Morris, et al., 2023). Assent is the agreement to participate from participants unable to give legal consent (Breaux & Smith, 2022). Assent-based treatment includes the right of the participant to withdraw participation at any time. In early intervention applications of applied behavior analysis, determining assent can be challenging given the communication difficulties present in young children with developmental disabilities. Recent research has attempted to operationally define the assent to participate and also to withdraw participation (Morris et al., 2021). Similarly, the care of exotic animals has also attempted to identify and honor assent to participate in training. Typically termed choice and control, staff that care for and train zoo animals have focused on determining and maintaining the animal's comfort and choice in participating in animal training and care. This presentation will cover recent work in identifying and honoring humans' and animals' choice in participating in training and treatment and how control over one's day and environment can be given, even when communication difficulties may exist.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | General |
| COA | 1 | — |
Dr. Capuano is a licensed clinical psychologist and BCBA-D. She has nearly 20 years experience in the field of ABA and psychology. Her clinical work has spanned many aspects of treatment, from psychological and behavioral assessments to individual, family, and group therapy. She has expertise in diagnosing ASD and has advanced training in evidence-based treatments, such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Early Start Denver Model, and PEERS Social Skills program. In addition to her clinical work, she is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in the undergraduate and graduate ABA program and is a faculty mentor for the Michigan Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (LEND).
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.