The 16th Annual MABA Conference

Poster Session (coming soon)

KeyNote sPEAKER

Jon S. Bailey, Ph. D., BCBA-D   

Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology

Florida State University

Dr. Bailey received his PhD, from the University of Kansas in 1970 and is currently Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Florida State University where he was on the graduate faculty for 38 years and produced a record 63 PhDs.  He is currently on the faculty of the FSU Panama City Master’s Program in Psychology which has been ranked #1 in the world three times in the last 10 years. He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a Fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis: International and the American Psychological Association. He is the creator of the popular ABAEthicsHotline.com which receives hundreds of ethics questions per month. Dr. Bailey received the Distinguished Service to Behavior Analysis Award from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis, the Division 25 Fred S. Keller Behavioral Education Award and the University of Kansas Applied Behavioral Science Distinguished Alumni Award as well as the prestigious Nathan H. Azrin Award for Outstanding Contributions to Applied Behavior Analysis from the American Psychological Association. In 2017, he received the Murray Sidman Award for Enduring Contribution to Behavior Analysis from the Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy.  He has published over 100 peer-reviewed research articles, is past Editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and is the author of 13 books including Ethics for Behavior Analysts,3rd edition, Research Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis, 2nd Edition, Analyzing Ethics Questions from Behavior Analysts, and the RBT Ethics Code: Mastering the BACB ethical requirements for Registered Behavior Technicians, published July 2020. He is celebrating his 51st year with Florida State University

Beyond Basic Ethics: A trip into the gray zones of professional ABA practice

Abstract: After a couple of years dealing with the 2016 BACB Code of Ethics, aka the Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts, most behavior analysts have mastered the basics including: don’t step beyond your boundaries of competence, don’t allow yourself to fall into the dual-relationship trap with clients or supervisees, only use evidence-based interventions, use least-restrictive procedures, promote an ethical environment, etc. These are habits that can be learned easily since they come up quite often but what about conditions of employment that were perhaps not anticipated and are not in a supervision contract? And ABA in the time of telehealth, how is that supposed to work when the client on the other end is non- compliant and there is no parent to be found to assist? What about parents who are enamored with non-evidence-based procedures such as CBD or who invent some restrictive method of their own that make you queasy over the possibility of abuse? Finally, what about collaborating with other clinicians who don’t understand our philosophy of behavior (“It’s all operant conditioning...”), how do we resolve that conflict?  Welcome to the Gray Zone of professional practice of ABA, in this talk I will discuss these issues and more to see if they can be resolved using elements of the Code or if we need to improvise new strategies to suit the complex circumstances that confront us on a daily basis.

Invited Speakers

Shannon Biagi, MS, BCBA

CEO and founder of Chief Motivating Officers, LLC

Shannon Biagi is the CEO and founder of Chief Motivating Officers, LLC, an organization dedicated to improving the world at work one behavior change agent at a time. Through her work as an organizational behavior management (OBM) practitioner and educator, she has enacted positive behavior change in numerous organizations worldwide, and has influenced the professional development of thousands of leaders through speaking opportunities, training engagements, performance management solutions, and executive coaching/mentorship. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, an all-but-dissertation PhD dropout, and is a co-author on the best-selling OBM textbook OBM Applied: A Practical Guide to Implementing Organizational Behavior Management. In support of the growing community of practitioners, Shannon also volunteers her time as the director of operations of the largest OBM-focused professional development organization in the world – The OBM Network.

Leadership Development and Evaluation in ABA

Abstract: In the field of behavior analysis, many practitioners pride themselves in their clinical ABA prowess. However, many supervisors find themselves unable to meet the needs of their followers, and companies struggle to expand their business and manage turnover. This is due, in part, to a lack of emphasis on a particular behavioral repertoire of ABA clinicians: leadership. This presentation will focus on how organizational behavior management (OBM) strategies can be utilized to define, measure, and evaluate behaviors and “soft skills” associated with leadership at multiple levels within an organization, with an emphasis on moving away from labels and “styles”.

Keywords: organizational behavior management, leadership, soft skills

Shawn T. Capell, MS., BCBA, LBA

Owner and Clinical Director of Covenant 15:16 LLC

Shawn Thomas Capell, MS., BCBA, LBA holds a Master of Science degree in psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and is currently working towards a Ph.D. within the same field. In addition to his current full-time position Mr. Capell is the Owner and Executive Director of Covenant 15:16 LLC, an agency with the mission to ensure all families, regardless of socioeconomic status receive the highest quality ABA care possible. Mr. Capell’s clinical and research interests include parent/staff training, multicultural and diversity issues within the field of ABA, and physical aggression within adult learners. With a love and passion for the field of ABA Mr. Capell has adopted as his personal/professional mission to increase the presence and impact of minority professionals within the field of ABA.

Incorporating Cultural Competency and Diversity into Applied Behavior Analysis

Abstract: The process of becoming a behavior analyst includes several instances in which an individual is required to demonstrate specific competencies. Competence has become a hot-button topic within the field of ABA given recent world events; however, as a field, we continue to ignore the area of cultural competency. As the science of ABA continues to reach the 4 corners of the earth, cultural competency and diversity training has now become a mandate for our science to continue to thrive. Culture impacts every aspect of service delivery and it is impossible to understate the importance of culturally competent behavior analysts. How can we (the science of ABA) address the lack of culturally competent behavior analytic professionals while providing services to individuals with ASD from an increasingly diverse cultural background?

Keywords: applied behavior analysis, culture, supervision, diversity, equity, self-reflection

Marc J. Lanovaz, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Associate Professor in the École de psychoéducation of the Université de Montréal and Researcher at the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal.

Marc J. Lanovaz, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is an Associate Professor in the École de psychoéducation of the Université de Montréal and Researcher at the Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal. The work in his lab has been funded by many major granting agencies such as the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and Québec’s Research Funds. His research program currently involves the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and technology to improve the delivery of behavior analytic services. Dr. Lanovaz has authored more than sixty publications on diverse topics such as clinical decision-making, parent training and challenging behavior in individuals with developmental disability.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Behavior Analysis or How Skynet Can Actually Make Us Better

Abstract: Artificial intelligence and machine learning are currently revolutionizing how we work and interact. However, catchy headlines often lead to misconceptions about what they can and cannot do. These misconceptions may partly explain why behavior analysts have been slow to adopt these approaches despite their promising nature. This presentation aims to dispel common myths about artificial intelligence and machine learning while discussing potential applications to behavior analytic problems. First, the presenter will describe and define artificial intelligence and machine learning. Then, the talk will cover common myths about their application. Finally, recent applications in behavior analysis will be discussed with an emphasis on practice. Overall, the presentation should provide a balanced overview of what artificial intelligence and machine learning can potentially do (and not do) to support both practitioners and researchers in behavior analysis. 

Keywords: artificial intelligence, behavior analysis, decision-making, machine learning

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HOTEL INFORMATION

The following hotels are conveniently located near the University of Manitoba. Please note that MABA does not partner with any hotels to offer special rates and we do not endorse the hotels listed below. If you have any questions, please contact the Conference Co-Chairs, at conference@maba.ca.

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Hotels Near the Conference Venue:

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• Best Western Plus Pembina Inn & Suites

1714 Pembina Highway
book.bestwestern.com
(204) 269-8888

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• Comfort Inn South

3109 Pembina Hwy
comfortinnwinnipeg.com
(204) 269-7390

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• Econo Lodge

1105 St Mary's Road
choicehotels.ca
(204) 256-4315

• Four Points by Sheraton Winnipeg South

2935 Pembina Highway
fourpointswinnipegsouth.com
(204) 275-7711

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• Holiday Inn Winnipeg-South

1330 Pembina Hwy
http://www.winnipegsouthholidayinn.com
(204) 452-4747

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• Queen Bee Hotel

2615 Pembina Hwy
queenbeehotel.ca
(204) 269-4666