The Skinner Report Podcast

Overcome your Applied Behavior Analysis practice roadblocks in the most practical way possible with The Skinner Report. Each week, we break down everything ABA-related to help you understand how to provide high-quality behavioral health. Get the lowdown on what’s in the news, receive updates on legislation, and listen to industry commentary.

Hear from leading industry experts who discuss what’s going on in the field. They share actionable tips on building effective therapies and running smooth-sailing organizations. Discover how to address the industry’s latest updates and solve the most common problems. Work through labor shortages, regulator complications, compliance issues, and quality measurements.

Latest Episode

Applied Behavior Analysis And Autism: Diving Deep Into How Is ABA Perceived

Applied Behavior Analysis And Autism: Diving Deep Into How Is ABA Perceived

There are tensions in the community towards seeing the applicability of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). In this episode, we explore the nuances of ABA in the field of autism from various perspectives. We sat down with autism parent and BCBA, Yev Veverka from the University of Washington, to discuss her view on ABA and the impression it leaves to people on the spectrum and their families. In particular, she shares the article she published in Spectrum News titled, “Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism: Flawed Application of a Proven Science.” Yev dives deep into ABA reform, the challenges faced by families seeking ABA services, and the need for more individualized and accessible approaches. Plus, we also speak with Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum star Dani Bowman to hear about her journey to love and her perspective of ABA from the voice of someone living with autism. Both conversations are meant to provide perspective for those who care about the autistic community and the science of ABA. Join us as we learn more about ABA and its future in the autism space.

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More Episodes to Explore

Behind CARD’s Chapter 11 Filing: What Do We Know So Far?

Behind CARD’s Chapter 11 Filing: What Do We Know So Far?

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections and entered into a stalking horse bid agreement with a group led by its founder and ex-CEO Doreen Granpeesheh. The news comes after months of rumors regarding CARD’s status. In this episode, Sara Litvak and Anna Bullard interview Dexter Braff of The Braff Group to find out what he knows about the bankruptcy filing and what it means for the marketplace. Find out as well their thoughts on the current challenges faced by the healthcare industry, what bankruptcy in the space looks like, and where demand for autism services currently stands. All of these, plus lessons we can all learn on high-leveraged debt in this enlightening conversation.

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The Legalities & Ethics Of Layoffs In ABA

The Legalities & Ethics Of Layoffs In ABA

What are the implications of clinician layoffs in ABA from an ethical, clinical, and continuity of care perspective? In this episode, Sara Litvak and Anna Bullard sit with employment legal expert and attorney, Jackie, who has asked for her identity to remain anonymous. She currently is Senior Counsel at a Fortune 100 company and counsels employers on employment-related issues and defends employment-related litigation. We also hear from Jon Krieger, an investment banker from Calex Partners, about the dynamics within the autism therapy landscape that may be attributed to the recent layoffs. Hosts Sara and Anna also discuss their thoughts on the matter. Tune in to learn more!

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2022 Standards And New Accreditation Model With Dr. Ellie Kazemi

2022 Standards And New Accreditation Model With Dr. Ellie Kazemi

On July 1, BHCOE launched its new standards for applied behavior analysis (ABA) and introduced changes to its accreditation process. It has updated its standards to improve understandability and has brought greater focus to clinical practices on the path to quality ABA services. In developing the new standards and making changes to its accreditation process, BHCOE listened carefully to the ABA community and relied on its growing body of knowledge including seven years and more than 100,000 data points about the practices that result in quality ABA services.

In this podcast, Dr. Ellie Kazemi joins Sara Litvak and Anna Bullard to discuss the following changes in BHCOE’s 2022 Standards and new Accreditation Process:

• A newly designed digital gateway to guide providers step-by-step
• Immediate feedback to redirect providers to resources that help them meet a standard
• No reloading documents for accreditation renewals unless they have changed
• More focused, fewer survey questions
• Fewer required documents
• Even more transparency of the scoring criteria
• Greater focus on the quality of therapy sessions and the quality of services
• Scalability for organizations with fewer than 25 patients
• Additional clinic-specific data visibility for a larger organization

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Diversity And Inclusion In The Black ABA Community With Adrienne Bradley And Tia Glover

Diversity And Inclusion In The Black ABA Community With Adrienne Bradley And Tia Glover

The Black ABA community has long been underserved and underrepresented. But recent years have seen a surge in initiatives to empower black ABA practitioners and bring much-needed diversity to the field. In this episode, Sarah Litvak and Anna Bullard are joined by Adrienne Bradley, President at Black Applied Behavior Analysts (BABA) and Tia Glover, Behavior Analyst and Healthcare Director. They speak about how Black ABAs have been underrepresented, why the ABA conference at Detroit has been invaluable, and BABA’s partnership with the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) to benefit ABA professionals.

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Are Universities Doing Their Part? With Dr. Ellie Kazemi And Dr. Lusineh Gharapetian

Are Universities Doing Their Part? With Dr. Ellie Kazemi And Dr. Lusineh Gharapetian

Accreditation ensures there is equal performance and equal opportunities across the board. Are universities doing their part for quality BACB accreditation? Hosts Sara Litvak and Anna Bullard welcome Dr. Ellie Kazemi, the Chief Science Officer at the Behavioral Center of Excellence, and Dr. Lusineh Gharapetian, the Associate Program Director at Pepperdine for the Behavior Analysis Program. Dr. Ellie and Dr. Elisa explain that it’s a university’s role to establish the concepts and principles of behavior and the methods on how to study them. The students must then, later on, understand the philosophy that guides the practice of behavior analysis. Join the conversation to learn more.

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CEO Turnover In ABA, Payor Disclosures, And APBA Conference

CEO Turnover In ABA, Payor Disclosures, And APBA Conference

In any industry, especially in ABA, CEO turnovers can be stressful times. Learning how to adjust to new leadership and new protocols is always going to be difficult. That is why teams need to work on their exit strategy so that there is enough time to make changes. Join Sara Litvak and Anna Bullard as they talk about CEO turnovers, payor disclosures, central reach outage, & APBA. Companies work so hard on onboarding, that they forget about offboarding. The people you offboard may become your ambassadors, so you have to make them leave with a positive taste in their mouths. Create that perfect exit strategy today!

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The State Of BCBA/RBT Compensation And Turnover In Applied Behavior Analysis

The State Of BCBA/RBT Compensation And Turnover In Applied Behavior Analysis

Data is pretty much a standard, direct thing. But in the world of applied behavioral analysis, there are various factors that can influence data. Sara Litvak welcomes Dr. David Cox, the Chief Data Officer at the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence. Dr. Cox is a Behavior Analyst and Data Scientist with 15+ years of experience in the behavioral health and wellness industries. His work involves data science to understand the complexities of behavioral health. Listen in as Dr. Cox shares how he conveys his love for data by creating programs with pro-health behaviors in mind.

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Legislative Updates & ABA M&A: What’s In Store For 2022, With Debbie Napolitano And Jon Krieger

Legislative Updates & ABA M&A: What’s In Store For 2022, With Debbie Napolitano And Jon Krieger

What are the legislative updates for Delaware, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Texas? What are the major acquisitions that happened in ABA in 2021? What are the patterns we’re noticing and how did Elemy get a $1B dollar valuation? Join Sara Litvak and Anna Bullard as they get more of these updates from Debbie Napolitano from New York State ABA. Plus get some updates on acquisitions form Jon Krieger from The Calex Group. Tune in to learn more!

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