Real World” BCBAs, the “Behavior Crisis”, and Pathological Demand Avoidance

In daily practice in “real world” settings like schools, homes, or, community practice BCBAs report their conventional ABA strategies failing to support PDA and other “problem” behavior of conversational humans with disabilities served by BCBAs. This CEU provides theory and research to describe the evolution of the modern day “behavior crisis” including current knowledge of PDA, and providing ACT as a workable solution for BCBAs in real world settings where resources are limited and there is no shortage of “problems” to solve.

1. 1"Participants will be able to: • Define PDA and identify differences between escape, avoidance, and PDA and make considerations for treatment of each. • Describe the evolution of PDA in ABA and the treatment considerations to support this behavior profile • Define avoidance through ACT • Identify key challenges for BCBAs in real world setting supporting conversational humans with “problem” behavior • Identify ACT as ABA that brings a workable solution for current challenges"