Instructor: William Ahearn

William Ahearn
 Biography:

Bill Ahearn joined The New England Center for Children® in August 1996 and serves as the director of research. He is also adjunct faculty in Western New England University's master's and doctoral programs. Bill was named the 2009 American Psychological Association - Division 25 awardee for Enduring Contributions to Applied Behavioral Research. His work has been published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Behavioral Interventions, Behavior Modification,The Lancet and Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, and he has written book chapters on teaching children with autism and pediatric feeding problems in children with autism. Bill is currently the editor-in-chief of Behavioral Interventions and serves on several editorial boards. Bill is a past president of APBA and BABAT and serves as the chair of the board that licenses behavior analysts in Massachusetts.

Classes by this instructor


Best Teaching Practices: Research in the Trenches

Best Teaching Practices: Research in the Trenches
BEST TEACHING PRACTICES: RESEARCH IN THE TRENCHES - BEHP1109 Discusses systematic evaluations of teaching procedures conducted with students in a school for children with ASDs. Includes evaluations for establishing behavior chains, verbal behavior and strategies for remediation that should be implemented when necessary.



July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, Canvas 2

Stereotypy: There are No Easy Answers

Stereotypy: There are No Easy Answers
STEREOTYPY: THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS - BEHP1112 Examines how stereotypy is socially stigmatizing and can interfere with skill acquisition. Includes interventions for directly treating stereotypy (response competition, response interruption/redirection). Discusses strategies for building functional skills from direct instruction of functional engagement to video modeling and verbal operant training.


July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, Canvas 2

Repetitive Behavior: Autism, Stereotypy and Anxiety: Supporting Adaptive Behavior Is the Answer

Repetitive Behavior: Autism, Stereotypy and Anxiety: Supporting Adaptive Behavior Is the Answer - BEHP1220 Presents a follow-up to "Stereotypy: There Are No Easy Answers." Considers the significant amount of research for treating repetitive behavior that has occurred, furthering understanding of how and when to treat it. Describes why stereotypy is significant by examining how autism is a social learning disorder in which sensory stimulation is more salient than social stimulation. Examines the current best practices for treating stereotypy/supporting adaptive behavior. Demonstrates how well-constructed teaching environments can promote appropriate behavior with concomitant control over stereotypy. Also examines analyzing automatically reinforced behavior that may predict effective treatment. Describes, anxiety, another related form of automatically reinforced behavior that is common in persons with autism. Discusses a behavior analytic account of anxiety as well as an assessment and treatment protocol. Describes relaxation training and exposure techniques.
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July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, Canvas 2