Caitlin Ambrosia

Caitlin Ambrosia, BCBA

Abstract: Systematic desensitisation and assent-led intervention strategies are essential for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delays who experience distress in medical settings. This case study examines a non-vocal 9-year-old autistic male with intellectual disability who had not left his home for two years and exhibited severe distressed behaviors. Due to frequent illness, he required medical care but was unable to access necessary appointments without forced restraint and sedation.

Utilising Skills-Based Treatment and assent-led approaches, this study introduced gradual exposure to medical equipment within the safety of the client’s home. By building trust and prioritising autonomy, the client voluntarily engaged with medical procedures. This success led to participation in an Ear, Nose, and Throat exam and an eye exam. Medical professionals were guided in honoring his communication and gaining his assent, allowing him to opt out at any time. The client successfully completed an ear exam for the first time since infancy and tolerated eye drops after extensive preparation, without distress.

This study highlights the effectiveness of assent-led, compassionate behavior-analytic strategies in reducing distress and increasing medical cooperation. The findings emphasise patient autonomy and structured desensitisation as a model for ethical and effective medical preparation for individuals with ASD.

Target Audience: For practitioners who have clients that emit distressed behaviours which prevent them from accessing medical care

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, delegates will be able to:

1. Describe the principles of assent-led intervention and systematic desensitisation for individuals with trauma histories in medical settings.
2. Identify key components of Skills-Based Treatment (SBT) and how they can be applied to increase medical cooperation while minimising patient distress.
3. Apply ethical and compassionate strategies to support individuals in tolerating necessary medical procedures without the use of restraint or sedation.

BACB CE Instructor: Caitlin Ambrosia

Sophie Carrington

Super Kids Behavioural Consulting

Abstract: This presentation introduces new avenues for collaboration with medical professionals, aiming to increase the reach of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and continue raising the profile of our field in the Australian context. Research presented at the 2024 Annual Conference outlined the limited knowledge of ABA amongst Australian General Practitioners (GP), and highlighted how few would refer patients to ABA for early intervention. Following this research, a comprehensive GP education program was developed, which aimed to address this knowledge gap and increase the likelihood of referral. While well-received and effective in increasing the likelihood of individual GP referral rates, this education program was limited in scale and unlikely to produce broad shifts in practice across the profession. To achieve more meaningful change, opportunities for more specialist collaboration on a larger scale were investigated. The current presentation details the process of forging connections with medical specialists and scaling the GP education model for larger audiences. The establishment of an ongoing collaborative partnership will be described, focused on toleration and cooperation of must-have medical procedures. The model combines specialist medical intervention for immediate or emergent procedures, with ongoing skill-building by Behaviour Analysts for toleration and cooperation in future consultations. Implications and potential future directions for the field will be discussed.

Target Audience: Behaviour analysts interested in the dissemination of ABA, and how we can expand our reach through education and collaboration with other disciplines, and medical professionals in particular

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, delegates will be able to:

1. identify common barriers to referral to ABA services experienced by Australian General Practitioners when treating patients with suspected or diagnosed intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
2. describe a model for engaging with Australian medical professionals to increase understanding of ABA and increase the likelihood of referral
3. identify implications for ongoing efforts to disseminate Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in the Australian context

BACB CE Instructor: Renee Collins

Nur Raihan Suhaimi & Oliver B Roschke

Lojic

Abstract: The use of polypharmacy is substantially higher among people with disabilities with psychotropic medications being prescribed even in the absence of psychiatric disorders (NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, 2020). Prolonged use of psychotropic medications carries an elevated risk of serious side effects, including a higher likelihood of developing diabetes (Holt, 2019; Yood et al., 2009), an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attack (Pillinger et al., 2020; Zivkovic et al., 2019) and significant weight gain (Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2008; Bak et al., 2014; Holt, 2019). While the role of behaviour support practitioners in Australia includes the reduction and elimination of chemical restraints (NDIS, 2024), there continues to be little training and guidance for behaviour analysts to navigate the complex intersection between medications and behaviour analytic interventions (Li & Poling, 2018). In response, we aim to offer practical guidelines based on behaviour analytic- and other relevant research, illustrated through case study examples, to help practitioners effectively communicate and collaborate with psychiatrists and other physicians, in order to better monitor and evaluate psychotropic drugs as well as less restrictive, alternative interventions.

Target Audience: NDIS participants, behaviour support practitioners, stakeholders

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, delegates will be able to:

1. Describe common risks associated with psychotropic medications prescribed for behaviour management of individuals with disabilities

2. Describe common barriers related to the evaluation and withdrawal of psychotropic medications

3. Describe what activities are within the scope of practice of behaviour analysts working with individuals with disabilities who are prescribed psychotropic medications

4. Describe tactics behaviour analysts can use to foster collaboration with prescribing medical professionals

BACB CE Instructor: Nur Raihan Suhaimi