Publications
Training behavior technicians to become behavior artists through the teaching interaction procedure.
Bukszpan, Amy & Leaf, Justin & Anderson, Adriana & Moon, Emma & Kaplan, Annabel. (2023). Behavioral Interventions. 10.1002/bin.1963.
In his 1985 lecture, Richard Foxx outlined several traits that distinguished behavior technicians from behavioral artists. He argued that these distinguishing factors made the difference in whether a behavior change proved successful or not. These features have added to the growing body of work around compassionate care in behavior analysis. This study demonstrates that Foxx's skills of behavioral artistry can be taught to a selection of three behavior technicians, demonstrating that technicians are able to learn the topographical behaviors of behavioral artistry through the teaching interaction procedure. A multiple baseline design across three participants was used. Data from this study demonstrates that all three participants showed improvement in their ability to engage in three components identified as part of Foxx's behavioral artistry.
Bukszpan, Amy & Leaf, Justin & Anderson, Adriana & Moon, Emma & Kaplan, Annabel. (2023). Behavioral Interventions. 10.1002/bin.1963.
In his 1985 lecture, Richard Foxx outlined several traits that distinguished behavior technicians from behavioral artists. He argued that these distinguishing factors made the difference in whether a behavior change proved successful or not. These features have added to the growing body of work around compassionate care in behavior analysis. This study demonstrates that Foxx's skills of behavioral artistry can be taught to a selection of three behavior technicians, demonstrating that technicians are able to learn the topographical behaviors of behavioral artistry through the teaching interaction procedure. A multiple baseline design across three participants was used. Data from this study demonstrates that all three participants showed improvement in their ability to engage in three components identified as part of Foxx's behavioral artistry.
Measuring outcomes for adults with autism spectrum disorders: Historical perspectives and hope for the future
Bukszpan, Amy & Piazza, Jessica & Javed, Asim & Sato, Sara & Boone, Victoria. (2022). Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. (pp. 433-447).
Historical evaluations of the outcomes for adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are poor. Researchers assessed outcome measures which lacked the representation of the heterogeneity of the population, overemphasizing bleak outcomes, failing to consider personal perspectives and values. A move toward more qualitative reports which consider an individual’s unique outlook should be considered when evaluating outcomes and programming interventions. This chapter surveys the historical approaches to evaluating outcome measures and then moves to highlight alternative perspectives reporting shifting the focus from researcher driven toward caregivers and individuals. The authors seek to explore how deinstitutionalization and early intervention altered the possibilities for individuals with ASD and how compassionate care and a focus on social validity can further challenge how we evaluate outcomes and plan for an optimistic future for adults with ASD.
Bukszpan, Amy & Piazza, Jessica & Javed, Asim & Sato, Sara & Boone, Victoria. (2022). Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. (pp. 433-447).
Historical evaluations of the outcomes for adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are poor. Researchers assessed outcome measures which lacked the representation of the heterogeneity of the population, overemphasizing bleak outcomes, failing to consider personal perspectives and values. A move toward more qualitative reports which consider an individual’s unique outlook should be considered when evaluating outcomes and programming interventions. This chapter surveys the historical approaches to evaluating outcome measures and then moves to highlight alternative perspectives reporting shifting the focus from researcher driven toward caregivers and individuals. The authors seek to explore how deinstitutionalization and early intervention altered the possibilities for individuals with ASD and how compassionate care and a focus on social validity can further challenge how we evaluate outcomes and plan for an optimistic future for adults with ASD.
Community settings and individuals with autism.
Bukszpan, Amy & Streff, Todd. Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. (pp. 179-224).
The Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act and the Olmstead ruling were cornerstone decisions to expand community living and funding opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This chapter will focus on the expanded community living settings and clinical services that have evolved since deinstitutionalization and movement into the community for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other intellectual disabilities. There are challenges to consider in delivering effective community-based services which will be explored and solutions examined. As we continue to expand community services, it becomes possible to foresee a time when individuals with ASD will have the supports they need regardless of the extent of any disability or impairment to live and prosper in an integrated setting that provides them a higher quality of life.
Bukszpan, Amy & Streff, Todd. Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. (pp. 179-224).
The Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act and the Olmstead ruling were cornerstone decisions to expand community living and funding opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This chapter will focus on the expanded community living settings and clinical services that have evolved since deinstitutionalization and movement into the community for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other intellectual disabilities. There are challenges to consider in delivering effective community-based services which will be explored and solutions examined. As we continue to expand community services, it becomes possible to foresee a time when individuals with ASD will have the supports they need regardless of the extent of any disability or impairment to live and prosper in an integrated setting that provides them a higher quality of life.