OUR NEXT GUEST:
A Conversation with
Drs. Bridget Taylor &
Peter Gerhardt
Quality of Life is a complex yet important measure in autism treatment. Join us Thursday, May 18th at 1 pm EST as we discuss how behavior analysts can promote Quality of Life for their clients throughout their lifetime.
This webinar is eligible for 1 General CE
About this Webinar
Supporting a More Positive Quality of Life for Autistic Adolescents and Adults
Promoting a positive quality of life is something that certainly falls within the parameters of behavior analytic intervention and socially significant outcomes. To make this happen, however, the development of meaningful instructional goals and the identification of relevant environmental modifications needs to start in elementary school and continue into transition, graduation and beyond. As with most, if not all of what competent behavior analysts do, this process is highly individualized and requires programming for both generalization and maintenance.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the difficulty in identifying the parameters of quality of life on a case-by-case basis.
- Identify a minimum of 5 personal or ecological parameters associated with a more positive quality of life.
- Identify behaviorally-based strategies that may improve an individual’s quality of life.
About the Speakers
Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D
is the Executive Director of the EPIC Programs in Paramus, NJ. Dr. Gerhardt has over 40 years of experience utilizing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis in support of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders in educational, employment, residential and community-based settings. He co-edited “The Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with ASD” (Springer, 2022) and authored or co-author a number of articles and book chapters on the needs of adolescents and adults with ASD. He has presented nationally and internationally on this and related topics. Dr. Gerhardt serves as Co-Chairman of the Scientific Council for the Organization for Autism Research and is on numerous professional advisory boards including the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. He currently serves as adjunct faculty in the Institute for Behavioral Studies at Endicott College. Dr. Gerhardt received his doctorate from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey’s Graduate School of Education.
Dr. Bridget Taylor, Psy.D, BCBA-D
is co-founder and CEO of Alpine Learning Group and is Senior Clinical Advisor for Rethink Behavioral Health. Dr. Taylor has specialized in the education of individuals with autism for over 30 years. She holds a Doctor of Psychology from Rutgers University, and received her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Columbia University. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Psychologist. Dr. Taylor is past president of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and past Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. She currently serves on the board of the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (SEAB). Active in the autism research community, Dr. Taylor has published numerous peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters on innovative practices to improve the lives of individuals with autism. Her most recent work explores compassionate relationship-building with families in the provision of clinical services to individuals with autism. Dr. Taylor has been recognized by the Association for Applied Behavior Analysis International for her outstanding contributions and received ABAI’s Fellow designation.