The truth is that the learning journey for an (Applied Behavior Analysis) ABA therapist never ends. There is always more to learn from other professionals, patients, and the community of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Continuous education is essential because it equips you with knowledge, skills, and tools to improve your practice. There are multiple platforms, each with varying opportunities and information for ABA therapists. Here are ten professional resources for ABA therapists.  

1. Professional Organizations 

Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) 

The BACB is a non-profit regulatory certification body for ABA therapists. This body formulates professional standards of practice, codes of ethics, and credentialing professionals in behavior analysis. There are several certification programs for therapists at varying levels.  

• Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) 
• Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) 
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) 
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst- Doctoral (BCBA-D) 

Membership also gives you access to educational resources, newsletters, podcasts, blogs, and news in the ABA practice.  

Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) 

The APBA is a non-profit professional organization that promotes science-based ABA practices. You can register as a member and enjoy access to the latest information in APBA, discounted liability insurance, opportunities to purchase journals, books, learning modules, webinars, workshops, career information, details on credentialing, surveys, and so much more.  

2. Non-Profit Organizations 

Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) 

ASAT is a non-profit organization developed by volunteer professionals and parents of children with autism. Besides providing science-based information for professionals, parents, educators, and other interested parties, ASAT also advocates for accountability in the care and education of people with ASD. The organization’s site has newsletters, links to research, articles, videos, and book reviews beneficial for ABA therapists.  

Autism Speaks  

Autism Speaks is a non-profit organization that promotes solutions and knowledge for people with autism, parents, and families of people with autism. This organization has advocated for autism insurance benefits, increased the acceptance and understanding of the autism spectrum and people with autism, and improved early detection of autism among children. The organization also has a plethora of information resources for ABA therapists.  

3. Research Organizations  

Autism Society of America (ASA) 

ASA is a non-profit organization that has been supporting the autism community for more than 50 years. This organization funds autism research, treatment, and diagnosis among children and adults. The site has a reliable library of research, papers, training modules, and information on genetics, environment, and immunity of ASD.  

 Autism Research Institute (ASI) 

ASI is a non-profit research organization founded in 1967 by a pioneer in autism research, 1967 by Dr. Bernard Rimland. ASI funds research, shares scientific and factual knowledge on autism, and provides various information resources such as webinars and papers for ABA therapists.  

4. Blogs 

Blogs are a great way to learn new information in short bits or explore sources for the latest news. Fortunately, most professional and non-profit organizations have credible blogs for ABA therapists. In addition, thanks to keyword search, you can find answers to your questions quickly on most blogs.  

•  The BACB blog.  
• The APBA news articles cover information about the body, ABA therapists, studies, new findings in research, conventions, and government policy.  
• The Autism Helper by Sasha Long has an extensive blogs base for ABA therapists.  
• Autism Care Today is a non-profit organization that helps millions of families and children with autism.  

• Age of Autism has an extensive library of blogs that equip ABA therapists with professional information.  
• Spectrum- Autism Research News is a renowned blog that shares expert opinions, research, thoughts, and developments in ASD.  

5. Podcasts 

Podcasts are a great source of information, especially while driving or performing activities around the home.  

•  The BACB podcast: The BACB provides a variety of resources for ABA therapists, including a podcast. The podcast covers crucial issues about the BACB, ethics, certification, and critical issues during therapy practice.  
• The Behavioral Observations, with host Matt Cicoria, is vital information for ABA therapists looking for analytic conversations with renowned ABA therapists.  
• The ABA Inside Track is hosted by a BCBA host who engages two BCBA-Ds. The podcast is exciting, information-packed, and an excellent source for finding recommendations on books, papers, ethics, and practices.  
• The Do Better Collective offers a passionate, empathetic and practical approach to navigating behavior interventions for therapists, families, and people with autism.  
• ABA On Call explores ABA therapy and technology in healthcare.  

6. Journals and Books  

Scholarly journals and books are a fundamental part of the learning process. Thanks to the advocacy for autism research, there is plenty of literature in circulation for ABA therapists. 

•  Science and Human Behaviorby B.F. Skinner is a classic piece that explores the fundamentals of human behavior. While the knowledge and practice of human behavior analysis have evolved, this book is still an excellent read for any therapist.  
• Meaningful Differences Between the Everyday Experiences of Young American Children is a research book by Hart Betty and Risley Todd. This critical piece explores the relationship between a child’s experience with their family and intellectual growth over time.  
• Applied Behavior Analysis by John Cooper, Timothy Heron, and William Heron is a comprehensive book covering broad areas of the autism spectrum. Reading this book end to end can be challenging, and as such, it’s a great reference piece to have on the shelf.  

• Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity is a book by Steve Silberman that explores the history of autism and the current culture around autism disorders.  
• Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Evidence-Based Assessment and Intervention in Schools, edited by Lee A. Wilkinson shares research and tools for accurate assessment and intervention by therapists and educators.  
• Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Critical Issues in Clinical, Forensic, and School Settings by Anna Kroncke, Marcy Willard, and Helena Huckabee is critical for the modern ABA therapist. This book explores the assessment and diagnosis of ASD.  
• The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is a significant government source for research published in different journals.  
• Autism-Open Access is an open-access journal of scholarly articles about autism and related topics.  

• Open Access by OMIC International is another excellent source of open-access journals and research papers for therapists.  
• MedWorks Media is an excellent source for journals on psychopharmacology.  

7. Newsletters  

Most professional therapist organizations, research organizations, and non-profit foundations have newsletters ABA therapists can sign up for.  

•  The BACB has newsletters dating back to 2012. The newsletters share information about the board, survey findings, curriculums for therapy, and policy changes.  

• ASAT has a free monthly newsletter, which ABA therapists can subscribe to.  
• Els for Autism is a charity organization that shares resources and facilitates programs that teach people about autism. ABA therapists can join the group for information on conferences and free webinars.  
• Behavior Development Solutions shares learning CBA modules for therapists to help them become BACB certified. BDS also has a variety of webinars to assist therapists.  

8. Webinars 

Professional organizations and research organizations in behavior analysis fields have tons of information for ABA therapists.  

•  The APBA hosts virtual conventions and has recorded webinars on varying issues such as employment and business management in ABA practice, and telehealth session issues because of the COVID-19 pandemic and health insurance.  
• The Association of Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) has a series of webinars that share research-based information on behavior analysis.  
• Autism Connect is a group of parents and young professionals disseminating knowledge, resources, and assistance to families of children with autism. The group also has webinars. 

9. Social Media Accounts 

Twitter  

• @behaviorbabe 
• @BACB_Inc 
• @ABAIEvents 
• @AutismSociety 

• @autismspeaks 
• @Autism (National Autistic Society) 

Facebook  

• The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism 
• Behaviorbabe 

• Autism Society of America 
• Autism Speaks 

10. YouTube Channels  

• Autism Speaks is an organization dedicated to the education and advocacy for ASD. The organization operates a YouTube channel where it shares videos to help therapists and other listeners learn more about autism.  
• As earlier mentioned, ABA Inside Track is a podcast that shares videos on YouTube. Three certified ABA therapists share their knowledge, experiences, and standards for practice.  

• Behavior Frontiers has training and educational videos for autism therapists.  
• Behavior Babe is an excellent YouTube Channel by Amanda N. Kelly BCBA-D. 
• The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a non-profit organization that shares information to help understand, diagnose, and live with autism.  

Key Take Aways 

Whether as a beginner or an expert, being an ABA therapist means you have to seek new knowledge continually. There are always new opportunities to learn from others, read, ask questions and enjoy conversations with insightful ABA therapists.