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| Enhancing the Social and Emotional Well-Being of Autistic Persons by Utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| Wednesday, March 20, 2024 |
| 12:30 PM–1:20 PM |
| Caesars Palace; Palace Ballroom 3 |
| Area: AUT; Domain: Service Delivery |
| Chair: Julia Ferguson (Autism Partnership Foundation) |
| CE Instructor: Mark R. Dixon, Ph.D. |
| Presenting Author: MARK R. DIXON (University of Illinois at Chicago) |
| Abstract: Over the past 30 years a wide range of conceptual and empirical advances have occurred in behavior analysis to better understand the roots and applications of human language abilities. Relational Frame Theory (RFT) proposed that the behavior of relating should be considered a generalized operant, and with such, speaking with meaning and listening with understanding is made possible. At the same time, language abilities can have unintended side-effects. People get hung up on thoughts, prior experiences, and have emotional responses to stimuli that are far removed from the present stimulus conditions of the current environment. Treatment for such distress has fallen under the technology of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - however such tools have been greatly adopted by non-behaviorists more so than from those within our home discipline. Part of the update is likely due to the confusing terminology and linkage to behavior analytic principles. This presentation hopes to change all that. A brief walkthrough of the linkage between RFT and ACT will be presented, along with data showing the utility of the overall approach of incorporating ACT in contexts such as autism treatment, staff engagement, and child academic success. |
| Instruction Level: Intermediate |
| Target Audience: Behavior analysts, ABA professionals, graduate students, clinicians |
| Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to: (1) obtain a foundational understanding of how the concepts of RFT and ACT sit within a behavior analytic framework for understanding human behavior; (2) describe how RFT is the basis for the applied technology of ACT; (3) summarize some of the more recent findings that compare RFT or ACT to more traditional behavioral approaches of intervention. |
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| MARK R. DIXON (University of Illinois at Chicago) |
 Dr. Dixon is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctorate and a clinical professor at the Department of Disability and Human Development. Dr. Dixon has published 12 books, over 230 peer reviewed journal articles, and delivered 1000s of presentations around the globe. His research and/or expert opinions have been featured in Time Magazine, Newsweek, The New York Times, National Public Radio, This American Life, and Netflix’s series Bill Nye Saves the World. Dr. Dixon cares for individuals and their families impacted by autism and other developmental disabilities through his innovative research that guides practice. He has generated millions of dollars of funding to infuse behavior analysis within local schools and treatment facilities and created multiple clinics for persons diagnosed with autism and related conditions. |
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