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| Designing and Evaluating Technology-Based Behavioral Interventions for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders |
| Sunday, May 30, 2010 |
| 1:30 PM–2:20 PM |
| 103AB (CC) |
| Area: AUT; Domain: Applied Behavior Analysis |
| Chair: Jeffrey H. Tiger (Louisiana State University) |
| LINDA A. LEBLANC (Auburn University) |
 Linda A. LeBlanc, Ph.D., BCBA-D, MI Licensed Psychologist is an associate professor of psychology at Auburn University and co-director of its applied behavior analysis graduate program. Dr. LeBlanc received her Ph.D. in 1996 from Louisiana State University and previously served on the psychology faculties at Claremont McKenna College (1997-1999) and Western Michigan University (1999-2008). Her current research and clinical interests include the behavioral treatment of autism and developmental disabilities across the lifespan, behavioral gerontology, verbal behavior, and technology-based interventions. Dr. LeBlanc has published 60 articles and book chapters and is currently an associate editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and Education and Treatment of Children. She serves as an editorial board member for Behavior Analysis in Practice, European Journal of Behavior Analysis, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Research in Developmental Disabilities. Over the last 10 years, she has participated in Michigan state task forces to revise the educational eligibility criteria for autism spectrum disorders, to specify best educational practice in autism, and to make recommendations for addressing later life issues of individuals with developmental disabilities. |
| Abstract: Technological advances have been successfully incorporated into behavioral interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorders for over two decades in the form of video modeling, automated or remote-activated prompting systems, and PDAs. New technologies such as the Bluetooth wireless protocol and cost-efficient virtual reality platforms offer great options for teaching community skills that can be cumbersome or unsafe with traditional lower-tech methods. These interventions can be most powerful when basic behavioral principles are incorporated into their design and implementation rather than simply substituting technology for human efforts. This presentation will describe several important unanswered research questions about the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and optimal parameters for implementing technology-based interventions and the evaluation strategies best suited for answering those questions. |
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