Presenting Author: Patrick E. McGreevy, Ph.D.
At ABAI's 20th Annual Autism Conference in January 2026, Dr. Patrick McGreevy presented Components of Applied Behavior Analysis Often Necessary With Children and Adults With Very Limited Skill Repertoires. In the first few years of working with children and adults with severe, complex, and multiple disabilities [1966-1968], it became apparent to me through the guidance of three teachers — Lou Brown, Hazel Turk, and Paul Retish [to whom I am grateful beyond description] — that specific, functional skills were necessary to result in a significantly improved quality of life for these children and adults, and that, for all practical purposes, when I was with these children and adults, I was ‘home’, which to this very day, is where I’ve always wanted to be. The instruction of these children and adults should always include functional skills of everyday living, including… (1) motor skills that permit children and adults to complete tasks of recreation and everyday living (2) an effective and efficient method of functioning as a speaker, which may include spoken words, signs, or gestures, (3) an effective repertoire of speaking skills, (4) an effective and efficient repertoire of listening skills, (5) a useful repertoire of daily living skills, (6) a repertoire of tolerating skills, (7) a repertoire of imitation skills, and (8) a repertoire of safety skills. This instruction should also be guided by four incredible teachers: B. F. Skinner and Jack Michael [and their analysis of verbal behavior], and Ogden Lindsley and Eric Haughton [and their development of standard measurement and the Standard Celeration Chart].
Instruction Level: Intermediate
Target Audience:
This session is intended for behavior analysts, special educators, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and other professionals who support children and adults with severe and complex disabilities. It may also be of interest to licensed psychologists, supervisors, program developers, and graduate students focused on functional skill development, verbal behavior, and improving quality of life across educational, residential, and community-based settings.
Learning Objectives:
1. Name eight functional skills of everyday living that can effectively guide the instruction of children and adults with limited skill repertoires.
2. Name four or more people who significantly guided instruction in Applied Behavior Analysis over their entire lifetimes.
3. Name the two behavior analysts who most contributed to the development of “verbal behavior.”