Presenting Author: Kelly M. Schieltz, Ph.D.
At ABAI's 20th Annual Autism Conference in January 2026, Dr. Kelly Schieltz presented Exploring the Clinical Applications and Conditions for Effective Telehealth in Behavior Analysis. Telehealth as a service delivery model in behavior analysis is no longer a question of “can we” but a question of “under which conditions”. For example, the effective use of telehealth in behavior analysis has shown continued growth across behavior analytic subspecialities (e.g., challenging behavior, skill acquisition, feeding, sleep concerns), resulting in increased opportunities to interact and connect with individuals and their caregivers on socially significant concerns in their natural environments. However, many demonstrations continue to focus on younger children, and many of the published demonstrations continue to be rooted in research rather than practice. Thus, there is a need to continue exploring the conditions under which telehealth is best used clinically to ensure all individuals in need of our behavioral services have access to them. This presentation will first highlight the applications of telehealth along with their benefits and limitations. Then, using the assessment and treatment of challenging behavior as the example, the conditions under which telehealth shifts easily (or not) from research to practice will be explored, as well as recommendations for bridging the research to practice gap.
Instruction Level: Intermediate
Target Audience:
Behavior analysts, clinicians, and psychologists interested in or currently providing services via telehealth, particularly those working with individuals with autism and related needs. This session is especially relevant for BCBAs, BCaBAs, and other professionals seeking to expand their understanding of the clinical applications, benefits, and limitations of telehealth and how to bridge research and practice in behavior analysis.
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the applications of telehealth in behavior analysis
2. Describe the conditions under which telehealth services are easily suited for clinical practice versus services that are more difficult to achieve clinically
3. Identify two future directions for integrating telehealth services into clinical practice