Behavior analysis: theoretical-methodological aspects and applications to autism spectrum disorder in intervention in adolescence and adulthood

Students who complete the training course will be able to:

• effectively manage a work group describe and use the main concepts of behavior analysis (example: reinforcement, extinction, stimulus control…)
• describe and use the main scientific methods of behavior analysis (example: behavior measurement, single case study, functional assessment, etc.);
• describe and use the main procedures verified by applied behavioral research (example: differential reinforcement, prompting, shaping…);
• plan, develop, evaluate and supervise ABA interventions according to the most up-to-date standard in health and social-health, day, residential and territorial contexts aimed at adolescents and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability) and other congenital or acquired disabilities;
• identify and select problem behaviors, analyze them functionally, identify the factors that trigger and maintain them
• evaluate, conceptualize and operate on a case study with psychopathological problems;
• design and implement interventions to teach new skills and reduce problem behaviors based on the principles of behavior analysis according to international ethical principles;
• continuously monitor progress towards established objectives to check the effectiveness of the intervention;
• build a Life Project for the person with ID and ASD aligned with the Quality of Life domains;
• know and implement interventions for severe neuropsychiatric disabilities;
• design and manage interventions on emotional and sexual issues;
• design motivation paths for staff working within the services and
• organizations;
• acquire operational tools aimed at improving organizational practices within complex services;
• to know the main phenotypic characteristics of the most frequent genetic syndromes in order to refine the functional analysis procedures;
• understand the main ethical issues underlying intervention with disabilities in adulthood.

The Master is aimed at training the professional profile of Behavior Analyst aimed at adolescents and adults in the health and educational fields as defined by the ABAItalia guidelines. The Master also responds to the training of health professionals in the field of autism, Behavior Analysts, provided by the Sicily Region (regional autism program, GURS 12 July 2019).

The Behavior Analyst, in total autonomy, designs and creates a network between all the figures of the healthcare system. He supports the ABA technicians, coordinates a work group and monitors the intervention in compliance with national and international scientific standard and in the sustainability of the interventions even if applied in national school, health and social contexts.