commonwealth autism...

2 0 1 8 COMMONWEA L T H AU T I SM CON F E R EN C E

Verbal Behavior Shapes Culture

Values and attitudes are

like habits: the longer

one adheres to them, the

harder they are to

change. 

Barrier: Attitudes & Opinions

We are often disappointed by barriers such as

stakeholders' conflicting opinions, attitudes that are

constantly reinforced by their relatives and friends.

2 0 1 8 COMMONWEA L T H AU T I SM CON F E R EN C E

Values & Belief Systems

Why the conflict and not harmony? 

2 0 1 8 COMMONWEA L T H AU T I SM CON F E R EN C E

2 0 1 8 COMMONWEA L T H AU T I SM CON F E R EN C E

Hitting a Brick Wall

How NOT to give up

on trying to find

commonality with

stakeholders.

2 0 1 8 COMMONWEA L T H AU T I SM CON F E R EN C E

Assess Your Position

1. What reinforces your

beliefs and attitudes? 

2. Are you open to

change?

3. Is there a commonality

in ultimate outcome(s)?

2 0 1 8 COMMONWEA L T H AU T I SM CON F E R EN C E

Deficits: Skill orPerformance

Are we expecting

behavior change to

occur based on our

own history,

experience, cultural

norms?

2 0 1 8 COMMONWEA L T H AU T I SM CON F E R EN C E

Activity

Handout: Cultural Competence

Self-Test 

Tawara D. Goode - Georgetown University Center for Child & Human Development

University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research &

Service. Adapted from – “Promoting Cultural Competence and Cultural Diversity in

Early Intervention and Early Childhood Settings” - June 1989, Rev. 2009.

2 0 1 8 COMMONWEA L T H AU T I SM CON F E R EN C E

Celebrating Differences 

Flip the script!

How are our values, beliefs and attitudes similar

in terms of what outcomes we want to see for

our shared client? 

Will termination of our relationship cause more

harm, now or in the future?

2 0 1 8 COMMONWEA L T H AU T I SM CON F E R EN C E

Be True to Yourself

Pretending to agree with

differing belief systems is

building rapport under

false pretenses.

2 0 1 8 COMMONWEA L T H AU T I SM CON F E R EN C E

Take Home Points

Know yourself. 

Know your clients & their

families.

Use tools already available.

Be honest, yet empathetic.

It's okay to be uncomfortable.

Just do better.

Q & AMegan Sullivan Kirby, BCBA, LBA

Director of ABA Services, Spectrum Transformation Group

Secretary, Virginia Association for Behavior Analysis

Email: megank@spectrumtgrp.com

Thank you!