ABA Competencies Project

TreeHouse is committed to the principles and practice of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). Along with key stakeholders, we are developing a shared competency framework for practitioners in the UK working with children with autism using the principles of ABA.

There has been considerable recent growth in ABA-based education for both pre-school and school aged children with autism in the UK. This interest in using ABA methods to teach relevant skills to children with autism is based on strong research evidence to support the effectiveness of the methods. Given this growth and evidence base, there is a need to professionalise and ensure UK-wide competencies for practitioners using ABA methods with children with autism. Establishing an infrastructure in terms of qualifications and professional development for ABA practitioners will also go some way to addressing considerable misunderstanding about ABA in the wider educational community.

The ABA Competencies Project is addressing these issues through the establishment of a shared framework of competencies, training and practice for ABA practitioners in the UK. As a result of this:

• more children and young people with autism will benefit from high-quality, evidence-based education delivered by competent professionals
• practitioners will benefit from professional development and occupational standards
• parents and Children’s Services Departments will be able to employ practitioners with a greater degree of certainty about competence and quality
• education providers and the academic community will have a greater understanding of the nature and use of ABA in educational practice for children with autism

The first year of this  project has been made possible through the generous funding from three trusts.

The project is hosted and managed by TreeHouse and supported by Professor Richard Hastings, Professor of Psychology at Bangor University.  ABA service providers in the UK are partners in the project, and an Advisory Group draws upon the experience and expertise of all stakeholder groups, including parents. Advisory Group meetings are attended by the Management Group.

For more information contact Louise Denne at ldenne@treehouse.org.uk