Compassionate And Affirming Care Resources For Professionals/Caregivers

 
 

A primary aim of CAARES is to promote equity, access, inclusivity, and belonging for Autistic and neurodivergent individuals. CAARES promotes use of practices and approaches that are compassionate and which affirm the identities, values, and priorities of Autistic and neurodivergent individuals.

Mission: CAARES’ mission is to provide universally designed and community-informed resources to support equitable access for Autistic and neurodivergent individuals through advocacy and self-advocacy-based research, educational initiatives, and global supports.

Vision: CAARES’ vision is to shape inclusive environments that create a sense of belonging for Autistic and neurodivergent people, fostering self-determination and resiliency.

A variety of supports, resources, and information are included below that may support professionals or caregivers/families of Autistic and Neurodivergent individuals. If CAARES can help you advance your professional practice, access resources, or connect you with other supports, please connect with us HERE or email us at Autism@sunyempire.edu.

 
CAARES Staff with child

CAARES along with the Anderson Center for Autism host the annual Partners in Applied Behavior Analysis conference to advance use of compassionate and affirming approaches. Presentations and panels promote self-advocacy and quality of life across clinical, educational, home, and community settings. Emphasis is placed on self-determination, dignity, and affirming practices in ABA support, service delivery, and research. Speakers and panelists include individuals of various backgrounds and identities. Consider attending this year’s conference and learn more at www.sunyempire.edu/abaconference

ECHO Autism by the Anderson Center for Autism, which includes CAARES Assistant Director, Lauren Allen as a HUB Team Member ECHO Autism Best Practices is a free, virtual learning network of autism specialists that allows for real-time access to experts in autism and other developmental disorders. This ECHO aims to support school personnel in New York State, and beyond, in the education and support of school-age children with autism through case-based learning. The ECHO provides ongoing support for educators and other professionals working with autistic students by providing professional development and program suggestions. Sign up to join the next virtual ECHO Autism Session.

If you think there are other resources that we should feature here, please let us know at Autism@sunyempire.edu.

CAARES has conducted or co-hosted a number of events and conversations that aim to promote dignity, self-determination, and quality of life. Please check them out here.

SUNY Empire Reason & Respect Series, CAARES’ Hosted Session - Autism Acceptance and Inclusivity: Fostering Greater Understanding of Neurodiversity June 7, 2021, Moderator: Dr. Noor Syed, Guests: Michael Gilberg, Esq. & Kathleen Marshall (Anderson Center Consulting)

Partners in ABA Conference Session, ABA, Autism, & Inclusivity Panel, by Amy Gravino, MA, CAS, Bobbi Hess Rogers, and Nasiah Circione Ulezi, Ed.D., BCBA, LBA, Noor Syed (Moderator), and Michael Gilberg, Esq. (Introduction)
Recent discussions regarding the controversy surrounding applied behavior analysis (ABAI, n.d., NeuroClastic, n.d.) have indicated a strong need for increased understanding regarding how the field should promote and engage in compassionate, empathetic care that promotes autonomy and inclusivity. While behavior analytic programs have historically taught foundational and philosophical concepts, research suggests few teach skills such as compassion (LeBlanc et al., 2020), which is critical in working toward self-determination, equity, and autonomy for those with whom we work and serve. This panel, with introduction by Michael Gilberg, discusses the importance of compassion and empathy in behavior analysis, as well as ways to promote equity in the field. Panelists examined historical and current problems within ABA, with an emphasis on working toward inclusivity.

Partners in ABA Conference 2022 session, Self-Determination and Dignity: #WithNotFor
Panelists: Armando Bernal, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA; William Britt; Mari Cerda, Ph.D., BCBA, LBA; Jeanne Raichle; Moderator: Lauren Lestremau Allen, PhD, BCBA-D, NCSP, LP, LBA Behavior analysts, with feedback and input from clients, relevant parties, and advocates, are continually evaluating services based on client outcomes and social validity. Ongoing efforts to evaluate social validity must be driven by the client’s perspective, preferences, and values. Foundational to these ongoing collaborations with clients (and relevant parties, as appropriate) is the need to protect client dignity and promote anti-ableist practices that affirm the identity and values of the client in order to further client self-determination and autonomy. This panel will provide an opportunity to listen and learn from Autistic individuals, Autistic professionals, and caregivers to foster audience understanding of self-determination, and the relationship between self-determination and quality of life. The audience will also learn about service and support delivery practices that promote or hinder client self-determination, dignity, and autonomy.

Partners in ABA Conference Session, Quality of Life: How Behavior Analysts Measure Happiness by Gina Feliciano , PhD, SAS, BCBA-D, LBA and Emily Maduemezia, MPA
By definition, behavior analysts increase socially significant behavior to a meaningful degree. This is the root of our practice, but how many behavior analysts operationally define and measure what behaviors are socially significant and what constitutes a “meaningful degree”? The definition and research behind measuring quality of life and happiness will be reviewed, the presenters will make an argument that behavior analysts need to develop measurement systems that provide practitioners feedback on QofL measures, and end with a discussion on why behavior analysts need to get back to focusing our work on meaningful outcomes to “meaningful degrees.”

Partners in ABA Conference Session, Dignity is a Human Right by Gina Feliciano, PhD, BCBA-D, SAS, LBA and Maria Hornbeck, MS, BCBA, LBA
Discussion of roles and responsibilities in serving others in a manner that promotes and ensures dignity. Ethics codes and United Nations Declaration of Human Rights require professionals to do so. Providing meaningful, effective, and ethical habilitation and teaching can be done by using what we have learned from the history of disability rights and the evolving field of behavior analysis.







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