Beyond the Steps: Understanding the Science Behind Skill Building
Many Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) are taught how to implement programs but may not fully understand why those programs work. "Beyond the Steps: Understanding the Science Behind Skill Building" bridges that gap by exploring the science behind skill acquisition, focusing on stimulus control, prompting, and prompt fading. This session will provide RBTs with a clearer understanding of how behavior is shaped by environmental cues and how their role is critical in transferring skills to real-world settings. Through relatable examples and practical strategies, participants will gain insight into how their work fosters meaningful progress in the lives of their clients.
Speaker Name
Carrie Woodward, MS, BCBA
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Define stimulus control and explain how it influences behavior in both neurotypical and autistic individuals.
Identify the role of prompts in establishing the stimulus control necessary for newly learned behaviors to occur when they should
Recognize common challenges such as prompt dependence and lack of generalization, and apply strategies to promote independent skill use in natural environments.
Carrie Woodward, MS, BCBA
Board Certified Behavior Analyst Carrie Susa Woodward is the author and creator behind Jumpstart the Journey, a resource designed to bridge the gap from an autism diagnosis to the start of therapy. Her journey into the world of autism began in 2002 at Pepperdine University, where the blend of scientific strategies and personal interactions with families sparked a lifelong dedication to the autism field. With over two decades of experience, she has not only worked hands-on with hundreds of families navigating autism, but has also contributed valuable research to the renowned journal The Analysis of Verbal Behavior (TAVB). A personal transition in 2022 led Carrie toward a focus on her own family, while a close friend's struggle with the complexities of autism diagnosis and treatment reminded her of the urgent need for early intervention. Carrie's works echo the sentiment that, with proper guidance, every family's autism journey can lead to progress and hope.