Episode #137: ABA as A Science Of Love and Change with Dr. Shahla Alai-Rosales and Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe

Get ready for an inspiring episode. I chatted with Dr. Shahla Alai-Rosales and Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe, who co-authored the book Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism: Between Now and Dreams.

This comes from Dr. Alai-Rosales’ extensive professional career and over 4 years of experience in the field, as well as Peggy’s personal experience as an Autism mom. The book binds together responsive parenting into three parts: Learning, Loving, and Connecting.

We discuss a philosophy prominent in the book, ABA, as a science of love and change. Dr. Alai-Rosales explains the deep care and concern required to work with an individual when trying to change behavior. Being a provider, you must harmonize the process of change with your deep regard for human rights and the individual you’re responsible for.

For professionals, these two share some insight into how to cultivate genuine kindness and positivity that will impact your clients and their families. Remembering your why and purpose in the field and staying present in the moment can help ground you. 

This is a great reminder that although this is work, our time is a precious gift to our clients and their families, and every conversation makes a difference.

#autism #speechtherapy

Today’s Guest:

Shahla Alai-Rosales, PHD, BCBA-D, CPBA-AP is a Professor in the Department of Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas. She has taught courses in Texas, Europe and the Middle East on a variety of topics, including ethics, early autism intervention, parent training, behavioral systems, applied research methods, technology transfer, behavior change techniques, and cultural diversity. Shahla has served on several boards and disciplinary committees and has published and presented research on social justice, ethics in early intervention, play and social skills, family harmony, and supervision and mentoring. Shahla has more than four decades of experience working with families and has trained hundreds of behavior analysts. She has received awards for her teaching (SGA ‘Fessor Graham Award), her work with families (Onassis Scholar Award), and for her work in the community (UNT Community Engagement Award & TXABA Career Contributions Award). She is an Associate Editor for Behavior Analysis in Practice and is co-author of Building and Sustaining Meaningful and Effective Relationships as a Supervisor and Mentor (LeBlanc, Sellers & Alai, 2020) and Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism: Between Now and Dreams (AlaiRosales & Heinkel-Wolfe, 2022).

Peggy’s first book, See Sam Run: A Mother’s Story of Autism, was published in 2008 by the University of North Texas Press. The book’s manuscript won the Mayborn Prize for Literary Nonfiction in 2005. For more than a decade she has been exploring themes in autism parenting and self-determination on her blog, peggyheinkelwolfe.com. An award-winning writer and journalist, Peggy holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in music performance from the Eastman School of Music.

What’s Inside:

• Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism: Between Now and Dreams.
• ABA as a science of love and change.
• Harmonizing Change with regard for humanity.
• How professionals can be more genuinely positive.
• The importance in your why behind your work.

Mentioned In This Episode

—Responsible and Responsive Parenting in Autism: Between Now and Dreams
—Learn more about the ABA SPEECH Connection CEU Membership and Joint Attention on September 12th at 8-9pm eastern and September 13th at 8-9pm eastern. 

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