Episode #295: The Motas Assessment with Dr. Anika Hoybjerg

Have you ever picked up an assessment and thought, “This still isn’t giving me the information I need?”

That’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to the Meaningful Outcomes Treatment and Assessment Scale, or MOTAS. Dr. Anika Hoybjerg shares how she and co-creator Casey Barron developed a comprehensive assessment that keeps meaningful, individualized outcomes at the center.

What immediately stood out to me is how practical and approachable the MOTAS feels. It addresses areas like communication, flexibility, social behavior, transitions, personal care, leisure, self-awareness, and perspective taking. There is also an Early Learner version that incorporates developmental milestones and AAC considerations.

I especially love the LOOP interviews, which bring clients, caregivers, and other professionals directly into treatment planning. Instead of assuming what matters most, we can ask, prioritize, and continue checking whether our goals are actually meaningful. That collaboration can make such a difference in creating functional treatment plans that support independence and quality of life.

#autism #speechtherapy

Today’s Guest:

Dr. Hoybjerg is the founder, owner, and CEO of Autism & Behavioral Intervention(ABI) (a clinic-based ABA center in Draper, UT), ABA Education Center, and Integrity Billing. In addition to founding and leading these companies, Anika has worked in public schools and in private sectors with children and families for over 20 years. Anika has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an Emphasis in Autism, a Master’s Degree in Human Exceptionality, a Master’s Degree in Neuroscience and Trauma, an Ed.S in School Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis. Anika is a Doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and a Licensed School Psychologist. Anika has presented at regional, national, and international conferences on a variety of topics relating to autism, collaboration, and assessments. Anika has done research, including her dissertation, on the importance of implementing kindness into every single interaction and treatment approach with staff, clients, and families. When kindness is a priority, everyone benefits. Anika has also collaborated with many other professionals to create instruments that have a lasting impact. As both a school psychologist and behavior analyst, Anika has worked extensively in administering and creating plans that have true meaningful outcomes. As a creator of the Meaningful Outcomes Treatment and Assessment Scale (MOTAS) and the Meaningful Outcomes Treatment and Assessment Scale-Early Learner (MOTAS-EL), Anika understands the importance of advocating to promote independence and higher quality of life for those individuals on the autism spectrum.

What’s Inside: