Quality Activities in Center-Based Programs for Adults with Autism

Dennis H. Reid is the founder and director of the Carolina Behavior Analysis and Support Center. His company has more than 25 years of experience providing assisted employment to persons with severe disabilities. Dr. Dennis Reid has more than 45 years of experience working with individuals with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, in educational, residential, vocational, and community support settings. He has provided advice to human services organizations in most US states, as well as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. He has written or co-written 15 books and more than 140 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on applied behavior analysis. He earned the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities International Research Award in 2006 and Fellowship membership in the Association for Behavior Analysis International in 2007. Marsha Parsons has worked for 35 years teaching and directing educational and vocational day services in schools and residential programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism. She has co-authored over 50 refereed journal articles as well as book chapters, manuals and 7 books and curricula aimed at enhancing the skills of practitioners in the field of developmental and related disabilities. She has received awards for her work from the North Carolina chapters of both the Association for Behavior Analysis, and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. In 2015 she received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award from the Office of the Governor of North Carolina in recognition of her service and contributions. Ms. Parsons currently works as a Senior Consultant with the Carolina Behavior Analysis and Support Center.

• 1. Historical Challenges and Needed Improvements in Center-Based Services for Adults With Autism2. Current Professional Consensus Regarding Meaningful Activities3. An Evidence-Based Protocol for Improving the Meaningful Utility of Center-Based Activities4. Specifying Criteria for Meaningful Versus Nonmeaningful Activities5. Assessing Meaningful Versus Nonmeaningful Task Participation6. A Staff Training and Supervision Plan to Increase Meaningful Activities7. Maintaining Meaningful Activity Participation