Cultural Responsiveness Curriculum for Behavior Analysts: A Meaningful Step Toward Social Justice

Abstract

Clients of applied behavior analysis (ABA), specifically Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) receiving treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), regularly experience the effects of systemic racism via biases in the healthcare system. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) as a science offers the necessary tools to support immediate, concrete actions to bring about social justice. This paper offers a brief conceptual framework of critical race theory (CRT); cultural competence, responsiveness, and humility; and social justice concepts. Applications to healthcare, including systemic racism and implicit bias, are offered along with points of personal reflection. These conceptual frameworks are synthesized in support of a cultural responsiveness curriculum, rooted in the tenets of CRT and cultural competence trainings in neighboring disciplines, that the authors offer as an immediate, actionable step that Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) can take today to broaden their perspective and proficiency. The prospective benefits of this work include effecting change in the access to and outcomes of behavior analytic services, particularly for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in marginalized communities.

Research and mentorship in behavior analysis from a lens of cultural responsiveness and antiracism

“…Training programs that are interested in aligning their training with DEIA and antiracism can incorporate existing resources and materials into their existing coursework (e.g., Conners & Capell, 2020). Further, programs could update their curriculum to ensure it reflects DEIA, antiracism, and cultural responsiveness (e.g., Mathur & Rodriguez, 2021; Najdowski et al, 2021). Najdowski et al (2021) provided a range of practical strategies that can be readily implemented to guide programs (see their Table 1).…”

Editorial

“…Acima de tudo, ele instiga o debate sobre as mais variadas relações entre ambas -a cultura e a clínica. Nós, psicoterapeutas e pesquisadores brasileiros, quando buscamos a sistematização de instrumentos, procedimentos, conceitos e treinamentos, para uma prática clínica culturalmente responsiva, frequentemente nos amparamos em produções estrangeiras (por exemplo: Beaulieu et al, 2019;Mathur & Rodriguez, 2022). Os artigos desse volume, em sua maioria, conceituais, nos oferecem subsídios para conhecer interesses comuns entre pesquisadores e para projetar estudos que levam em consideração a realidade brasileira.…”

Cultural responsiveness in applied behavior analysis: Research and practice

“…There has been a recent increase in publications on the topics of cultural diversity in ABA (e.g., Beaulieu et al, 2019; Dennison et al, 2019; Fong et al, 2016; Fong et al, 2017; Fong & Tanaka, 2013; Gingles, 2021; Mathur & Rodriguez, 2021; Najdowski et al, 2021; Rosales et al, 2021; Sivaraman, & Fahmie, 2020a, b) including a special issue on diversity and inclusion published by the journal Behavior Analysis in Practice ( BAP ) in 2019 and an emergency issue on racism and police brutality also published through BAP in 2021. This is an encouraging trend given that cultural variables impact behavior in many important ways, and we praise all the researchers and practitioners engaging in this important work.…”

“…This is an encouraging trend given that cultural variables impact behavior in many important ways, and we praise all the researchers and practitioners engaging in this important work. Mathur and Rodriguez (2021) is notable as the authors discuss specific competencies that could be included in ABA graduate training programs, and Najdowski et al (2021) provide the groundwork for developing antiracist graduate programs. However, to meet the needs of the coming generations, we must begin to integrate cultural variables into all our applied research, training, and practice.…”