ABA Inside Track

While behavior analysts might think themselves immune to falling into poor practices when supporting students in public schools, don't forget that we too are sensitive to the contingencies of our environment. And when those environments are using statistically higher rates of punishment in the form of harsh discipline practices for females of color... This week we're joined by special guest, Dr. Mawule Sevon to discuss the research on this terrible trend, how behavior analysts might inadvertantly support its promulgation by responding to assessment and observation requests, and what our field can do to support anti-racist practices in school discipline.
This episode is available for 1.0 CULTURAL/ETHICS CEU.
Articles discussed this episode:
Ladson-Billings, G. (1998). Just what is critical race theory and what's it doing in a nice field like education? International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 11, 7-24. doi: 10.1080/095183998236863
Epstein, R., Blake, J.J., & Gonzàlez, T. (2017). Girlhood interrupted: The erasure of Black girls' childhood [White paper]. Center on Poverty and Inequality, Georgetown Law. https://genderjusticeandopportunity.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/girlhood-interrupted.pdf
Sevon, M. (2022). Schooling while Black: Analyzing the racial school discipline crisis for behavior analyst. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15, 1247-1253. doi: 10.1007/s40617-022-00695-8
If you're interested in ordering CEs for listening to this episode, click here to go to the store page. You'll need to enter your name, BCBA #, the two episode secret code words, and answers to the knowledge check questions to complete the purchase. Email us at abainsidetrack@gmail.com for further assistance.

After 10 years of podcasting, we decided that if we were going to do an ethics episode for Guest Month, we'd go big. And you can't get much bigger when talking about ethics in behavior analysis than Dr. Jon Bailey himself. We dive into the formation of the ethical codes we know, love, and follow, hearing on-the-ground stories from Dr. Bailey as to what went well and what...could have gone better in preparing behavior analysts for ethical challenges we face every day and the challenges of the near future. Plus, stories from the ABA Ethics Hotline! Make sure to listen through this episode thoroughly because if Dr. Bailey has ethical advice, you don't want to miss it!
This episode is available for 1.0 ETHICS CEU.
Articles discussed this episode:
Bailey, J.S. (1991). Marketing behavior analysis requires different talk. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 445-448. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1991.24-445
Sellers, T.P., Seniuk, H.A., Lichtenberger, S.N., & Carr, J.E. (2025). The history of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's ethics codes. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 650-660. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00803-2
If you're interested in ordering CEs for listening to this episode, click here to go to the store page. You'll need to enter your name, BCBA #, the two episode secret code words, and answers to the knowledge check questions to complete the purchase. Email us at abainsidetrack@gmail.com for further assistance.

Since we've done about 100 episodes pointing out the general lack of preparedness of BCBAs leaving grad school and jumping right into public school work, it'd be pretty mean of us not to have some episodes where we tell you HOW to prepare. And this week we have special guests, Dr. Kristin Foley and Dr. Fina Robertson, doing just that. We cover some of the basics as to how to make friends with teachers and administrators rather than alienating them with your behavior analytic jargon before discussing specific reflection and action steps needed to ensure not just competence in your work, but also maintaining your ethical expectations while you get to work. Quick! You've still got two months of summer vacation to listen up, follow Dr. Foley and Dr. Robertson's guidance, and get your prep in gear!
This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU.
Articles discussed this episode:
Squires, M., Cutrer-Pãrraga, E.A., Morris, J.R., Miller, E.E., & Hansen, B.D. Navigating collaboration: Factors influencing special education teachers' relationships with BCBAs in diverse school contexts. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 17, 1033-1049. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-010009-w
Copeland, S.R., Duffie, P., & Maez, R. (2025). Preparation of behavior analysts for school-based practice. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-01028-7
Light-Shriner, C., Pizzella, D., Schreiber, J.B., & Wahman, C.L. (2025). Collaborative practices of behavior analysts in school settings: Evidence from the field. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 681-692. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00883-0
Robertson, F., Favre, C., Foley, K., Symons, R. & Weiss, M.J. (in review). Ethical competence for the school-based behavior analyst: Perceptions and preparedness
If you're interested in ordering CEs for listening to this episode, click here to go to the store page. You'll need to enter your name, BCBA #, the two episode secret code words, and answers to the knowledge check questions to complete the purchase. Email us at abainsidetrack@gmail.com for further assistance.

As July heat makes its way to New England, we're staying inside with the AC on and a bevy of exciting guests in the studio. That's right: It's GUEST MONTH! Nothing but episodes featuring amazing guests. First we kick things off by reviewing how to get ready for the new school season with Dr. Kristin Foley and Dr. Fina Robertson sharing their work on preparing behavior analysts to work effectively and ethically in schools. Next Dr. Jon Bailey shares his unique and masterful perspective on ethical behavior from the past to the future! Turning back to schools, we learn from Dr. Mawule Sevon how to look for and plan against inequitable discipline practices that are harming Black students, especialy Black girls. Then Dr. Denise Ross and Dr. Douglas Greer teach us how to teach others how to read no matter the age in a secret Book Club episode. And it's a good time too because we also find out what books we'll be reading in the 2026-2027 podcast year. Will Diana be happy with our listeners' choices? Either way, she'll be happy with all these awesome guests!
Articles for July 2026
Preparing for Public School Practice w/ Dr. Kristin Foley + Dr. Fina Robertson
Squires, M., Cutrer-Pãrraga, E.A., Morris, J.R., Miller, E.E., & Hansen, B.D. Navigating collaboration: Factors influencing special education teachers' relationships with BCBAs in diverse school contexts. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 17, 1033-1049. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-010009-w
Copeland, S.R., Duffie, P., & Maez, R. (2025). Preparation of behavior analysts for school-based practice. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-01028-7
Light-Shriner, C., Pizzella, D., Schreiber, J.B., & Wahman, C.L. (2025). Collaborative practices of behavior analysts in school settings: Evidence from the field. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 681-692. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00883-0
Robertson, F., Favre, C., Foley, K., Symons, R. & Weiss, M.J. (in review). Ethical competence for the school-based behavior analyst: Perceptions and preparedness.
Ethics for Today and Tomorrow w/ Dr. Jon Bailey
Bailey, J.S. (1991). Marketing behavior analysis requires different talk. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 445-448. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1991.24-445
Sellers, T.P., Seniuk, H.A., Lichtenberger, S.N., & Carr, J.E. (2025). The history of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's ethics codes. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 650-660. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00803-2
Inequitable Discipline w/ Dr. Mawule Sevon
Ladson-Billings, G. (1998). Just what is critical race theory and what's it doing in a nice field like education? International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 11, 7-24. doi: 10.1080/095183998236863
Epstein, R., Blake, J.J., & Gonzàlez, T. (2017). Girlhood interrupted: The erasure of Black girls' childhood [White paper]. Center on Poverty and Inequality, Georgetown Law. https://genderjusticeandopportunity.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/girlhood-interrupted.pdf
Sevon, M. (2022). Schooling while Black: Analyzing the racial school discipline crisis for behavior analyst. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15, 1247-1253. doi: 10.1007/s40617-022-00695-8
So You Want to Teach Reading (When Text Speaks Book Club) w/ Dr. Denise Ross + Dr. Douglas Greer
Ross, D.E., Greer, R.D. (Eds.) (2025). When text speaks: Learning to read and reading to learn. Sloan Publishing.

Some of us struggle going to the doctor. Some of us shrink in terror at the sight of nail clippers. But when individuals with histories of avoiding medical care need help learning to tolerate these necessary procedures, what treatments can we use? This week we head to the doctor's office with a review of a broad spectrum of articles discussing teaching medical toleration. Let's just say Amazon isn't the only group putting together big packages we're excited to see.
This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU.
Articles discussed this episode:
Cuvo, A., Raegan, A., L., Ackerlund, J., Huckfledt, R., & Kelly, C. (2010). Training children with autism spectrum disorders to be compliant with a physical exam. Research in Autism Spectrum Disoders, 4, 168-185. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2009.09.001
Dowdy, A., Tincani, M., Nipe, T., & Weiss. M. J. (2018). Effects of reinforcement without extinction on increasing compliance with nail cutting: A systematic replication. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 51, 924-930. doi: 10.1002/jaba.484
Slifer, K. J., Avis, K. T., & Frutchey, R. A. (2008). Behavioral intervention to increase compliance with electroencephalographic procedures in children with developmental disabilities. Epilepsy Behavior, 13, 189-195. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.01.013
If you're interested in ordering CEs for listening to this episode, click here to go to the store page. You'll need to enter your name, BCBA #, the two episode secret code words, and answers to the knowledge check questions to complete the purchase. Email us at abainsidetrack@gmail.com for further assistance.