Supporting a More Positive Quality of Life for Autistic Adolescents and Adults

By: Drs. Bridget Taylor & Peter Gerhardt

Group of happy young adults in huddle with blue sky background

About this Webinar

Dr. Bridget Taylor hosts Dr. Peter Gerhardt to discuss how behavior analysts can promote Quality of Life, a complex yet important measure in autism treatment, for their clients throughout their lifetime.

This webinar is eligible for 1 General CE.

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Our Next Guest: A Conversation with Drs. Bridget Taylor & Peter Gerhardt

Promoting a positive quality of life is something that certainly falls within the parameters of behavior analytic intervention and socially significant outcomes. To make this happen, however, the development of meaningful instructional goals and the identification of relevant environmental modifications needs to start in elementary school and continue into transition, graduation and beyond. As with most, if not all of what competent behavior analysts do, this process is highly individualized and requires programming for both generalization and maintenance.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to:

  1. Discuss the difficulty in identifying the parameters of quality of life on a case-by-case basis.
  2. Identify a minimum of 5 personal or ecological parameters associated with a more positive quality of life.
  3. Identify behaviorally-based strategies that may improve an individual’s quality of life.

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About the Speakers

Dr. Peter Gerhardt
Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D Executive Director of the EPIC Programs Dr. Gerhardt is the Executive Director of the EPIC Programs in Paramus, NJ. Dr. Gerhardt has over 40 years of experience utilizing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis in support of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders in educational, employment, residential and community-based settings. He co-edited “The Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with ASD” (Springer, 2022) and authored or co-author a number of articles and book chapters on the needs of adolescents and adults with ASD. He has presented nationally and internationally on this and related topics. Dr. Gerhardt serves as Co-Chairman of the Scientific Council for the Organization for Autism Research and is on numerous professional advisory boards including the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. He currently serves as adjunct faculty in the Institute for Behavioral Studies at Endicott College. Dr. Gerhardt received his doctorate from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey’s Graduate School of Education.
Bridget A. Taylor Headshot

Dr. Bridget Taylor, PsyD, BCBA-D

Executive Director of Alpine Learning Group/ Senior Clinical Advisor for Rethink

Dr. Bridget A. Taylor is co-founder and CEO of Alpine Learning Group and is Senior Clinical Advisor for Rethink. Dr. Taylor has specialized in the education of children with Autism for over 30 years. She holds a Doctor of Psychology from Rutgers University and received her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Columbia University. She is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and a Licensed Psychologist. She is past president of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and past Associate Editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. She currently serves on several editorial boards and the Autism Advisory Group for the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. Active in the Autism research community, Dr. Taylor has published numerous peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters, on innovative practices to improve the lives of individuals with autism. Dr. Taylor was recently recognized by the Association for Applied Behavior Analysis International for her outstanding contributions and was given ABAI’s Fellow designation.

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About the Author

Headshot of Erin Mayberry, Director of Community Engagement for RethinkBH

Erin Mayberry, BCBA, LBA

Director of Community Engagement

Erin Mayberry is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has been in the field of ABA since 2009. Prior to Rethink, Erin provided clinical consultation to individuals on the autism spectrum and their families in home, clinic, and school settings, as well as staff training in behavioral crisis prevention. Erin has been with Rethink since 2018, and has worked in professional services, customer success, and most recently as Rethink’s Director of Community Engagement, working with our customers to create successful and meaningful partnerships.

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