• Teaching Precursor Fire Safety Evacuation Skills to Young Children with Autism: Using Behavioral Skills Training at Home

    (Foxman & Boesch, 2025)

    It is important for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to learn how to respond successfully to safety threats. When given behavioral skills training (BST), children with and without ASD have demonstrated gains in safety responding skills. Although the prevalence of ASD has risen, few studies exist on the acquisition of fire safety skills for children with ASD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if an intervention using BST for teaching a precursor fire alarm evacuation procedure was effective for children with ASD in acquiring, maintaining, and generalizing the procedure. This study built on current literature by utilizing a multiple baseline design across participants. Findings showed that the BST procedure was effective for three of four participants. Two participants demonstrated generalization of skills learned, and three participants maintained skills after 4 weeks. Overall, interventionists and parents found the study procedures and skills targeted meaningful, effective, and appropriate. Implications, future research, and limitations are discussed.

  • The Right to Effective Behavioral Treatment Revisited: Ethical Expectations for Behavior Analysts Today

    (Kelly, Bollinger, Chiu, Dube, 2024)

    While it may be common to ask about maladaptive behaviors, such as elopement, aggression, property destruction, or self-injurious behaviors—how often do assessments include questions about weapons, such as guns in the home or which prerequisites that clients need to ensure they can safely escape a fire or smoke-filled house? Recently, a qualitative assessment tool, specifically to support behavior analysts in asking safety-related questions, was released. This open-ended assessment was designed with the “explicit purpose of evaluating potential risks and safety concerns associated with caring for children or adults with disabilities” (Foxman & Kelly, 2023, para 1). By beginning to ask these questions and incorporating the information into treatment planning, behavior analysts have the potential to bring attention to these risks for their clients and their caregivers (Kelly & Foxman, 2023).