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Delivering Home-Supported Applied Behavior Analysis Therapies to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families

  • Special Section: Diversity and Inclusion
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Abstract

The selection and adoption of culturally appropriate targets and practices, especially for home-based or parent-supported services, is an emerging interest in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Variations in cultural norms, caregivers’ ability to participate in home-based service delivery, and family and practitioner linguistic competencies are some of the areas that the culturally competent ABA therapist must consider when designing a home-based program of therapy. Given the paucity of empirical research related to cultural competency in ABA service provision, the goal of the current article is to provide practitioners, their supervisors, and researchers with information to overcome many perceived barriers to successfully working with clients whose home languages or cultures differ from that of the dominant U.S. culture. Practical examples, integration of research from ABA and allied fields, and terminology are used to support these points and provide actionable guidance grounded in empirical literature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA

    Andrea Dennison, Lilibeth Mejia, Ashley Armenta & Jesi Leal

  2. St. Cloud State University, St Cloud, MN, USA

    Emily M. Lund

  3. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Matthew T. Brodhead

  4. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Emily M. Lund

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  1. Andrea Dennison
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  2. Emily M. Lund
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  3. Matthew T. Brodhead
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  4. Lilibeth Mejia
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  5. Ashley Armenta
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  6. Jesi Leal
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Correspondence to Andrea Dennison.

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Dr. Dennison declares that she has no conflict of interest. Dr. Lund declares that she has no conflict of interest. Dr. Brodhead declares that he has no conflict of interest. Ms. Mejia declares that she has no conflict of interest. Ms. Armenta declares that she has no conflict of interest. Ms. Leal declares that she has no conflict of interest.

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Dennison, A., Lund, E.M., Brodhead, M.T. et al. Delivering Home-Supported Applied Behavior Analysis Therapies to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families. Behav Analysis Practice 12, 887–898 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00374-1

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