Abstract
There are currently gaps in the training and provision of behavior-analytic services for appropriately acknowledging and responding to the racial and cultural context of children and families receiving services. The values and common training practices in applied behavior analysis (ABA), lack of diverse providers (from differing backgrounds and racial and ethnic identities), and omission of racially and ethnically diverse populations and variables in our research contribute to striking racial disparities in behavioral services (e.g., barriers in accessing and obtaining equally high-quality services). This paper is a call for action, based on the premise that systemic change toward cultural responsivity and reduction of racial disparities in ABA is made up of the individual awareness and actions of ABA instructors and supervisors. To this end, we first illustrate the extent of this problem and its personal and psychological toll on children and families in terms of experiences of racial stress, differential access to services, and unequal quality of care. Second, we outline actionable steps for instructors and supervisors to reduce racial disparities and promote culturally responsive behavior-analytic practice. We call for specific advocacy for and changes to graduate program coursework and requirements, experiential practice opportunities for trainees, culturally responsive supervision, and recruitment and support of diverse trainees in ABA.
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Data Availability
Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.
Notes
Due to the socially constructed binary of BIPOC versus White, we acknowledge the potential for overgeneralization. The racial category of White also represents diverse groups of people. We are cautious in our wording; however, we use these terms due to most BCBAs identifying as White (Behavior Analyst Certification Board [BACB], n.d.).
“The system that contains the organization we were analyzing” (Malott, 2003, p. 46).
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Luna, O., Petri, J.M. & Nuhu, N. Addressing Racial Disparities in Behavior-Analytic Services: Provider and Trainee Awareness, Competency, and Systemic Action. Behav. Soc. Iss. 32, 249–273 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-022-00117-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-022-00117-y