Navigating
autism
treatment
can be perplexing and
overwhelming.
We have a mission
Advancing effective methodology and behavior analytic treatment to
improve outcomes of individuals with ASD.
APF’s research team is a dedicated group of scientists who empirically demonstrate that quality intervention leads to positive, life-long changes. Our past studies and future research endeavors strive to advance the field of ABA, improve the lives of individuals with ASD and their families, help shape public policy, and increase access for all. With an Outcome Study, APF will influence and change curricula in universities, policy making and state law, and it will facilitate acceptance by third party payers. This will impact the future of services and countless children’s lives for the long term.
Tragically, alternative treatments and low-quality Conventional ABA do not lead to the positive outcomes we know are possible with a progressive approach to ABA, like The AP Method™. Understanding this, our research team’s future plans include comparative analyses of different approaches to ABA; U.S. economic impact analyses and benefits of high-quality ABA; and conducting a longitudinal study demonstrating treatment efficacy.
Our Research
Our small, yet productive Research Team is conducting a range of studies to:
- evaluate and develop effective means of teaching social skills to children of all ages
- assess the use of group teaching
- gain a better understanding of strategies that lead to greater skill acquisition
- analyze ways to better support parents
- identify effective staff training methodology
Scientific Contributions
APF has over 125 publications, including nearly 100 peer reviewed articles in 24 scientific journals with over 50 co-authors. Together with Autism Partnership, AP has published 8 books and 27 book chapters. Our innovative contributions to scientific literature in the field of ABA and ASD include studies, book, and commentaries on group social skills, teaching procedures, staff training, effective methodologies, language development, and behavioral strategies.
APF strives to fund and provide public access to its studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, in order to make them available to students, teachers, practitioners, and parents regardless of their socio-economic status.
Transforming Training
- AP Method of staff training — which is performance-based, not time-based — results in interventionists implementing high-quality behavior treatment. This, in turn, enables learners to make meaningful progress.
- Credentialing should include performance-based evaluation, not just multiple-choice questions. This study showed no correlation between answering multiple-choice questions and actually implementing effective strategies. This is significant, because current credentialing exams only use multiple-choice questions.
- AP Method of staff training is significantly superior to Conventional training in order to implement high-quality ABA. This is critical, because currently, most interventionists receive Conventional training.
International Recognition
While worldwide awareness around autism is higher than ever, consensus on effective treatment methodologies is lagging far behind. Our research team disseminates its findings internationally, with hundreds of public presentations given at regional, national, and international conferences.
In addition to presentations, APF and its partners have conducted research studies both in the U.S. and abroad in Singapore, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, and Australia. We also host an annual conference where distinguished experts in the field join together for education, discussion, and debate. APF conferences and panels are live streamed across the globe to provide access to critical information.