Thirty research posters and four talks were presented in the John and Diane Kim Autism Institute on Thursday, July 12, covering topics such as “A Method for Establishing Conditioned Reinforcers,” “Effects of Response Interruption and Redirection on Stereotypy,” “Evaluating the Effects of Matrix Training on Play Skills,” and “The Effects of Matrix Training on Generalization of Skills.”
Each year, NECC showcases the work of students enrolled in the Simmons College graduate program through our on-site graduate training partnership. Professors Maureen Kelly, PhD; Carly Eby, PhD; and John Seaver, PhD, instructed the two-semester Applied Research course where students learn to put together a thesis while working directly with senior researchers who are published in the field. Students researched a question, designed a protocol to evaluate the question, ran participants through the protocol, and evaluated their findings. Nine thesis advisers oversaw thesis development.
Though the course is not a requirement for a teaching license, it demonstrates how NECC and Simmons work together to craft strong programs to support teacher learning.
The event was attended by Simmons faculty, the NECC community, and research students’ families.
For 26 years, NECC has partnered with area colleges and universities to provide on-site graduate training in applied behavior analysis (ABA) and special education. Through these partnerships more than 1,300 staff have earned their master’s degree or doctorate while accruing almost no debt. Many continue at NECC to teach, lead programs, or conduct research, while others use their experience to start programs around the world.
