Dr. Francesca degli Espinosa

BCBA-D, Ph.D,

A certified behaviour analyst (BCBA-D) and doctor of research in Psychology (Ph.D.). Dr. Francesca degli Espinosa has been in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) for twenty-four years, working both as a clinician and as an academic. Her main applied areas are educational curriculum design for children with autism and the reduction of challenging behaviours.

For several years she has been teaching advanced verbal behaviour in various master's courses in Italy (University of Salerno), the United Kingdom (Queen’s University, Belfast) and the United States (Penn State).

SESSION

BUILDING EFFECTIVE SOCIAL CHAINS WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM

October 20, 2023 - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

This talk discusses the conditioning of social responding through social chains and pattern games. Focusing on the establishment of fundamental building blocks for social interactions and language acquisition, known as early indicative responses, Dr. Espinosa emphasizes the importance of shaping rather than prompting these essential skills. Additionally, she explores the concept of ascent and its interpretation as offered behaviour within the framework of social chains. This talk aims to provide insights and strategies for constructing effective social chains with individuals on the autism spectrum, ultimately enhancing their social interactions and language development.

1 BACB Learning CEU

SPEAKER PREVIEW