Take a Course

ABA Courses Online for Autism Therapists with Will Overfelt

Free Workshop

Increase Talking &
Decrease Tantrums

in Young Children with

Autism &/or Speech Delays

Register for Free Training

“Mary made the course accessible, but still functional and rigorous. If you are a BCBA and want to enhance your practical verbal behavior skills, this is a great class. If you are a parent and just starting to get language or more complex communication from your child, this course is worth your time. Super practical. He also said it includes all the needed CEUs for a two-year cycle for behavior analysts, and it would be life changing information for parents of younger kids on the spectrum.”

Will Overfelt is a friend of mine and a BCBA in North Carolina. He recently took the Verbal Behavior Bundle and shared that glowing review on his Facebook page. Today we are talking about the benefits of my online ABA courses and community, certifications in the autism field, and even spotting good and bad ABA practices.

Online Course and Community

I offer a variety of online ABA training, including the Verbal Behavior Bundle, which Will took to fulfill his needed 32 CEUs. After sitting down and deciding what skills he wanted to work on, Will decided the VB Bundle was just right and it included all 32 Learning CEUs that BCBAs need every two years. Will found that while he thought this was primarily parent focused training, the skills and lessons were robust and really important for professionals. The videos of kids and the long term access to the course to go back and review material were things he really enjoyed about the course. I encourage anyone who has taken my courses to join our online community, where we ask and answer questions and really focus on making a difference in the field of ABA.

Certifications in the Autism Field

Will shares his story about his fall into the autism world. He received his certification of BCaBA in 2006 and now has his BCBA. We discuss a little about the difference between these certifications. BCaBA is a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst, which requires a Bachelor’s degree, and has strict requirements for mentorship and operating under a BCBA. A BCBA is a more strenuous certification to attain and requires a Master’s degree. To a lot of people, if they are going through the work to get a BCaBA, it makes more sense to just obtain the BCBA. RBT, a Registered Behavior Technician, is a certification that only requires a high school degree and 40 hours of training under a BCBA. We discuss a little about what you can expect from RBTs and the importance of positive training.

Good vs Bad ABA

It’s no secret that ABA has gotten a bad rap over the years. I have discussed this in some of my previous podcast episodes. Will is based in North Carolina, a state in which ABA is still not entirely and widely accepted. Will shares the importance of asking yourself questions and being critical of your child’s experience when observing ABA for your family. Trust your gut. How do you feel about your provider’s demeanor? How are they communicating with you? Are they disseminating information with you or are they using hard to understand medical terminology? Is your child happy and positive about the provider? I am a major proponent of positive practice, 8 positives for every negative. If you’re feeling unsure and your child is crying every time therapy is supposed to start, it doesn’t mean everyone needs to be fired, but it does mean you as the parent need to work with your ABA team to get on the same page and work on the training and reinforcement that you know works.

Will shares so much wisdom in this episode and even shares his unique hobbies and passions. My podcast goals are not only to help children but to help parents and professionals lead happy and less stressed lives. Will drives home the point that to prevent burn out and bring joy, parents and professionals in the thick of the autism world NEED to find interests outside of autism. I am on a mission to Turn Autism Around, please visit us on social media and like, comment, and share to get the word out!

Will Overfelt on Turn Autism Around Podcast

Will Overfelt is a BCBA practicing in Asheville, NC. Will completed his undergraduate at East Tennessee State University studying international studies and special education, masters and EdS degrees from Western Carolina University in Severe Disabilities and Special Education Administration as well as a grad degree in liberal arts from UNC-Greensboro. Will completed his ABA training at Florida Tech and completed his supervision hours under Dr. Denny Reid. He is currently a behavior specialist with Buncombe County Schools, provides behavior consultation for adults through the Medicaid Waiver at FIRST Parent Center, and occasionally teaches classes in special education for UNC-Asheville. He sometimes dabbles in working on local political campaigns and finds his training as a BCBA helpful in work outside of disabilities such as politics, advocacy, and communications.

You’ll Learn

  • Why do BCBAs recommend taking the Verbal Behavior Bundle?
  • What benefits can parents and professionals receive from taking the online courses and joining the online community?
  • Can you receive CEUs for completing Mary’s online courses?
  • Can parents AND professionals benefit from taking the same courses?
  • How to spot good and bad ABA practices?
  • What certifications are available in the autism field?
  • Why should parents and professionals seek hobbies and passions outside autism?

Resources

Free Workshop

Increase Talking &
Decrease Tantrums

in Young Children with

Autism &/or Speech Delays

Register for Free Training
Ready to Start Turning Autism (or Signs of Autism) Around?
Ready to Start Turning Autism
(or Signs of Autism) Around?

Get started with Dr. Mary Barbera’s proven strategies and take the next step toward real progress today.

Get Started Now