Ball State University 638: Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis. Supervisor Manual. Ball State University

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1 BSU Autism Practicum 1 Ball State University 638: Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis Supervisor Manual Ball State University

2 BSU Autism Practicum 2 Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Supervisor Responsibilities 3. Sample Contract 4. Appropriate Activities 5. Syllabus Guide 6. Feedback Forms (due at midpoint and at the end of semester) 7. Frequently Asked Questions 8. Contact Information

3 BSU Autism Practicum 3 Chapter 1 Introduction and Welcome Thank you for agreeing to function as a supervisor for a student(s) in the Ball State University Applied Behavior Analysis Program! This course is designed to provide students with structured opportunities to engage in behavior analytic practices in preparation for future clinical practice. This manual is meant to help guide supervisors through the semester. It is required that the supervisee spend hours each week engaging in appropriate practicum activities as defined by the BACB ( *See Chapter 4 for a list of appropriate activities. The students will also be reading about Evidence-Based Intervention and Strategies and will be asked to demonstrate these during their practicum. This practicum uses a textbook, which your supervisee should purchase. The reference is: Sulzer-Azaroff, B., Dyer, K., Dupont, S., & Soucy, D. (2012). Applying Behavior Analysis Across the Autism Spectrum: A Field Guide for New Practitioners. New York: Sloan Publishing. Please refer to the supervisor s manual (i.e., this document) if you have any questions. If you need additional information please contact the practicum coordinator or Mrs. Bonnie Krupa at bjkrupa@bsu.edu. Additionally, make sure you are familiar with your supervisee s lead instructor during this semester (information contained in the course syllabus), they will be grading and providing feedback on all assignments.

4 BSU Autism Practicum 4 Chapter 2 Supervisor Responsibilities The Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)is a course that is delivered as part of the requirements for the certificate in ABA at Ball State University. For students pursuing a credential as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Ball State does not offer a Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) approved intensive or practicum experience. All Students must complete the supervised independent fieldwork requirement (i.e., 1500 hrs) as outlined by the BACB. If your student is not pursuing the BCBA credential, they are still required to adhere to the BACB guidelines in this course. During this course, the supervisor s responsibilities include observing individual supervisees implementing behavior analytic procedures, guiding supervisees through professional interactions with laypersons (e.g., parents) and others that may be unfamiliar with ABA (e.g., occupational therapists), and correcting both practice and knowledge errors. Supervisors may also assist students in completing required course content as a part of their ongoing supervision (e.g., assignments). All course content will be graded by the lead instructor, but the supervisor is also encouraged to provide guidance in completing these assignments according to any rubrics or outlines provided during the program. Please remember that what you do in your own practice may be different from faculty expectations on some assignments. We have found that there are a number of items in our coursework that differ for one reason or another from the practices of some Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) or other individuals in the ABA field. If any discrepancy arises, you are free to inform your supervisee of a potential difference, but the student should always defer to the course expectations while enrolled in the practicum

5 BSU Autism Practicum 5 course. Although these practices may be technically appropriate, we want our students to study a cohesive body of knowledge. The faculty understands that many individuals work in a consultative role, or implement interventions that are not considered behavior analytic, but the purpose of this course is to gauge the technical competency of our students in implementing behavior analytic procedures and activities. Students should also only engage in activities that can be considered behavior analytic. For example, if a student is delivering a Direct Instruction (DI) lesson those hours may be counted for the course. If they are engaged in sessions using Floortime, those cannot be counted for the course. Turning in the work of others (including supervisors) is a direct violation of the Ball State University Academic Honesty Code, and can result in your supervisee failing the practicum course, and possibly being asked to leave the program. If any question arises, please contact either the lead instructor or the practicum coordinator to determine if there is a conflict. Below is a list of specific supervisor responsibilities for this course: 1. Review and sign documentation (i.e., weekly hour logs) of performance on specific procedures. 2. Complete a student evaluation at midterm and at the end of the term. Confidential evaluation forms will be given to you by your supervisee along with their instructor s e- mail address and a due date. Supervisors will submit evaluations directly to the instructor on the technical competence of your supervisee. 3. Discuss current (and past) research with your supervisee in relation to ongoing clinical problems or specific cases. Research may include, but should not be limited to, articles that are assigned in the course.

6 BSU Autism Practicum 6 4. Ensure the supervisee is engaged in practices consistent with the standards outlines by the BACB. 5. Model appropriate client interactions and uphold the ethical standards for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (Behavior Analysts), Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), or other professional body related to your discipline.

7 BSU Autism Practicum 7 Chapter 3 Sample Contracts At any point your supervisee may ask the practicum coordinator to check their contract to make sure there are not any items that may be problematic (e.g., losing supervision hours if the individual leaves a company while completing fieldwork requirements). Although the BACB has not issued any clear guidelines on constructing supervision contracts, the faculty at BSU would like to ensure our students are treated in a fair manner. We strongly encourage all of our students to ask for help if something seems to be troubling with their contract. Examples of supervision contracts can be found on the BACB website.

8 BSU Autism Practicum 8 Chapter 4 Appropriate Activities and Settings Although a number of theoretical standpoints exist related to intervention for individuals with disabilities (including autism), students in the Ball State Applied Behavior Analysis and/or Autism Program are required to practice activities that are behavior analytic in nature. The BACB standards on appropriate settings and activities are outlined below: Conducting assessments related to the need for behavioral intervention (e.g., stimulus preference assessment, functional assessment, staff performance assessment); Designing, implementing, and systematically monitoring skill-acquisition and behaviorreduction programs; Overseeing the implementation of behavior-analytic programs by others; Training, designing behavioral systems, and performance management; Other activities normally performed by a behavior analyst that are directly related to behavior analysis such as attending planning meetings regarding the behavior analytic program, researching the literature related to the program, and talking to individuals about the program. Examples of activities that will not count as experience include: attending meetings with little or no behavior-analytic content; providing interventions that are not based in behavior analysis; performing non-behavioral administrative activities; and completing non-behavioral assessments (e.g., diagnostic assessments, intellectual assessments), paperwork, documentation, billing, or any other activities that are not directly related to behavior analysis. If at any point you become concerned that these guidelines cannot be met, you should contact the practicum coordinator and course instructor for your supervisee.

9 BSU Autism Practicum 9 Chapter 5 Syllabus Guide In SPCE 638: Practicum in Applied Behavior Analysis, students are expected to defer to the expectations on the syllabus in all instances. If any questions arise as to how course content should be completed please direct them to contact their lead instructor immediately to gain further clarification. The syllabus should contain the contact information for both the lead instructor (at the top), and the practicum coordinator. We are more than happy to answer any questions, but want to make sure that the appropriate procedures are followed to ensure quick resolution to any student problems. Contained in the syllabus is also a schedule of due dates for all required coursework. As the supervisor, it is not your responsibility to ensure these items are submitted in the appropriate time frame. You should be aware of where your student is so that you can plan accordingly to aid them in completing specific competencies, and provide the appropriate amount of supervision in accordance with the BACB (e.g., 5% of all supervised hours claimed). For questions about supervision, we defer to the BACB standards in all cases. For some assignments, the instructor will provide rubrics to your student. Please make sure you are familiar with these documents (you may need to request them from the supervisee). Ultimately, it is the student s responsibility to make sure they complete the project according to the rubrics/directions, but it may be helpful for you to have an understanding of those requirements in case specific arrangements must be made for your supervisee to complete the assignment. At times, items on the syllabus may seem unclear or confusing for supervisees. If for any reason your supervisee solicits advice about what to do in a specific situation related to the

10 BSU Autism Practicum 10 syllabus, please make sure they contact their instructor immediately. We trust that all of the BCBAs or Field Supervisors who are supervising our students have an adequate background to explain concepts and guide our students, but in these instances it is much more efficient for the student to contact the lead instructor with the question. Additionally, it allows the tenure-track faculty member supervising the course to gain needed feedback on where to modify content on the syllabus in order to make course requirements more explicit.

11 BSU Autism Practicum 11 Chapter 6 Feedback Forms At any point during the semester, the lead instructor may contact you to gain feedback pertaining to your supervisee. This information is for course-related purposes only, and will not be disclosed unless there is a serious problem (e.g., abuse, attendance issues, conflicting hour logs etc.) at the practicum site. We encourage you to be very honest with your assessment of your supervisee, and recognize that everyone has areas where they can improve. Our intention is to gauge where your supervisee is in their content knowledge, and implementation so we can provide support where needed.

12 BSU Autism Practicum 12 Chapter 7 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) During the semester, students and supervisors may have a number of questions related to the supervision period. The practicum course at Ball State is intended to be a university offered course first and foremost, and an opportunity to gain supervision hours second. Many of the activities may overlap with experience the student has already gained through previous/ongoing supervision or their daily work. Although a number of items may already be known, it is important to provide documentation of student proficiency to ensure that Ball State is conferring a degree to an individual that is ready for clinical practice. Below are some additional questions that may arise. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. For any additional questions related to supervision, please contact the lead instructor or refer to the BACB website first ( to make sure the answer are not already covered. For course-related questions that are not covered below, please contact either the lead instructor or the practicum coordinator. Practicum FAQ If my supervisee works more than 30 hours a week, can they claim that number and use the extra hours another time? No, according to the BACB and guidelines of this course, you cannot accumulate less than 10 or no more than 30 hours of experience per week. Please do not turn in hour logs with more than 30 hours or less than 10 hours. Doing so will result in point deductions each time you do it. Make up hours are not allowed in this course, and coursework should be completed in the week in which it is assigned. Our intention is for students to thoughtfully complete the requirements, not race to the finish. How many hours of supervision should I provide per week? That depends on how many experience hours your supervisee accumulates. According to the BACB website ( applicants must be supervised at least once every 2 weeks for every 5% of the total hours they spend in supervised independent fieldwork.

13 BSU Autism Practicum 13 In other words, you must receive a minimum of 30 minutes of supervision per 10 hours of experience. Failure to comply with may result in a deduction of points. If you will not be providing supervision every two weeks, please make sure your supervisee contacts their instructor so this can be communicated. It is not a problem, but we will need to make some accommodations for grading purposes. If at any point you are ill and cannot sign required documentation, please also make sure your supervisee contacts their instructor. We may request an from you stating that you were ill. Why is the course so restrictive? Why can t the supervisor/bcba dictate what the supervisee does for the entire course? Although we trust that all BCBA credential holders, and other professionals, follow the ethical standards laid out by the BCBA or other organizations, as a degree conferring institution we must ensure that some objective record of student performance is gathered. The items that are contained in the course are meant to help us track your supervisee s proficiency with behavioral principles and their application in relation to people with ASD. I do not feel that my supervisee should have to complete the assignments because they already know how to perform the skill? Although you may know that the supervisee is proficient, the BSU faculty does not know that without some type of record. The assignments are that record. I will be going on vacation, and unable to supervise my student, can I just double up on supervision so they do not get behind? No, if you are leaving for vacation, extended leave, conference, etc. your supervisee should set up alternative arrangements to ensure they acquire appropriate supervision. They should also notify the instructor that they will have a temporary supervisor until you return. Do I need to take the supervisor training for my supervisee s hours to count towards their fieldwork requirement? The requirements for qualifying as a supervisor are posted on the BACB site. Please review those requirements prior to starting supervision. Your supervisee has been encouraged to do so as well, but as a BCBA you should also be familiar with the changes the board has made. If you are not seeking BCBA hours you do not need to worry about this.

14 BSU Autism Practicum 14 I use an electronic approach in my practice, and do not believe ABA alone is the most effective method for teaching children with ASD. In the BSU program, we respect your right to conduct your practice as you see fit, but our program is rooted in the principles of behavior analysis. This is the framework that guides our courses. Although we respect your rights as an independent practitioner, we must conduct our program in a manner that is consistent with the framework of our program. We must request that our students follow this framework. If this cannot be accommodated, it may be necessary for your supervisee to find a different individual to provide supervision in this course. I m in a school, and we have breaks where I am not able to provide supervision (e.g., Spring Break). What do we do? This specific course is meant to rely heavily on hands on practice. It is the student s responsibility to make sure this experience is carried through. Additionally, BSU courses (similar to other universities) abide by the BSU academic calendar, and not individual school system calendars. If your student does not have access to learners during breaks, they should contact the practicum coordinator immediately. There is one week of makeup hours written in to this practicum.

15 BSU Autism Practicum 15 Chapter 8 Contact Information Your supervisee should be aware of all necessary contacts related to their practicum placement. If they are unaware, please direct them to the course syllabus. For your reference, a list of contacts is provided below. If you have concerns or student-related problems during the semester, please contact the Practicum Coordinator or Academic Advisor first, and we will proceed from that point. If necessary, the Program Chair may become involved. 1. Program Chair: David E. McIntosh, PhD, ABPP a. demcintosh@bsu.edu 2. Program Academic Advisor: Bonnie Krupa, M.A. a. bjkrupa@bsu.edu 3. Practicum Coordinator: Angela Bricker, BCBA a. arbricker@bsu.edu