HOT TOPIC: Pivoting Practice: Reframing OT and ABA Collaboration in Pediatric Autism Care

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2026

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Course Description

As an occupational therapist embedded in an interdisciplinary autism center, this presenter navigates the complexities of practicing as the sole non-ABA provider while supporting over 30 clients aged 2–11. This experience highlights both the challenges and opportunities of integrating occupational therapy perspectives into a behaviorally-focused framework.

Attendees will examine common misconceptions surrounding ABA and gain a foundational understanding of its principles, as well as current literature on interdisciplinary collaboration between occupational therapy and ABA. The session will emphasize the importance of moving beyond polarized narratives toward a more nuanced, client-centered approach that values the unique contributions of each discipline.

Through real-world examples and collaborative insights from both an occupational therapist and a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA), this presentation will illustrate how intentional relationship-building, shared clinical reasoning, and systems-level advocacy can enhance outcomes for autistic children and their families. Strategies for navigating ethical tensions, fostering mutual respect, and influencing program development within interdisciplinary teams will be discussed. Aligned with the conference theme of “pivot points,” this session invites practitioners to reconsider rigid professional boundaries and explore innovative, collaborative models of care that advance occupational therapy practice and improve access to meaningful, comprehensive services.

Speakers

Content Level

Introductory: This level assumes the audience has little or no information regarding the content area.

Practice Areas

Children and Youth; Community-based Practice; Professional Issues