​Abstract

Applied Behavior Analysis emphasizes effective, data-driven intervention; however, the way services are delivered significantly impacts client outcomes, treatment adherence, and social validity. This presentation examines cultural humility and compassionate care as essential components of ethical and effective ABA practice across roles, with particular emphasis on the interaction between Registered Behavior Technicians and Board-Certified Behavior Analysts. Drawing on the framework of Melanie Tervalon and Jann Murray-García, as well as contemporary literature on compassionate care in behavior analysis, attendees will explore how clinician behavior, supervision practices, and systemic contingencies can influence collaboration, power dynamics, and client experience. Through applied examples, including goal selection, compliance-based procedures, and assent-based practices, participants will identify strategies to operationalize cultural humility in both direct service and supervision. Emphasis will be placed on observable behaviors that promote dignity, psychological safety, and collaboration among clients, families, and clinical teams.

 

Keywords: cultural humility, compassionate care, dignity, assent, collaboration

Objectives​​

1. 1. Define cultural humility and describe at least two ways it differs from cultural competence within ABA service delivery.

2. Identify and describe three observable clinician behaviors that reflect compassionate, culturally responsive care in applied settings.

3. Describe and apply at least two behavior-analytic strategies (e.g., assent-based procedures, values-based goal selection, modification of discriminative stimuli for caregiver engagement) to improve collaboration and social validity.​