Episode 342 - Assent and PECS
From ABA Inside Track by ABA Inside Track
April 22, 2026 · 1h 22m · Episode 342
About this episode
The episode explores the importance of assent in behavior analysis and how PECS can enhance communication and collaboration.
As behavior analysis pursues more opportunities to meaningfully ally with the neurodiversity movement, we need to ensure we're doing more than just playing lip service to those seeking additional supports by improving our listening. But how can you listen for assent without good communication skills? This week we are joined by Armando Bernal to explore how PECS may provide a more robust inroads to collaboration than we may have thought as well as some other ways that BCBAs can up their assent game. This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU. Articles discussed this episode: Allen, L.L., Mellons, L.S., Syed, N., Johnson, J.F., & Bernal, A.J. (2024). Neurodiversity-affirming applied behavior analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice . doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-00918-0 Doherty, A., Bracken, M., & Gormley, L. (2018). Teaching children with autism to initiate and respond to peer mands using picture exchange communication system (PECS). Behavior Analysis in Practice, 11 , 279-288. doi: 10.1007/s40617-018-00311-8 If you're interested in ordering CEs for listening to this episode, click here to go to the store page. You'll need to enter your name, BCBA #, the two episode secret code…
People in this episode
Host: ABA Inside Track
Guest: Armando Bernal
Topics covered
- neurodiversity
- behavior analysis
- communication skills
- PECS
- assent
- collaboration
Keywords
- assent
- PECS
- neurodiversity
- behavior analysis
- communication
- collaboration
- BCBA
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Behavior Analysis in Practice
Books & works: Neurodiversity-affirming applied behavior analysis, Teaching children with autism to initiate and respond to peer mands using picture exchange communication system (PECS)
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