It's Time for School!: Building Quality ABA Educational Programs for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism Partnership co-directors Ron Leaf and John McEachin, Director of Research Mitchell Taubman and key professionals in the organization provide a detailed framework for implementing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in classroom settings. ABA is the most widely used and thoroughly studied autism treatment available today. All practitioners of ABA, the contributors to this invaluable book chart an accessible, step-by-step strategy based on the specific needs of students, staff and school district. In what is sure to be considered the standard guidebook in setting up school-based programs, the editors offer practical advice to special education directors and superintendents while providing comprehensive training to teachers, direct and supplementary service personnel and parents.

Ronald Leaf, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who has over 35 years of experience in the field of autism. He earned both his Bachelor's and Doctoral degrees at UCLA, working closely with Ivar Lovaas. Dr. Leaf was extensively involved in many of the Young Autism Project research investigations, contributed to The ME Book, and is co-author of The ME Book Videotapes. He has consulted nationally and internationally with families, school districts, day programs and residential treatment facilities. In addition to co-directing Autism Partnership, Dr. Leaf is also the Executive Director of The Behavior Therapy and Learning Center, a mental health agency providing treatment, consultation and related services to parents, program staff and school personnel.

Mitchell Taubman, Ph.D. worked with Dr. Ivar Lovaas as an undergraduate at UCLA in the early 1970s, providing treatment to children with autism, ADHD and other disorders. Subsequently, he attended the University of Kansas and studied with such founders of Applied Behavior Analysis as Dr. Donald Baer, Dr. Todd Risely, Dr. James Sherman, and his Doctoral Advisor, Montrose Wolf. Upon completing his Ph.D. at the University of Kansas, he returned to UCLA post-doctorally, where he brought Teaching Interactions from the Kansas model to autism treatment. At UCLA, he served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychology and as Co-Principal Investigator with Dr. Lovaas on a Federal Grant directed at autism treatment. After this post-doctoral work, he obtained his License as a Clinical Psychologist and also served as Clinical Director of Straight Talk, a program providing residential and day treatment services to adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Dr. Taubman is currently the Associate Director of Autism Partnership, where he provides treatment oversight, training and consultation both nationally and internationally.

John McEachin, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist who has been providing behavioral intervention to children with autism as well as adolescents and adults with a wide range of developmental disabilities for more than 30 years. He received his graduate training under Professor Ivar Lovaas at UCLA on the Young Autism Project. During his 11 years at UCLA, Dr. McEachin served in various roles including Clinic Supervisor, Research and Teaching Assistant, Visiting Professor and Acting Director. His research has included the long-term follow-up study of young autistic children who received intensive behavioral treatment, which was published in 1993. In 1994 he joined Ron Leaf in forming Autism Partnership, which they co-direct and they have co-authored a widely used treatment manual, A Work in Progress. Dr. McEachin has lectured throughout the world and has helped establish
treatment centers and classrooms for children with autism in North America, Australia, Asia and Europe.