Culturally Sensitive Approaches to ABA Treatment: Session 311

In Session 311, I sit down with Christina Nylander and Leah Hussain from Apollo Behavior to talk about culturally sensitive approaches to Autism intervention.

We dive into three case studies that show how flexible, individualized care can make a huge difference in building the rapport that's so important in our clinical work. Along the way, we share strategies for gaining parent buy-in, supporting bilingual language development, and using AAC devices to help children communicate more effectively with their families.

Here's what we cover:

• The parent training shift when cultural sensitivity and rapport-building are prioritized.
• Christina and Leah's bilingual language development success stories, including Spanish- and Russian-speaking families.
• The role of AAC devices in improving communication, and one of these case studies progressed to no longer needing this technology.
• My random thoughts on video documentation and other creative methods to communicate client progress to stakeholders.

Throughout the discussion, we reflect on the importance of balancing clinical recommendations with cultural and educational values. It's not just about treatment plans—it's about building trust, respecting families' perspectives, and helping kids thrive in ways that feel authentic to them.

Sidenote: If you want to learn about what it's like to work at Apollo, or check out their open positions, click here.

Key Takeaways

• Cultural sensitivity builds stronger collaboration with families.
• Bilingual and AAC strategies can unlock communication progress.
• Showing progress through videos and creative methods strengthens parent engagement.
• Individualized parent training, including in multiple languages, increases accessibility.

If you're a BCBA, ABA therapist, or behavioral health professional, I think you'll find this conversation full of practical ideas for making your work more effective—and more meaningful.

Bilingual & Dual‑Language Interventions

• Neely et al. (2020) – Impact of language on behavior treatment outcomes.
• Banerjee et al. (2021) – Extending Functional Communication Training to Multiple Language Contexts in Bilingual Learners with Challenging Behavior.
• Cengher (2024). On Bilingualism: Why and How to Teach Two Languages to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Cultural Responsiveness, Humility & Systemic Equity in ABA

• Deochand, Neil & Costello, Mack S. (2022). Building a Social Justice Framework for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in ABA.
• Jimenez-Gomez, Cori