Reviewed by
Avni Marya, ASAT Extern and Kate McKenna, MEd, MSEd, MS, BCBA
Association for Science in Autism Treatment

BX BlueprintBoard Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) practice in a variety of settings in which they are often expected to train colleagues or caregivers in the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Additionally, BCBAs supervise Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) and Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs) as part of their job responsibilities as employees of agencies. Having materials that have been prepared by certified behavior analysts who specialize in training and creating professional development saves time and makes it more likely that accurate information will be included in training. Additionally, RBTs working under the supervision of a BCBA and Paraprofessionals teaching in a special education classroom may wish to supplement their training or use a comprehensive resource to learn about ABA and its many strengths as an intervention for autism.

What is Bx Blueprint: Advanced ABA Training for RBTs and Paraprofessionals?

The BX Blueprint is a compilation of video webinars and tutorials created by Shayna Gaunt, MA, BCBA, and Shira Karpel, MEd, BCBA, and available for purchase on the How to ABA website. Together Shira and Shayna have decades of experience working with individuals with autism in clinical and school settings. Their goal in creating the Bx Blueprint is to support RBTs and paraprofessionals in gaining a solid understanding of the fundamentals of behavior analysis.

Shayna and Shira’s easygoing style of delivery makes it seem as if they are speaking directly to the audience. They are collegial and comfortable working with each other and that comes across in each video. The pace of instruction is measured, and the organization of the videos is structured to build on the initial introduction to autism and ABA to then guide learners through more detailed and intensive instruction in ABA-based strategies, the basic structure of an ABA session, and ethical responsibilities of RBTs and paraprofessionals. As the material becomes increasingly complex, Shira and Shayna provide sufficient repetition to emphasize key concepts but not so much that the material seems repetitive.

The 18 topics (see chart below) take 20 hours to complete with an on-demand format which means you can work at your own pace. The first three topics, Welcome, I’m New to ABA – Now What?!, and The Foundations of ABA, provide an orientation the program and include important background information on autism and the principles of ABA. Working through the course, learners will receive training on topics such as the use of reinforcement, conducting sessions, ABA-based teaching strategies, how to address behavior that interferes with learning, and professional advice for communicating with families and supervisors, working with adults, applying the principles of ABA in classrooms, and self-care (non-exhaustive list). Each topic consists of video modules and a short quiz. Some of the topics, such as Motivation and Reinforcement and From Theory to Practice, also include subsections to further break down the information. The final topic, Course Wrap Up, wraps up the study and viewers complete a survey to earn their certificate of completion or CEUs.

Topics in Bx Blueprint
1  Welcome 7 Pairing 13 Measurement
2 I’m New to ABA – Now What?! 8 From Theory to Practice 14 Generalization & Maintenance
3 The Foundations of ABA 9 Teaching Social Skills 15 Ethics & Professionalism
4 Motivation & Reinforcement 10 Challenging Behavior 16 ABA in Schools
5 Running an ABA Session 11 Regulation & Sensory Needs 17 Preventing Burnout
6 Communication in an ABA Program 12 Life Skills 18 Course Wrap Up

Most video segments have downloads available (e.g., data forms, a PowerPoint handout of the slides, and data, assessment, or interview forms used in the presentation) which strengthen the instruction as learners can review materials when not on their laptops and resources can be shared easily with colleagues. Additionally, the main points made in each video are printed below the video, and reading after viewing is an excellent opportunity for review. There is a comment box for each video. Questions and comments left by the reviewers were answered within 24 hours which is an incredible addition to an otherwise asynchronous training experience.

Scenarios and examples of possible interventions used in the presentations are common sense, real life, and practical in that they encourage providers to accept the student for who they are and attempt to see the student’s perspective of events that occur during the session. The Life Skills segment is replete with materials and resources for creating task analyses, working with adolescents and adults, and strategies for teaching skills of daily living to increase self-determination and independence. The section on Measurement took complicated material and, through the ample date sheets available and video examples of how to complete them, made it easily understandable for RBTs and paraprofessionals. The series of videos on Ethics and Professional Behavior touches on the prevalent issues of today and provides important information and perspectives that could inform how viewers process the material in the modules. The inclusion of this content is so important as it provides an opportunity to discuss how we can better respond to criticisms of ABA in a more in depth and informed manner. Whereas the ethics content grounds the viewer in the ethical duties we owe to our clients and how we put our ethics into practice it may be even more impactful to introduce that content earlier in the series.

It is important that educational resources provide sufficient breadth and depth to facilitate an understanding of why learning occurs and how we can make the greatest impact. Someone who was unfamiliar with much of the science of ABA and its application to autism will find the modules to be filled with information while simultaneously being easy to understand. The highlight of the course is the explanation of ‘why?’ Shayna and Shira take the time to explain the reasoning behind the aspects of ABA and don’t stop at the surface level. By having each subtopic split into separate videos viewers new to ABA will not be overwhelmed by the vast amount of information in the course. The information was also presented in a way that is easy to recall.

In summary, this is an incredible assemblage of teaching materials that covers the entirety of the application of ABA when working with individuals with autism, as well as the ethical and professional obligations one assumes when becoming a certified RBT, BCaBA, and BCBA. Watching the complete Bx Blueprint would be beneficial for those who may have partial training or education in the principles of ABA, such as RBTs providing ABA services in the home or at a clinic and paraprofessionals working in a special education classroom. It will soon be possible to watch individual categories on-demand, instead of needing to start at the beginning and work your way through, which will add to the practicality of the Bx Blueprint. BCBAs supervising RBTs and aspiring BCBAs as the videos and resources will then be able to select categories to address specific skills or watch a video with parents/caregivers to supplement their understanding of techniques being used in their child’s programs.

Citation for this article:

Marya, A., & McKenna, K. (2024). A Review of Bx Blueprint: A video library of ABA fundamentals from How to ABA. Science in Autism Treatment, 21(9).

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