June 11, 2015

Autism Center Honored

UCSB’s Koegel Autism Center receives national award from Society for the Advantage of Behavior Analysis

George Yatchisin

The Koegel Autism Center in UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz Graduate School of Education has been selected as the recipient of the Enduring Programmatic Contributions in Behavior Analysis Award by the Society for the Advantage of Behavior Analysis (SABA). This award is given annually to an agency, department or facility of an organization that contributes to the ongoing and enduring development of behavior analysis.

The award will be presented at the Association for Behavior Analysis International’s 42nd annual convention in Chicago, May 27-31, 2016.

“This wonderful recognition is a testament to the success of our Koegel Autism Center and to your pioneering research and dedicated efforts on behalf of the autism community,” UCSB Chancellor Henry T. Yang said. “You are helping to improve the lives of so many, and raising the stature of the Center and the University along the way.”

The Koegel Autism Center is recognized by SABA for its influence on interventions for children on the autism spectrum and training and research in applied behavior analysis. For more than 30 years the Koegel Autism Center has contributed to the body of research and publications on developing treatment delivery systems through family and others who support children with autism.

The center is especially commended for the development and success of Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), created by Robert and Lynn Koegel of the Gevirtz School. PRT incorporates child choice and direct and natural reinforcement, as well as targeting critical areas of the child’s development rather than just individual behaviors. It is recognized by the National Research Council as one of the 10 model programs for autism and as one of the four scientifically based practices for autism intervention in the United States. The Koegel Autisim Center is additionally recognized for its impact on training through the workshops it provides for school certification, teachers, classroom aides and school-based interventions, as well for as its undergraduate and graduate programs.

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