Effective Teaching for Young Children with Autism: Integrating ABA and DIR

Presented by Dr. Michele Havens | April 21, 2026 7PM EST

1 HOUR | LIVE ONLINE via ZOOM | INTERACTIVE

This webinar explores a collaborative framework for integrating Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Developmental, Individual-Differences, Relationship-Based (DIR) approaches in autism intervention. Rather than positioning models in opposition, participants will examine how behavioral principles and developmental science can align to support meaningful, individualized outcomes. The session will highlight practical strategies for coordinating goals, enhancing engagement, addressing regulation, and promoting functional communication across settings. Through case examples and clinical applications, attendees will learn how to maintain data-driven practice while incorporating relationship-based and developmental considerations. Emphasis will be placed on ethical decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and centering the needs of the child and family. Participants will leave with actionable tools for integrating behavioral and developmental strategies in home, school, and community-based programs.

Teachers, therapists, social workers, and other early childhood professionals working with young children will benefit from this webinar.

DISCLOSURES [DR. MICHELE HAVENS]

Financial Disclosures – DR. MICHELE HAVENS has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Nonfinancial Disclosures - DR. MICHELE HAVENS has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.

Objectives

1. List at least three areas of alignment and three points of divergence between Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and DIR models of intervention.

2. Describe how developmental capacities (e.g., regulation, engagement, symbolic thinking) may function as variables influencing behavioral assessment and goal selection.

3. Select at least two strategies for incorporating relationship-based and developmental considerations into behavior intervention plans while maintaining measurable outcomes.

4. Analyze a case example and identify one modification to an existing ABA program that integrates developmental principles.

5. Identify one ethical consideration related to interdisciplinary collaboration consistent with the BACB Ethics Code.

Agenda

7:00 PM xxxxx

How to Obtain Your CE Certificate:

You MUST attend the webinar from start to finish
You MUST submit the evaluation form after the webinar (will be sent via email)

ADDITIONAL FOR ASHA CEUs: You MUST answer the quiz after the workshop (this will be included in the evaluation form as another section).

You will receive your certificate/credits within 48 hours after fulfilling the above requirements via email.

For ASHA, your CE Credits will be reflected on your CE Registry account within 45 days after you fulfill the above requirements, and after we send your registration info to their team.

This Webinar Offers The Following CE Certificate/Credits

You will select your Certificate or Credit Type after you pay the registration fee. After that, you'll be redirected to a form where you’ll be prompted to choose the Certificate/Credit Type you wish to receive.

1.0 CTLE CONTACT HOURS

New York State Education Department, Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE)

Provider Code #23394

Approval Period: 3/29/22 - 3/29/2027

Young Child Learning is recognized by the New York State Education Department's Office of Teaching Initiatives as an approved sponsor of CTLE for Professional Classroom Teachers, School Leaders and Level III Teaching Assistants.

1.0 NYSED SW CONTACT HOURS

New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work (NYSED SW)

Provider Code #0365

Approval Period: 8/31/25 - 8/31/28

Young Child Learning is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. Young Child Learning maintains responsibility for the program. Social work professionals should contact their regulatory board to confirm course approval for continuing education credits.

This program is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUS (Introductory Level)

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

ASHA Certification Maintenance Standards require that all certificate holders (CCC-A and CCC-SLP) must accumulate 30 Certificate Maintenance Hours (CMHs) of professional development during each 3-year certification maintenance interval in order to maintain their ASHA Certificates of Clinical Competence (CCC).

1.0 ASWB CE CREDITS (INTERMEDIATE LEVEL)

Association of Social Work Boards
(ASWB)

Provider Code #1366
Approval Period: 3/30/25-3/30/28

Young Child Learning, #1366, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/22-3/30/25. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 General continuing education credits.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel within 30 days before the event, the registration fee is not refundable. However, you will receive a credit for the registration fee which can be applied to another Young Child Learning event within the following 12 months. The processing fee is non-refundable.

Speaker's Biography

Dr. Michele Havens holds an Ed.D. from Rutgers University and is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and certified DIR/Floortime practitioner. With a background in speech pathology, audiology, and special education, she brings a multidisciplinary lens to autism intervention. Dr. Havens is a DIR/Floortime Consultant at Imagine Academy and serves as Associate Faculty for Profectum and an Expert Trainer for ICDL. She is Professor Emeritus from Montclair State University and Daemen University and currently serves as an adjunct professor at Kean University. In addition to teaching, she works as a private interventionist and advocate for children with complex developmental profiles and facilitates a parent support group in New Jersey. Her work focuses on ethical, developmentally grounded, and collaborative approaches that bridge behavioral and relationship-based models of care.

Host's Biography

Dr. Scott Mesh is the Director of Young Child Learning and the CEO and Co-Founder of Los Niños Services which serves 2,000 young children with special needs each year through homecare and center services. He is a Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with young children and their families and is an expert on assessing young children for developmental disabilities and autism. He has helped thousands of parents over the years make the transition to gaining help for their children through early childhood special education services. He is a leader in early childhood development and working effectively with parents.

System Requirements

You can access this webinar from various devices and platforms, on both PC and Mac desktops/laptops, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices. Our system requirements for these follow below.

Minimum system requirements

Browser: The latest Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or Opera for desktop/laptop
A broadband connection with a minimum speed of 5 Mbps

PC specific requirements

Platform: Windows 8.1 or higher with the latest updates installed
RAM: 4GB or more
Video: Graphics output capability
Sound: Sound output capability

Mac specific requirement

Platform: Mac OS X 10.12 or higher with the latest updates installed
RAM: 4GB or more
Video: Graphics output capability
Sound: Sound output capability

Mobile specific requirements

iOS 15.0 and above
Android 7.0 and above

Grievance Policy & Procedure

Young Child Learning will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants.

The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of Young Child Learning. All grievances must be submitted in writing (via e-mail or mail) within 7 days after purchase of the webinar. Any supporting documents must be included with the submitted complaint.

For all grievances, contact information (name, phone number, and email) must be provided in the case that the Young Child Learning team may need clarification.

Submit complaints in writing to Young Child Learning, 505 8th Avenue, Floor 12A Room 02, New York, NY 10018 or via email at [email protected].

Special Accommodations or Requests

Individuals in need of special accommodations should contact the Admin, Cari Laroza at (212) 787-9700 ext. 3330 to make a request. Include name, contact info, webinar details, and accommodation needs. Our team will review requests and respond within 7-12 business days. Confidentiality is maintained. Compliance with ADA is assured.

Requests for special accommodations must be made prior to purchasing the webinar.

Individuals will be informed if the request can be accommodated. Once the individual confirms, the special accommodations will be secured. If the individual finds that they no longer need of the accommodations, they must inform the Admin.