About the Event: Behaviour Analysis at Scale
May 30th, 2026 at 11am MST
Exploring system-level factors that impact access to services, workforce capacity, and equity within the ABA field in Canada.
Despite strong evidence for effectiveness at the individual level, Behaviour Analysis in Canada continues to experience challenges related to access, workforce capacity, and equity. This presentation applies a behavioural systems framework to examine how large‑scale service outcomes are selected and maintained. Using public administrative data, analyses of workforce distribution and school board financial reports reveal regional disparities, persistent underspending of ABA education funds, and variation in workforce capacity. These findings are contextualized using emerging national data on ABA education, regulation, and workforce development, including survey and interview data from practitioners across provinces. Results highlight how macro‑ and metacontingencies operating at policy and organizational levels shape access to services, underscoring the need to apply behaviour‑analytic tools at the systems level to support equitable and sustainable service delivery.
Following the presentation, we’ll have a discussion with Nicole. She would love to hear people’s general experiences with job titles, practice, funding mechanisms, risks and potential harm to consumers. She is particularly interested in things people think are unique to their region (e.g. challenges in rural and remote areas, serving newcomers, access to french language resources). This would be a great time raise questions or concerns related to regulation and credentialling.
About the Speaker:
Nicole Neil, PhD, RBA(Ont.), BCBA-D, is Associate Dean of Research and Coordinator of the Master of Professional Education in Applied Behaviour Analysis in the Faculty of Education at Western University. Her research focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to supporting children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Dr. Neil leads and collaborates on funded research examining inclusive education, community inclusion, and developmental disability policy, with a strong emphasis on improving real-world service systems. She also played a leadership role in the professional regulation of behaviour analysis in Ontario and continues to contribute to initiatives aimed at strengthening accountability, access, and quality in disability services.
Join us In-Person or Virtually
In-Person Option: Join us at The Center for Autism Services Alberta (9353 59 St NW Unit #1, Edmonton AB). Social Event to follow!
Virtual Option: Eventbrite link provided as you register for the event.
Tickets and details can be found on our Eventbrite page linked in the button below. We look forward to seeing you there!
