UK ABA Autism Education Competence Framework

The UK ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) Autism Education Competence Framework is for practitioners working with children and young people with autism. The project has been funded by Ambitious about Autism, the national charity for children and young people with autism, primarily through generous grant donations. A project management group, led by Ambitious about Autism and including Bangor University and a parent member, worked with the support of, and in collaboration with, key stakeholders from the ABA and autism communities across the UK.

The UK ABA Autism Education Competence Framework

Download the UK ABA Autism Education Competence Framework (PDF 1.14MB).

The Framework was discussed in an article entitled Developing a Competence Framework for ABA and Autism: What Can we Learn From Others? (PDF 469KB) in the Summer 2011 issue of the European Journal of Behavior Analysis journal.

What is the UK ABA Autism Education Competence Framework?

The UK ABA Autism Education Competence Framework is a detailed framework of the knowledge and demonstrable behaviours (i.e., things that can be demonstrated to another person) that are important for anyone in UK education settings working with children and young people with autism using ABA.

The Framework will provide a clear, professional development pathway for those wishing to pursue a career in ABA working with children with autism, compatible with the internationally recognised Behaviour Analyst Certification Board (BACB®) credentialing but will also, as a later development, map onto the UK Qualifications and Credit Framework. 

As a result of the Framework it is envisaged that:

  • More children and young people with autism will benefit from high-quality, evidence-based education delivered by competent professionals.
  • Practitioners will benefit from professional development and occupational standards.
  • Parents and organisations supporting the education of children and young people with autism will be able to employ practitioners with a greater degree of certainty about competence and quality.
  • Education providers and the academic community will have a greater understanding of the nature and use of ABA in educational practice for children with autism.

Who is the Framework for?

The UK ABA Autism Education Framework is relevant to anyone who works with, provides services for, or is a recipient of services for children or young people with autism using ABA.

The Framework is also useful for training providers who may wish to identify, and develop assessments of, competencies. The Framework may also be useful to inform the development of qualifications for those who work with children and young people with autism.

Who’s behind the project?

Ambitious about Autism hosts and manages the UK ABA Autism Education Competencies Project, supported by Professor Richard Hastings, Professor of Psychology at Bangor University. ABA service providers across the UK are partners in the project, and an Advisory Group draws on the experience and expertise of parents of children with autism and other stakeholders.

Advisory Group meetings are attended by the Management Group.

The first three years of the project has been made possible thanks to generous funding from several funders.

Useful links