from ACT’s 12th Annual Focus on Research
Filmed April 15th, 2016
As professionals working in culturally diverse communities in Metro Vancouver, it is important to consider how we can best deliver culturally-sensitive services to the many families for whom English is not their first language. In an effort to address the need for culturally responsive services, a group of Metro Vancouver professionals have created a workgroup within the International Dissemination committee of the Association for Positive Behavior Support. Over the past year, the group has been working to develop a series of parent training workshops. The goal is to improve the quality of lives for families and their children by empowering families to use PBS strategies in their daily lives in ways that are effective as well as meaningful and acceptable culturally. This presentation will describe a summary of the workgroup’s progress to date and next steps.
Parbs Bains, M.Ed., BCBA
Parbs Bains has 14 years of experience supporting the needs of children with autism and other developmental disabilities in the public school system and in private practice. Parbs is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and holds a Master of Education in Special Education from the University of British Columbia.
Noreen Dunn, M.Ed., BCBA
Noreen Dunn has been supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental in home, school, and community settings for the past 11 years. Noreen is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and holds a Master of Education in Special Education from the University of British Columbia.
Part 1: The Need for Multi-Lingual & Culturally Responsive Service Providers
Part 2: Common Barriers for Culturally Diverse Families
Part 3: Culturally Sensitive Considerations and Supports
- Cultural Assessment Tool: See page 21 of ACT’s Autism Manual for BC, Chapter 13 – Guide to Working with South Asian Families Affected by Autism
ACT Resources
- Search the Autism Information Database (AID),
- ACT in Chinese
- ACT in Punjabi
- Next Steps Guide (English, Korean, Punjabi and Chinese)
Reference: Chen, D., Downing, J. E., & Peckham-Hardin, K. D. (2002). Positive behavior support with families of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds: Considerations for culturally responsive practices. In J. M. Lucyshyn, G. Dunlap, & R. W. Albin (Eds.), Families positive behavior support: Addressing problem behavior in family context (pp. 131- 151). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes. Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Winton, A. S. W., Karazsia
Part 4: Positive Behavioural Support Workgroup
Part 5: Pilot Workshop Plan & Outline
Part 6: Workshop Structure: Mindfulness-Based PBS & Behaviour Skills Training
Reference: Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Winton, A. S. W., Karazsia, B. T., Myers, R. E., Lathan, L. L., & Singh, J. (2014). Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Support (MBPBS) for Mothers of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effects on Adolescents’ Behavior and Parental Stress. Mindfulness, 5, 646-657.