2026-06-25 at 330PM ET  • Self-Determination as Standard of Care

Self-Determination as Standard of Care: Clinical and Collective Responsibility

Breana Kelly, LCSW, BCBA, LBA • 2 Learning, 2 IBAO

Disabled individuals are often introduced to their disability through limitations—being told what they cannot do and what futures may not be available to them. For Black individuals with co-occurring neurodevelopmental and behavioral health needs, these experiences are compounded by stigma, systemic inequities, and disproportionate exposure to polypharmacy and restrictive interventions. African-centered practices that focus on self-determination and liberation are the perfect antidote to this.

This skills-based session centers self-determination as a guiding principle for behavior analytic practice. Drawing from African-centered perspectives, self-determination is framed as honoring individual agency while remaining grounded in family, community, and collective responsibility. Participants will engage in applied learning focused on using behavior analytic skills to advocate alongside Black clients and caregivers across psychiatric, behavioral, and community systems.

This work must begin with historical context and the necessity of our role. The history of Black disability in America is drenched in Black blood, Black Bodies, and Black discrimination. Medical, educational, political, and cultural systems have long positioned Black and disabled individuals as inferior, burdensome, and disposable, resulting in compounded harm and worse outcomes. Behavior analysts are often called into cases during periods of heightened vulnerability—when individuals are experiencing challenging behaviors, psychiatric instability, or system-level barriers. Yet many practitioners are not trained to support client voice or navigate interdisciplinary advocacy.

Attendees will review practical strategies, including using data to inform interdisciplinary treatment discussions, developing goals that promote self-determination, and supporting caregivers through training and collaboration. Participants will review concrete, teachable skills that equip clients and caregivers to advocate for themselves, positioning behavior analysts as leaders in culturally responsive, client-centered care for Black individuals and families. Participants will deepen their understanding of self-determination, grounded in African-centered principles, as a transferable clinical skill that advances Black individuals and families, particularly in complex care settings.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Describe at least two historical and current factors that contribute to disparities in care for Black individuals with co-occurring neurodevelopmental and behavioral health needs.
• Define self-determination from an African-centered perspective and state one way it informs behavior analytic advocacy.
• Demonstrate use of data-informed methods to support interdisciplinary collaboration and guide self-determination-focused care.
• Identify at least three client or caregiver education strategies, skills acquisition targets, or that promote self-determination