Graham Behavior Services will be at the Autism NJ Conference on October 22-23 at Harrah’s Conference Center in Atlantic City. Stop by our exhibitor table to connect with our team, and catch two presentations from GBS clinicians throughout the event.
Beyond “Cry It Out”: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Behavioral Sleep Consultation
Presented by Jilian DeTiberiis, M.A., BCBA, Certified Sleep Coach
Sleep challenges are common among individuals with developmental disabilities, and many also carry co-occurring trauma histories. Traditional “cry it out” approaches, while frequently recommended, can unintentionally trigger trauma-related responses in young learners. Jilian will introduce behavioral sleep consultation strategies that combine applied behavior analysis with trauma-sensitive practices, focusing on assent-based care, environmental safety, compassionate functional assessment, and caregiver collaboration. The session will cover trauma-informed functional assessment of sleep-interfering behaviors, modifications to extinction-based procedures, ways to build in choice-making, and systematic desensitization to bedtime routines. Attendees will leave with practical, ethically grounded strategies for designing sleep interventions that support both sleep goals and psychological safety.
Rapport and Outcomes: Parent-Provider Collaboration in Autism Services
Panel discussion with Cara Graham, Jilian DeTiberiis, Lisa Weingrad, Nadine Wright-Arbubakrr, Mitchel Baum, and Patricia Miller
Trust and collaboration between families and providers shape how well autism services actually work, not just how well they’re designed. This 90-minute session, built for parents and professionals alike, opens with a data-informed look at concepts like social validity, behavioral artistry, and compassionate care, then moves into a moderated panel featuring both parent and provider perspectives. The conversation will explore what builds trust, what gets in the way of it, and how to repair collaboration when it breaks down, with room for audience questions throughout. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of how everyday interactions shape working relationships, along with concrete strategies for strengthening collaboration in their own settings.
