Transform Your BCBA Practice

1. Applied Behavior Analysis – Cooper, Heron & Heward

Why I Love It: This is the foundational textbook for ABA professionals and the gold standard for board exam prep. I still revisit it to brush up on core concepts like reinforcement schedules, stimulus control, and motivating operations.

Use It For:

• BCBA exam prep
• Supervision
• Conceptual understanding

2. Early Intervention for Children With ASD: Considerations – S.K. Lund & Alan Schnee

Why I Love It: I had the privilege of being personally trained by Stein K. Lund, who worked with me to implement many of the individualized programs discussed in this book. It's an essential guide for those delivering early intervention, with deep insights into planning and customizing effective ABA goals.

Use It For:

• Building meaningful early intervention programs
• Designing individualized treatment goals
• Applying evidence-based considerations for young learners

3. The Big Book of ABA Programs

Why I Love It: Packed with ready-made skill acquisition programs that are easy to individualize. It's my go-to when I need a solid foundation and want to avoid writing goals from scratch.

Use It For:

• Skill acquisition planning
• Program development
• Goal writing

4. A Work in Progress – Lovaas & McEachin

Why I Love It: This classic book provides step-by-step instructions for implementing DTT and managing challenging behaviors. A must-have for any ABA provider working intensively with young learners.

Use It For:

• DTT programs
• Behavior management
• Treatment planning

5. Crafting Connections – Taubman, Leaf & McEachin

Why I Love It: A guide for building meaningful social interactions using a behavioral framework. Perfect for teens and adults on the spectrum.

Use It For:

• Structuring social skills programs
• Teaching indirect behaviors
• Generalization across real-life environments

6. VB-MAPP (2nd Edition, 6th Printing) – Mark L. Sundberg

Why I Love It: A must-have assessment for evaluating verbal behavior, learning barriers, and social skills. Helps create targeted, evidence-based ABA intervention plans.

Use It For:

• Conducting verbal behavior assessments
• Treatment planning
• Measuring progress in ABA therapy

7. The Verbal Behavior Approach – Mary Barbera & Tracy Rasmussen

Why I Love It: A practical, ABA-based guide to teaching communication using Skinner's verbal operants. Great for BCBAs and parents alike.

Use It For:

• Teaching functional communication
• Language development programs
• Parent coaching

8. Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents (3rd Edition) – Dawson & Guare

Why I Love It: Offers practical tools for assessing and improving executive functioning skills like planning, memory, and emotional regulation.

Use It For:

• Targeted assessments
• Intervention planning
• Improving time management and task initiation

9. Skillstreaming Series – Ellen McGinnis

These books are behavior-analytic, step-by-step guides for teaching prosocial skills using modeling, role-playing, and reinforcement:

Why I Love Them: Each level targets the specific needs of the population served and offers clear implementation strategies ideal for 1:1 or group sessions.

Use Them For:

• Teaching social skills across age groups
• ABA-based generalization techniques
• Curriculum planning

10. The PEERS Curriculum – Elizabeth A. Laugeson

Why I Love It: This is a structured social skills program tailored for adolescents with ASD. It's heavily ABA-informed and great for group settings.

Use It For:

• Social skills groups
• Peer relationship coaching
• School-based intervention

11. ABA Visualized Guidebook (2nd Edition) – Morgan & Boudewijn Van Diepen

Why I Love It: Makes complex ABA concepts easy to teach using visuals and clear language. Great for training staff or educating families.

Use It For:

• Parent training
• Supervision support
• Visual learning strategies

12. Ethics for Behavior Analysts (3rd Edition) – Bailey & Burch

Why I Love It: This book is the go-to resource on the BACB Ethics Code, offering clear explanations and real-world case studies to guide ethical decision-making in ABA practice. Bailey and Burch break down complex issues using their signature Seven-Step Model, making it practical for BCBAs, supervisees, and clinicians.

Use It For:

• Navigating ethical dilemmas with structured case examples
• Applying an evidence-based decision-making model in ABA practice
• Preparing supervisees and clinicians for ethical compliance in real-world settings