In Part 1 of this 2 part session, Kelle Rich will provide an analysis of social skills from early childhood through elementary. Through lecture and video examples, participants will learn the developmental stages of play and barriers to play and socialization in children with Autism. Participants will learn pre-requisite skills to teaching play and socialization including how to utilize the scientific principles of pairing and manding. Additionally, a scope and sequence of when and how to add peers to training and the components of play will be examined. Additionally- Participants will learn ABA research-based strategies for teaching play and social skills including video-modeling and Peer Mediated Instruction.

Kelle Rich, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA graduated from Texas Christian University with a BS in Study of Exceptional Students in 1992. While she was in high school and college, she worked at a residential treatment center specializing in patients with Autism. Upon graduation, she worked as a special education teacher for Carollton-Farmers Branch ISD. In 1995, Kelle took a sabbatical from the district and started her Master’s program with a UNESCO awarded grant through Syracuse University in Rome, Italy. She then returned to the states and finished her Master’s in Behavior Interventions from The University of North Texas in 1996. She returned to CFB-ISD in several roles throughout her tenure there including Crisis Interventionist, Behavior Specialist and Autism Specialist.

Kelle began training with Dr. Vince Carbone, BCBA-D and was a charter recipient in the first group of Texas Certified Behavior Analysts in 1999. She worked as Dr. Carbone’s Associate over the next decade travelling the world working with children with special needs and training their families, schools and therapists on utilizing the science of ABA and Verbal Behavior in the treatment of Autism and other Developmental Disabilities. She has also had the opportunity to work closely with many leaders in our field such as Dr. Mark Sundberg, BCBA-D and Dr. Patrick McGreevy, BCBA-D.

Kelle has also participated in several applied research studies conducted at CTAC and presented at national and international conferences. Kelle continues to serve as Founder and consultant to CTAC and the VBC. She is a sought-after speaker at major professional conferences and has been featured on NBC, CBS and Fox News as an expert in the field.

Kelle is also a long-standing member of the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis and serves on both the Public Policy Committee and the Professional Issues Committee. She is a member of CEC, ABAI, APBA and serves on the Professional Board of Directors of the Autism Society of Texas. She has been a grant recipient from Autism Speaks for “Healthy Life Choices for people with Autism”, a fitness and wellness program she piloted at CTAC.