SLP & ABA Collaboration: Working Across Disciplines to Support Communication

Melanie Olson Giles, Jennifer Rumfola and Noor Syed examine how colleagues can align communication targets across speech-language pathology and ABA. The recording connects shared terminology, assessment and data with spoken examples involving worksheet-related behavior and collaboration on speech sounds.

Presenter biographies: Melanie Olson Giles, Jennifer Rumfola, Noor Syed.

MANDATORY DISCLAIMER: The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (“BACB”) does not sponsor, approve, or endorse Special Learning, the materials, information, or sessions identified herein.

The terminology discussion pairs requesting with manding, sound imitation with echoic responding, and labeling with tacting. The panel then compares standardized speech-language testing, developmental guides and behavioral curriculum assessments.

A worksheet example examines the relationship between task demands, escape and a communication response serving the same function. A later passage describes combining speech-sound expertise, shaping and data collection when discussing a closer vocal approximation.

What does this recording cover?

• The panel discusses professional competence, consultation and referrals as boundaries for collaboration.
• Terminology examples connect speech-language targets with verbal-behavior terms.
• The goal discussion covers conditions, observable behavior, mastery criteria, maintenance and generalization.
• The sound-shaping passage describes speech-language input alongside behavioral measurement.

Recording context: The recording date is unknown, and the session offers spoken collaboration examples without a full jointly managed case with outcome data.

Three selected learner comments

The six-item evaluation mean was 4.37/5 across 20 complete responses, from 196 recorded rating responses. This mean includes only complete six-score responses. Source: Special Learning's course evaluation records, snapshot October 11, 2026.

Three selected anonymous responses appear below, with the wording and spelling retained. They describe learners' experiences and requests; they are not a guarantee of results or a claim that these comments represent every learner.

Maybe an example of how the SLP and BA work together on a case.

Course evaluation response, 2023

Update to more current information from 2023

Course evaluation response, 2023

Please review each slide. Slides are out of order online.

Course evaluation response, 2023

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