Thirteen ASD researchers representing diverse backgrounds collaborated recently on a consensus statement coining the term “Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI)” to characterize evidence-based interventions for young children that integrate components of behavioral and developmental science. This move serves the purposes of clarifying the misconception that “applied behavior analysis” is synonymous with “discrete trial training,” as well as describing the common features of the NDBIs, which include a focus on improving core social-communicative skills, teaching in naturalistic settings, and using prompts and natural reinforcement.
In this recent podcast by the Autism Science Foundation, Drs. Laura Schreibman and Alycia Halladay discuss the importance of this paper as a step toward delineating more clearly defined, parsimonious categories of interventions to increase awareness in parents, insurance companies and early intervention providers. Dr. Brooke Ingersoll is an author of this paper; she developed Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT) and Project ImPACT, two interventions that the READi Lab is using in our current research projects!