Built on Progress, ABCaba 2026 Clinical Conference Highlights

Action Behavior Centers hosted its annual clinical conference, ABCaba, on October 16-17, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. ABCaba brings together Board Certified Behavior Analysts® (BCBAs®), Clinical Directors, and other clinical leaders from across ABC for two days of learning and connection. Rising Stars, Registered Behavior Technicians® (RBTs®) working toward BCBA certification through ABC’s Everest Program, were also invited to attend.

This year's theme was "Built on Progress: We Design the Blueprint. We set the foundation. We model the way." It reflects how ABC approaches clinical growth. Our clinicians set individualized goals with families, help children build skills on a foundation of evidence-based applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy, and model the care they want to see across the field.

That work starts with training. ABC invests in ongoing clinical education so teammates can keep growing and give autistic children and their families high-quality care in every session. Here are the highlights from two days of learning, celebrating, and giving back in Denver.

BCBA continuing education sessions from ABA leaders

ABCaba attendees could earn continuing education units (CEUs) across six sessions. Each one connected research and clinical practice back to the children and families our teammates support every day.

What Your Technicians Wish You Knew: Building the Future of ABA from the Front Lines

Jeron Trotman, BCBA, LBA, IBA, Founder and President of Black Men in Behavior Analysis, focused on RBTs, the teammates who work alongside children in every session. He shared the four things frontline teammates need from their clinical leaders: “Prepare me. Hear me. Back me. Help me.” BCBAs who supervise RBTs left the session with a practical framework they can use to support their teams.

Benchmarking School Placement and Adaptive Behavior Outcomes

Linda LeBlanc, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Executive Director of the Action Institute for Outcomes Research (AIoR), shared recent peer-reviewed research on assessment tools. She showed how these tools guide clinical decisions at ABC and help BCBAs measure outcomes like school placement and adaptive behavior over time. You can explore more of AIoR’s work on ABA outcomes research.

BUILDing Meaningful Outcomes

Donna Goodman, BCBA, LBA, Senior Regional Clinical Director at ABC in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, asked clinicians to look at signs of happiness and unhappiness when they review a child’s progress. Her session was a reminder that skill gains matter most when they also support a child’s quality of life.

Two Generations, One Vision: The Power of Hope in Behavior Analysis

Patricia Wright, Ph.D., BCBA-D, and Jenn Cook, BCBA, LBA, co-presented on the role hope plays in ABA services, both for families and for the clinicians who walk alongside them. Wright is Executive Director of Proof Positive: Autism Wellbeing Alliance and a member of ABC’s Clinical Council. Cook is a Senior BCBA Training Leader at ABC. 

Humility & Compassion: The Big Ideas Behind Meaningful Outcomes

ABC trains and credentials RBTs and BCBAs in PFA/SBT as part of its commitment to compassionate care in ABA. Gregory Hanley, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA, ABC’s Executive Director of Compassionate Care, explained the big ideas behind Practical Functional Assessment and Skill-Based Treatment (PFA/SBT) and shared what ABC’s data shows. Teaching a child to use communication in place of challenging behaviors once took months. “Now it takes the clinicians at ABC less than an hour,” Dr. Hanley said. “Some children are ready to move to table activities within hours of starting SBT, and almost every child in ABC’s SBT groups has been able to do so within three weeks.” ABC trains and credentials RBTs and BCBAs in PFA/SBT as part of its commitment to compassionate care in ABA.

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Autism parent panel with moms from “Love on the Spectrum”

The sixth session brought families’ voices to the center of the room. ABC welcomed three mothers from Netflix’s “Love on the Spectrum”: Nicci Smith, Christine Romeo, and Lise Smith. ABC’s Chief Clinical Officer, Charna Mintz, Ph.D., BCBA-D, led the conversation.

Our speakers shared what it was like to navigate their children’s autism diagnoses, advocate for them at every stage, and find a community of support. They also celebrated the adults their children have become. For our teammates, the panel was a reminder that families are equal partners in care. Every goal a BCBA sets is part of a much longer story, one that keeps unfolding well into adulthood.

Community Impact Event: supporting autistic adults in Denver

Every ABCaba includes a Community Impact Event that gives back to the conference’s host city. This year, ABC teammates partnered with Treeline Pass, a Denver-area nonprofit that supports autistic adults who have aged out of school-based services.

Hundreds of ABC teammates assembled more than 600 bags of hygiene and personal care items. They also designed more than 700 decorative tiles with handwritten notes of encouragement. The tiles will be displayed at Treeline Pass’ home base, where the adults and team members there will see them every day. Adults from Treeline Pass will deliver the care kits to Meals on Wheels recipients, giving back to their own community. ABC also made a charitable donation to support Treeline Pass’ work.

From locations in Greenwood Village and Denver, Treeline Pass offers day habilitation, prevocational training, supported employment, and in-house behavioral services. Its team is trained in the principles of ABA and supervised by a BCBA, the same clinical foundation ABC uses with autistic children.

During the event, ABC Chief Executive Officer Hersh Sanghavi welcomed conference attendees and introduced Treeline Pass’ story. Treeline Pass Executive Director Jason Gold then shared how the organization helps adults build new skills, find jobs, form friendships, and speak up for themselves.

“When school-based services end, families need a place where their adult children can keep learning and growing,” said Gold. “Support from partners like Action Behavior Centers helps us close the funding gap so every person we serve gets the support they need to build a life with purpose.”

Night of Honor: 2026 ABC teammate award winners

On Saturday evening, teammates from across ABC gathered in Denver for Night of Honor. This annual ceremony recognizes teammates whose care, leadership, and commitment to excellence make a difference for the children, families, and teammates they support every day.

This year’s core value awards celebrated teammates in four categories: caring, team, learning, and excellence. Two special awards rounded out the night. The Astra Via Award recognizes a teammate who is growing in their career with purpose and passion. The Legacy Award goes to just one honoree each year. It recognizes a teammate or community member who is committed to both lifelong learning and lifelong teaching.

Congratulations to our 2026 honorees:

• Caring Award: Maria Sofia Ramirez and Meghan Jean
• Team Award: Kali Winters and Caitlin Corder
• Learning Award: Alyssa Ayala and Marcus Hines
• Excellence Award: Alayne Santos and Alyssa Castillo
• Astra Via Award: Famus Hasty
• Legacy Award: Dr. Linda LeBlanc

Each of these teammates shows what it means to be Built on Progress. 

Clinical training and career growth for BCBAs and RBTs at ABC

ABCaba is one of the ways ABC invests in its teammates. Clinicians at ABC have access to ongoing clinical training, CEU opportunities, and leadership pathways that help them grow at every stage of their careers. They can also train and earn credentials in PFA/SBT through ABC’s Compassion in Action team.

When our clinicians keep learning, families benefit. Teammates bring current best practices in ABA, clearer data, and new strategies back to their centers. That helps them set individualized goals with families, track progress, and adjust support as each child grows.

Thank you to every speaker, family, partner, and teammate who helped build this year’s conference. And a special thank-you to the teams who planned every detail behind the scenes. We can’t wait to see what we build together next year.

Interested in growing your career in ABA? View ABC careers or learn more about our paid Everest Program for aspiring BCBAs.

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