Webinars

From Research to Practice: Leveraging Research to Strengthen Autism Service Organizations

Monday, October 5, 2026

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Event Details

Abstract

Research plays a critical role in advancing the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of autism services. However, for many provider organizations, research can feel disconnected from the day-to-day realities of clinical operations. This webinar will explore how autism service organizations can move beyond simply consuming research to actively using research as a tool for organizational and clinical decision-making. The presentation will highlight three practical ways research can strengthen autism service organizations. First, there will be a discussion on how organizations can apply research to improve clinical and organizational quality, including using evidence to guide program development, evaluate services, and support continuous quality improvement. Second, we will examine how research can be used to communicate with payers and provide a stronger evidence base for conversations about clinical outcomes and service delivery. Finally, we will provide practical guidance for accessing, interpreting, and evaluating research so that clinical leaders and practitioners can make informed decisions about the evidence they encounter. Together, these perspectives will highlight research as a practical resource for clinical leadership, not simply something to read, but something organizations can use to improve services, communicate their value, and strengthen the quality of care provided to autistic individuals and their families.

Learning Objectives

Describe at least two ways an organization can use research to
guide program development, evaluate services, and support
continuous quality improvement.
Describe how research can be used to strengthen communication
with payers regarding clinical outcomes and service delivery.

This webinar offers 1.0 BACB Learning CEU.

CASP Webinar registration fees are non-refundable. Questions? Contact Us.

Presenters

Melissa Saunders Ed.D., BCBA-D

Melissa S. Saunders, EdD, BCBA-D, is the Chief Operating Officer of Creative Interventions in Windsor, Connecticut, where she oversees focused and comprehensive ABA services and Early Intervention services delivered in homes, schools, and clinics. She is also CEO and co-owner of King's Speech and Learning Center, which provides speech and language services to clients of all ages. Melissa has spent more than 20 years in the field, most of it focused on supervision, leadership, employee retention, and treatment fidelity. She earned her doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Applied Behavior Analysis from Nova Southeastern University, and she writes, publishes, and reviews in the areas of supervision, organizational behavior management, and clinical quality. She is an adjunct professor at Bay Path University and Cambridge College, teaching in master's and doctoral ABA programs. She co-leads the newly founded CASP Research SIG and has served in leadership and volunteer roles with MassABA, CTABA, ABAI, the Autism Partnership Foundation, CASP, the Connecticut Autism Action Coalition, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She has presented nationally and internationally on leadership, supervision, and clinical quality. Melissa comes to this topic from both sides of it. She runs the operations of two provider organizations, with the payer contracts, staffing pressures, and quality systems that come with that, and she also produces and reviews research. That combination is what drives her interest in making research usable for the people making decisions about programs, staff, and services. Outside of work, Melissa fosters cats and kittens, using the science of behavior to get them ready for their forever homes.

Julia Ferguson PhD., BCBA-D

Dr. Julia Ferguson is the Senior Researcher and Director of Assessments at the Autism Partnership Foundation and the Associate Executive Director of the Progressive Behavior Analyst Autism Council. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in behavior analysis from the University of North Texas and her doctorate in applied behavior analysis from Endicott College. She has more than a decade of experience working with autistic children across home, school, community, and clinic settings. Her research examines social skills interventions, staff training, progressive approaches to behavior analytic intervention, and comparisons of teaching methodologies. She has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed articles, books, and book chapters, and serves on the editorial review board of Behavior Analysis in Practice.

Mariel Fernandez M.S., BCBA, LBA

Mariel Fernandez is Vice President of Government Affairs for the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP) and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) licensed in Texas. She earned her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis from Auburn University in 2004. A passionate advocate for access to evidence-based care, Mariel leads CASP’s advocacy, public policy, and legislative efforts at the state and federal levels. She serves on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation Behavior Analyst Advisory Board and is a former President of the Texas Association for Behavior Analysis Public Policy Group. Mariel works closely with state and federal regulatory agencies and legislative offices on issues affecting access to autism services. In 2026, she received the APBA Jerry Shook Award for her efforts to protect access to care for TRICARE and Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide.