William L. Heward

William L. Heward, Ed.D., BCBA-D, is Professor Emeritus in the College of Education and Human Ecology at The Ohio State University. He has taught at universities in Brazil, Japan, Portugal, and Singapore and lectured or given workshops in 25 other countries. A Past President and Fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Bill’s publications include co-authoring the books, Applied Behavior Analysis, Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education, and Let’s Make a Contract: A Positive Way to Change Your Child’s Behavior. Awards recognizing Dr. Heward's contributions to behavior analysis and education include the Fred S. Keller Behavioral Education Award from the American Psychological Association's Division 25 and the Ellen P. Reese Award for Communication of Behavioral Concepts from the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. Bill’s research interests include promoting the generalization and maintenance of newly learned skills, increasing the effectiveness of group instruction, and improving the success of students with disabilities in general education classrooms.

Presentation at the ABA International Conference 2025

ABA from A-to-Z: Behavior Science Applied to 350 Domains of Socially Significant Behavior

Abstract:

Seventy years ago, Skinner proposed that behavior analysis could be a general-purpose science relevant to the entire human experience. Pioneering experiments testing Skinner’s thesis in the 1950s and early 1960’s laid the groundwork for applied behavior analysis (ABA), the practical wing of behavior science. An inventory of the wide range of socially significant behaviors that behavior analysts have addressed shows the science’s growth, scope, and promise. Although advocates claim ABA has world-changing potential, beyond a few exceptions, large-scale impact has been limited. Using advice from the field’s founding generation, this talk will suggest actions behavior analysts can take to help fulfill ABA’s tremendous promise to help make the world a better place.