Alexandra Comărniceanu has 15 years of experience in the field of applied behavioral analysis (ABA). She completed a master degree in ABA at the Bangor University, UK, and became a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) in 2012.
She was a lecturer both at conferences in Romania, and in the United Kingdom, and gave trainings in various European countries. In addition, her activity consists in monitoring ABA therapy programs at home, in supervising the centers that use ABA therapy (both in Romania and other countries), in integrating people with autism spectrum disorder and other deficiencies in schools and kindergartens, as well as in the supervision of persons wishing to obtain the following certifications: BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst), BCaBa (Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst), and RBT (Registered Behavior Technician). She also works in the field of education, where she collaborates with schools and kindergartens that want to use ABA to streamline their work.
Abstract of the conference presentation
Joint Attention: What Is It, Why Is It Essential, and How We Teach It?
ABA is a science that allows the teaching of various skills, significant from a social point of view. One of the areas of interest is joint attention, which leads to an important increase in the quality of life for beneficiaries. Some of the component skills are: the ability to transfer our attention from an object to the communication partner and back, the ability to repeat a behavior in order to maintain social interaction; the ability to follow the direction of a person’s gaze, and also the direction in which she points with the finger etc.
The purpose of this presentation is to provide more information about joint attention and its importance, to discuss the assessment of skills associated with this area, and to suggest various ways in which joint attention can be taught to children with autism spectrum disorder. In recent years, this area has begun to be studied more and more, due to the significant impact regarding the evolution of the individual, so it is important that the research results help us establish and structure the objectives of the personalized intervention plans.