Episode 13 Embedded Instruction, Joyful Learning & the Evolution of ABA

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Ilene Schwartz, Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington and founding developer of the Project DATA model. With more than four decades of experience, Dr. Schwartz reflects on the evolution of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the rise of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), and what it really means to support children with autism through compassionate, developmentally grounded practice. Dr. Schwartz shares stories from her early days at the May Institute and her graduate work at the University of Kansas, all the way through building inclusive NDBI programs at the University of Washington. She challenges outdated practices and offers a modern, deeply humanistic vision for behavior analysis today.