About The Analyst
Dr. Elia Santos, Ed.D., BCBA
With more than 14 years of experience in human services and a foundation in behavioral science, exceptional student education, and psychology, I have dedicated over 10 years to serving children and families in Central Florida as an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapist. My work involves providing services to children aged 2 to 15 across various environments, including private and public schools, in-home and community services, ABA clinics, and daycare facilities. I have a strong passion for mentorship and training candidates pursuing their BCBA certification and am deeply committed to empowering parents through practical behavior analytic training and equipping educators with effective strategies for managing behavior in the classroom. Recently, I earned a Doctor of Education degree with a specialization in Executive Leadership from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, and I am eager to contribute to the education of future clinicians, educators, and leaders.
Behavior Program Focus
EFBA uses the principles of applied behavior analysis to teach children with developmental disabilities and train caregivers in the natural environment. An emphasis is placed on Functional Communication Training, the development of social and emotional skills, and the generalization of skill acquisition to enhance habilitation.
One of the most effective ways to enhance verbal behavior, social and learned skill-sets is to teach (generalize) across multiple settings, people and circumstances (Geiger, Carr, LeBlanc, Hanney, Polick & Heinicke, 2012).
"Natural Environment Teaching refers to instruction that can occur throughout the day at opportune moments in naturally occurring contexts" (LeBlanc, Esch, Sidener & Firth, 2006).
Functional Communication is an intervention in which an appropriate use of communication is taught as a means of replacing problem behavior (Cooper, Heron & Heward, 2007).
"Habilitation involves teaching the skills needed to live as independently as possible" (Bannerman, Sheldon, Sherman, & Harchik, 1990).
Social and Emotional Development: We use AIM, a behavioral analytic assessment and curriculum designed to foster social-emotional development in children. "AIM blends together Applied Behavior Analysis and the concepts of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-an empirical behavior analytic approach to intervention for vocal/verbally able individuals who need excessive rule-governed behavior to be diminished so that they can contact and be regulated by direct contingencies in their environment" ( Dixon & Paliliunas, 2017).
Professional Vignette and Ethical Promise
On my honor, I will serve my community under the professional and ethical compliance code for behavior analysts. It will be my duty to uphold every client’s need for habilitation and treat and surround each person with the dignity and kindness that they deserve. I will never lose sight of my purpose-to continue using behavioral science to help my clients live a joyful, functional, and independent life.