Maurice Feldman, Professor and Director of the Centre for Applied Disability Studies and cross-appointed Professor of Child and Youth Studies at Brock University, was recently appointed as the first behaviour analyst on a provincial expert committee focused on autism.

The Ontario government created the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Clinical Expert Committee in 2012 to help ensure that children and young people with ASD get the right supports and treatment.

Award-winning and extensively published with expertise in behaviour disorders, ASD, developmental disabilities and parenting, Feldman is a leading expert in his field.

He is the only behaviour analyst on the committee.

“As a scientist-practitioner who is both a registered clinical psychologist and a board-certified behaviour analyst (doctoral level), I see my role as providing insider expertise in the latest advances in applied behaviour analysis for children with autism spectrum disorders,” Feldman said.

“I also hope to learn from the other experts on the committee and together synthesize and analyze research findings to inform policy and practice.”

The committee is comprised of researchers, academics and clinical experts from a wide range of disciplines. It provides ongoing clinical guidance and expert advice on up-to-date and evidence-based research for policy design, program development and best practices for children and young people with ASD.

“Ontario has led the way in providing publicly-funded applied behaviour analysis services and is the largest single payer of such services in the world, serving thousands of children with ASD,” Feldman said.

In June 2016, the Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of Children and Youth Services, announced a historic investment in autism services in Ontario, providing children more flexible services catered to individual needs and maximizing the amount of services available to enhance treatment and significantly reduce wait times.

Feldman said he is excited and honoured to participate in the committee and is looking forward to helping enhance the lives of children and families in Ontario.

“The Clinical Expert Committee can continue to identify empirically supported interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders and critically appraise popular, but unsupported interventions to ensure that public funds are invested where they can have the biggest impact for children and families.”

Feldman will attend his first committee meeting on Friday.

Information on ASD resources in Ontario is available at www.children.gov.on.ca.