Professor Emeritus
Dr. Maurice Feldman is a Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of Applied Disability Studies. He is a registered clinical psychologist and behaviour analyst in Ontario and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (Doctoral level). He has over 170 peer-review publications and 250 invited addresses, conference presentations/posters, and workshops. He is considered a world-leader on parenting by persons with learning difficulties. The evidence-based Step-by-Step© Parenting Program he and his colleagues developed and evaluated is emulated worldwide. He conducts parenting assessments of parents with learning difficulties and has written the only book on this topic (Feldman & Aunos, 2010). He provides both in person and virtual workshops to train workers in the Step-by-Step© Parenting Program. To learn more about the Step-by-Step Parenting Program, please visit https://brocku.ca/social-sciences/applied-disability-studies/step-by-step-parenting-program/. In addition to his work in parenting, Dr. Feldman has additional clinical expertise and conducts research in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disabilities. He is the lead researcher in the design and validation of a parent-report screener to track early infant development called the Parent Observation of Early Markers Scale (POEMS). The POEMS predicts ASD diagnosis as early as 9 months of age in at-risk children (Feldman et al., 2012) and is used to identify treatment targets for parent-mediated interventions for infants and young children at-risk for ASD (Azzano et al., 2022a, b; Shingleton-Smith et al., 2024). He is currently conducting a study of an online version of the POEMS (called the Parent Observation Checklist). For more information, go to https://brocku.ca/feldman-lab/track-your-childs-development-program/. Prof. Feldman has also published research on the rights of persons with disabilities and treatment of severe behaviour disorders in persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
He is one of the top 2% cited scientists in the world, according to Stanford University. He is a Brock Distinguished Researcher and Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association. He held a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Investigator Award and the Brock Chancellor’s Chair of Research Excellence. He received the United States National Distinguished Disability Researcher Award as well as career research awards from the Ontario Association for Developmental Disabilities (OADD), the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA) and The Association for Successful Parenting (TASP). He received the Hull-Roeher lifetime achievement award from OADD. He was a special advisor to the United States President’s Committee on Intellectual Disabilities, a visiting scholar at the University of Sydney (Australia), Parenting Research Centre (Melbourne, Australia), and the British Psychological Society. He serves as an expert consultant to numerous government departments and service providers. His work has been highlighted in the Canadian and U.S. media.
- Child maltreatment and parenting, particularly related to child neglect and parents with learning difficulties.
- Early identification and intervention for children with or at risk for developmental, behavioural, emotional, psychiatric, and school problems.
- Atypical development, including autism spectrum disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, developmental psychopathology, dual diagnosis.
- Positive behavioural interventions for severe behaviour disorders.
- Parent, teacher and staff training.
- Human rights and disabilities.
- Feldman, M.A., & Aunos, M. (2010). Comprehensive competence-based parenting capacity assessment for parents with learning difficulties. Kingston, NY: NADD Press.
- Griffiths, D., Vyrostko, B., Bennett, S., Feldman, M., Gallagher, T., Marinos, V., Owen, F., Richards, D., Tarulli, D., & Watson, S. (Eds.) (2011). Human rights agenda: An action plan to advance the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities. Welland, ON: 3Rs Community-University Research Alliance.
- Feldman, M.A. (Ed.). (2004). Early intervention: The essential readings. Oxford, UK: Blackwell
- Aunos, M., Feldman, M.. & Pacheco, L. (2024). Capacity-based competency assessment and its impact on child custody cases amongst parents with intellectual disabilities. In A. Bianchi & J.A. Vogt (Eds.). Intellectual disabilities and autism: Ethics and practice. pp. 79-92. Springer.
- Thomson K., Munno, R., Busch, L., & Feldman, M. (in press). Don’t blame the mediator: Keeping applied behaviour analysis doable for best possible outcomes. In K. Maich, C. Hall, & B. Anderson (Eds). People Skills for Behaviour Analysts. Routledge.
- Feldman, M.A., Azzano, A., Vause, T.C., & Ward, R.A. (2022). Early intervention for children at-risk for autism spectrum disorder. In J. Matson & P. Sturmey (eds.), Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorder. Chapter 39. Springer.
- Aunos, M. & Feldman, M.A. (2022). Parenting by persons with intellectual disabilities. R. Condillac, I. Brown & M. Percy (Eds), Developmental disabilities in Ontario. Fourth Edition. Toronto, ON: OADD.
- Anderson, B. M., Vause, T., Tarulli, D., Frijters, J. C., & Feldman, M. (in press). Best practices and clinical recommendations for adapted group cognitive behaviour therapy to treat anxiety and obsessive compulsive behaviours in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal on Developmental Disabilities
- Sheen, H., Vause, T., Neil, N., Anderson, B. M., & Feldman, M. (in press). Functional analysis and treatment of hoarding in a child with autism spectrum disorder. Behavior Analysis in Practice.
- Shingleton-Smith, C., Koudys, J., Azzano, A., & Feldman, M. (2024). Telehealth general case parent training for children with increased likelihood of autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2913 (online)
- Azzano, A., Vause, T., Ward, R.A., & Feldman, M.A. (2023). Telehealth parent training for a young child at-risk for autism spectrum disorder. Behavioral Interventions, 38, 140–158. https://doi-org.proxy.library.brocku.ca/10.1002/bin.1917
- Pacheco, L., McConnell, D., Aunos, M., Feldman, M. (2022). Improving services for parents with intellectual disability and their families: Views of Canadian social service workers. Health & Social Care in the Community. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13982
- Cox, A., Davis, S., & Feldman, M.A. (2022). Medication training for behavior analysts. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 22, 130-142. https://doi.org/10.1037/bar0000240
- Guertin, E. L., Vause, T., Thomson, K., Frijters, J. C., & Feldman, M. A. (2022). Overlapping symptoms in obsessive compulsive disorder and autism spectrum disorder: A behavior analytic conceptual framework. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 22, 81-89. https://doi.org/10.1037/bar0000236
- Azzano, A., Ward, R.A, Vause, T., & Feldman, M.A. (2022). Parent-mediated targeted intervention for young children at-risk for autism spectrum disorder. Infants & Young Children, 35, 320–338. https://doi.org/10.1097/IYC.0000000000000226.
- McConnell, D., More, R., Pacheco, L., Aunos, M., Hahn, L. & Feldman, M. (2022). Childhood experience, family support and parenting by people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 47, 152–164. https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2021.1929880
- McConnell, D., Aunos, M., Pacheco, L., & Feldman, M. (2021). Child welfare interventions: Main and moderating effects of caregiver cognitive impairment. Child Maltreatment, 26, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559520910806
- McConnell, D., Laliberte, T., Aunos, M., Pacheco, L., Feldman, M., Savage, A., Hahn, L. (2021). Screening for parental intellectual disability: A first step in planning and delivering adapted family and social services. Journal of Family Social Work, 24, p.282-298. https://doi.org/10.1080/10522158.2021.1974142
- Pacheco, L., Aunos, M., & Feldman, M., & McConnell, D. (2021). Reasonable efforts? Child maltreatment investigations and service referrals of parents with ascribed cognitive impairments in Canada. Child Maltreatment, 27, p.501-510. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595211001109
- Feldman, M., & Surrey Place Parenting Enhancement Program (2024). Step-by-step parenting program manual: Basic child-care, health, safety, and parent-child interactions for parents and caregivers of children zero-three years of age (3rd Edition)
- Feldman, M.A. (2021). The Family Game: Enhancing parent-child cooperation and rapport to parents with learning problems. Third Edition.
- Ignatova, E., Feldman, M., & Condillac, R. (2019). Province-wide survey of the impact of legislated quality assurance measures on services for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities and challenging behaviours. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 63 (7), Special Issue: Future4All, 686.
- Pacheco, L., Aunos, M., McConnell, D., & Feldman, M. (2019). Building effective support networks to parents with intellectual impairments: understanding the training and resource needs of workers. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 63 (7), Special Issue: Future4All, 777-778.
- McConnell, D., Pacheco, L., Aunos, M., & Feldman, M. (2019). Partner relationships of mothers with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 63 (7), Special Issue: Future4All, 782.
- Hahn, L., McConnell, D., Aunos, M., Feldman, M., & Pacheco, L. (2019). Perceived support and service needs of parents with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 63 (7), Special Issue: Future4All, 784-785.
- Feldman, M.A. (2023, Aug.). Preventing child neglect and premature child removal in at-risk families: Problem and solutions. Solving the US Mental Health Crisis Conference, Omni Inventive Care, Omaha, NE
- Feldman, M.A. (2023, Jun.). Parent early detection and intervention of autism symptoms in at-risk infants. Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing, St. John Fisher University. Online.
- Feldman, M.A. (2023, Apr.). Raising resilient families: Empowering parents with cognitive challenges. Durham College. Online.
- Feldman, M.A. (2023, Jan.). Step-by-Step Parenting. Durham Best Practices Committee. Online
- Feldman, M.A. (2022, Dec.). The Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing Child Neglect in At-risk Families. Waikato University, Hamilton, NZ
- Feldman, M.A. (2022, Nov.). The Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing Child Neglect in At-risk Families. University of Auckland, Auckland, NZ
- Feldman, M.A. (2022, Nov). Parent early detection and intervention of autism signs in infants at-risk. Victoria University Wellington, Wellington, NZ
- Feldman, M.A. (2022, Nov.). The Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing Child Neglect in At-risk Families. Victoria University Wellington, Wellington, NZ
- Feldman, M.A. (2022, Nov.). Supporting the rights of persons with ID to be involved in program development and research as participants and active contributors. Haifa University, Haifa, Israel
- Feldman, M.A. (2022, Sep.). The Step-by-Step Parenting Program to prevent child neglect. Child Protection & Social Services, Akureyri, Iceland.
- Feldman, M.A. (2022, Sep.). Parent early detection and intervention of autism signs in infants at-risk. Icelandic Association for Behavior Analysis, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Feldman, M.A. (2022, Sep.). The Step-by-Step Parenting Program to prevent child neglect. Child Protection & Social Services, , Reykjanesbær, Iceland.
- Feldman, M.A. (2021, Nov.) Empowering families: Parent early detection and intervention of autism signs in infants and young children. Faculty of Social Wellbeing, University of Malta, Malta
- Feldman, M.A., Cappon, A., Corbier, K., Caruana, V., Laronde, M., & Thomson, K. (2024, August). Effectiveness of the Step-by-Step Parenting Program with an infant simulator for expectant parents with intellectual disabilities. International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, World Congress, Chicago, IL.
- Anderson, B. M., Ng, O., Frijters, J., & Feldman, M. (2024, August). Parenting strategies and self-efficacy, and the challenging behavior of autistic, developmentally disabled, and neurotypical children. [Individual presentation accepted]. International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, World Congress, Chicago, IL.
- Anderson, B. M., Vause, T., Tarulli, D., Frijters, J. C., & Feldman, M. (2024, May). Behavioral interventions for reducing obsessive compulsive behaviors in autistic preschoolers. In M. Fryling (Discussant) & N. Neil (Chair), Research gaps and ethical considerations in literature on obsessive-compulsive behavior in autism. Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
- Bishop, C., Guertin, E., Anderson, B. M., Vause, T., Frijters, J. C., Neil, N., & Feldman, M. (2024, May). Factors affecting long-term outcomes of Functional Behavior-based CBT in treating obsessive-compulsive behaviors in autistic children. In M. Fryling (Discussant) & N. Neil (Chair), Research gaps and ethical considerations in literature on obsessive-compulsive behavior in autism. [Symposium accepted] application submitted. Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Conference, Philadelphia, PA
- Anderson, B. M., Vause, T., Tarulli, D., Frijters, J. C., & Feldman, M. (2023, November). Listen up! Attending to child voice in group treatment. [Ignite! presentation]. Ontario Association for Behavior Analysis Conference, Toronto, ON.
- Anderson, B. M., Vause, T., Tarulli, D., Frijters, J. C., & Feldman, M. (2023, May). Best practices and clinical recommendations for adapted group cognitive behavior therapy to treat anxiety and obsessive compulsive behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder. In T. Vause (Chair), Embracing child voice and compassion: Best practices for application of adapted group-based cognitive behavior therapy for children and youth with ASD, anxiety and ADHD. [Symposium]. Association for Behavior Analysis International Annual Conference, Denver, CO.
- Sheen, H., Vause, T., Neil, N., Anderson B. M., & Feldman, M. (2022, December). Functional analysis and treatment of hoarding in a youth with ASD. [Presentation]. Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis Conference, Toronto, ON.
- Shingleton-Smith, C., Koudys, J., Feldman, M., Azzano, A., O’Neill, P., & Randhawa, A. (2022, Sep.) General case telehealth parent training for infants at risk for autism spectrum disorder. In. M. Feldman, Chair, Training parents to do it all: Infant development, sleep, and the Picture Exchange Communication System. The Association for Behavior Analysis International, International conference, Dublin, Ireland
- Bernier, S. L., Thomson, K., Reaven, J., Feldman, M., Makela, T., Susko, M., & De Santis, J. (2022, May). Evaluating virtual training for increasing clinicians’ fidelity of implementation of the Facing Your Fears curriculum. Poster presented at Association for Behavior Analysis International 48th Annual Convention. Boston, USA
- Bernier, S. L., Thomson, K., Reaven, J., Feldman, M., Makela, T., Susko, M., & De Santis, J. (2022, April). Evaluating virtual training for increasing clinicians’ fidelity of implementation of the Facing Your Fears curriculum. Symposium presented at the Research Special Interest Group Meeting of the Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities. Online.
- Feldman, M. (2024, Apr.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing Child Neglect in At-risk Families. Anchor Rehabilitation Support Services, Burlington, ON.
- Feldman, M. (2024, Jan-Feb.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing Child Neglect in At-risk Families. Community Care (Rhode Island). Online.
- Feldman, M. (2023, May). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing Child Neglect in At-risk Families. Barna og fjölskylduþjónusta (Child and Family Services), Akureyri, Iceland.
- Feldman, M. (2023, Apr.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing Child Neglect in At-risk Families. Children’s Aid Society of the District of Nipissing and Parry Sound, North Bay, ON
- Feldman, M. (2023, Feb.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing child neglect in at-risk families. Omni Inventive Care, San Diego, CA.
- Feldman, M. (2023, Jan.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing child neglect in at-risk families. Durham College, Oshawa, ON.
- Feldman, M. (2022, Oct.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing child neglect through competence-based assessment & intervention for parents with learning difficulties. Ministry of Social Services, Government of Saskatchewan, Swift Current, SK.
- Feldman, M. (2022, Aug.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing child neglect through competence-based assessment & intervention for parents with learning difficulties. Kinetic Connections, LLC, WV. Online
- Feldman, M. (2022, Aug.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing child neglect through competence-based assessment & intervention for parents with learning difficulties. Vance Family Services, WV. Online
- Feldman, M. (2022, Jul.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing child neglect through competence-based assessment & intervention for parents with learning difficulties. Bethany Christian Services of West Virginia; National Youth Advocate Program Inc., WV; Open Horizons Family Services, WV; Sunrise Human Services, PA. Online
- Feldman, M. (2022, Jul.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing child neglect through competence-based assessment & intervention for parents with learning difficulties. Home Base, Inc., WV. Online
- Feldman, M. (2022, Jul.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing child neglect through competence-based assessment & intervention for parents with learning difficulties. KVC Behavioral HealthCare West Virginia, Inc. and The Well Tree, LLC, WV. Online
- Feldman, M. (2022, Jun.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing child neglect through competence-based assessment & intervention for parents with learning difficulties. Children First LLC and Families Forward, WV. Online
- Feldman, M. (2022, May). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing child neglect through competence-based assessment & intervention for parents with learning difficulties. Second Chances WV LLC, WV. Online
- Feldman, M. (2022, Apr.). Step-by-Step Parenting Program: Preventing child neglect through competence-based assessment & intervention for parents with learning difficulties. Coalfield Family Services, WV. Online
- Feldman, M. (2022, Feb., Mar.). Step-by-step parenting program: Preventing child neglect through behaviourally-based intervention for parents with learning difficulties. Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa. Online
