Behaviorbabe | THE Behaviorbabe | Dr Behaviorbabe
Behaviorbabe is an online avatar created by Dr. Amanda N. Kelly, who is a self-proclaimed "ethical advocate for the accurate application and dissemination of behavior analysis". Behavior analysis owes no affiliation with a particular intervention. Rather, it is a scientific problem-solving approach aimed at producing socially significant behavior changes for the purpose of improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities. What originally started as a website for parents and teachers (2008), which housed a few resources, turned into a Twitter handle (2009), and then a “persona” on Facebook (2010), Pinterest, and Instagram, just as social media sites were becoming widely used by the general public. In 2018, Behaviorbabe launched a podcast, which in its first year reached over 300,000 downloads. Full-length episodes range from 30-50 minutes and over 50 episodes feature guests. While all episodes are behavior analytic in nature, specific topics include autism, inner behavior, sustainability, acceptance and commitment training, ethics, supervision, and more. Due to her effective dissemination efforts, as well as her dedication and commitment to improving access to educational and medical services, Behaviorbabe has been invited to numerous speaking engagements throughout the world, including talks in Canada, Philippines, Israel, Thailand, and the US. Over a decade later and "Behaviorbabe [still] provides an excellent model for future dissemination efforts" (Kelly, Martin, Dillenburger, Kelly & Miller, 2018). "Behaviorbabe ... "highlight[s] how the sustained work and commitment of a few entrepreneurial individuals can help lead to the 'acceptance of our worldview in other circles'" (Lattal, 2017 in Kelly et al., 2018).
Amanda N Kelly, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA
Dr. Amanda N. Kelly, obtained her bachelors in Elementary Education from Shepherd University as well as her masters in Behavioral Education and doctorate in Behavior Analysis from Simmons University. Dr. Kelly has experience working as a paraprofessional, special education teacher, school counselor, behavior analyst, and university professor. Over the past two decades, Dr. Kelly has worked in home settings, public and private schools, residential placements, and community settings for children, adolescents, and young adults with social-emotional, cognitive, and behavioral needs; both in Massachusetts and Hawaiʻi. Dr. Kelly has served on several non-profit boards and committees including the Hawai'i Disability Rights Center (HDRC), Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis (HABA), and Together For Our Keiki (TFOK). Due to her advocacy and dissemination efforts, Dr. Kelly has received several awards, including the "Jerry Shook Practitioner of the Year" in 2012, "Advocacy Group of the Year" in 2015, and "Provider Advocate of the Year" in 2019. In 2016, Dr. Kelly became the first behavior analyst licensed in the state of Hawai'i. In 2019, Dr. Kelly stepped into the role of Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) and Co-Founder for DOBE, LLC. In addition to her expertise helping families and schools, Dr. Kelly's interests in behavior analysis extends to dissemination, organizational management, public policy, and sustainable behavior change. Dr. Kelly is a proud member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, the Hawai'i Association for Behavior Analysis, the Hawai'i Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the American Psychological Association, and the Hawai'i Psychological Association.
