Dr. Amanda N. Kelly (“Behaviorbabe”)

Behavior Analyst • Educator • Advocate • Author • Speaker

Nationally recognized ethics and advocacy leader in behavior analysis.

Selected Professional Highlights

  • First Licensed Behavior Analyst in Hawaiʻi

  • Recipient of the BABAT Jerry Shook Practitioner of the Year Award

  • Author of Back to Basics: Ethics for Behavior Analysts

  • Presenter of 100+ invited keynote and conference presentations

  • Leader in advancing ethical practice, medical necessity, advocacy, and systems change initiatives

  • Helped advance autism insurance reform and behavior analyst licensure initiatives in Massachusetts and Hawaiʻi

  • Founder of Behaviorbabe and Co-Creator of the S.A.F.E.-T. Assessment

  • Expert Witness and consultant in autism, behavior analysis, disability rights, and access-to-care matters

Over more than two decades, Dr. Kelly has served as a clinician, educator, advocate, author, speaker, consultant, and leader across multiple states and service systems. Her work focuses on connecting systems that do not naturally connect to improve access, quality, and outcomes across the lifespan.

Awards & Recognitions

  • 2020, Outstanding Advocate: Telehealth, UMass Medical Autism Insurance Resource Center

  • 2019, Provider Advocate of the Year, Awarded by the Autism Law Summit

  • 2018, Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing, Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science

  •  2015, Advocacy Group of the Year, Awarded by Autism Speaks 

  •  2012, Jerry Shook Practitioner of the Year, Awarded by BABAT

Publications

Books & Book Chapters

  • Kelly, A.N., Shraga, E., Bollinger, L. (2023). Back to Basics: Ethics for Behavior Analysts. Elsevier.

  • Kelly, A.N., Colon, C. (2022). Applied Behavior Analysis: Autistic Adult Perspectives. In: Leaf, J.B., Cihon, J.H., Ferguson, J.L., Gerhardt, P.F. (eds) Handbook of Quality of Life for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham.

Assessment Tools & Resources

  • Foxman, A., & Kelly, A.N. (2023). Safety for everyone-today. S.A.F.E.-T. [Assessment Instrument]. Retrieved from safe-tskills.com.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

  • Kelly, A.N., Bollinger, L.F., Chiu, J., & Dube., A. (2024). The right to effective behavioral treatment revisited: Ethical expectations for behavior analysts today. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-00994-2.

  • Arthur, S.M, Linnehan, A.M., Leaf, J.B, Russell, N. Weiss, M.J., Kelly. A.N., Saunders, M.S. & Ross R.K. (2023). Concerns about ableism in ABA. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities.

  • Kelly, M. P., Martin, N., Dillenburger, K., Kelly, A. N., & Miller, M. M. (2018). Spreading the news: History, successes, challenges, and the ethics of effective dissemination. Behavior Analysis in Practice.

  • O’Leary, P., Miller, M., Olive, M. & Kelly, A. N. (2015). Blurred lines: Ethical implications of social media for behavior analysts. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-014-0033-0.

  • Kelly, A. N., Allen, R., Axe, J. & Maguire, R.W. (2015). Effects of presession pairing on challenging behavior for children with autism. Behavioral Interventions.

  •  Hassert, D., Kelly, A.N., Pritchard, J.T., & Cautilli, J. (2008). The licensing of behavior analysts: Protecting the Profession and the Public. Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Intervention.

‍Peer Review Experience

  • 2016-2026, Guest Reviewer, Behavior Analysis in Practice

  • 2022-2024, Associate Guest Editor, Behavior Analysis in Practice, Public Policy & Advocacy

  • 2020-2020, Guest Reviewer, Perspectives on Behavior Science

  • 2018-2020, Guest Reviewer, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

  • 2016-2020, Guest Reviewer, Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science

Legislative Advocacy Accomplishments

  • 2026 - Present, Legislative Sub-Committee Member, South Carolina Association for Behavior Analysis

  • 2014-2020, Legislative Committee Member, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, HI

  • 2019, Legislative Chair, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis,Passage of Single-Use Plastics Ban, County of Honolulu, HI

  • 2017, Legislative Chair, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, Passage of Telehealth Services, HI

  • 2015, President, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, Passage of Autism Insurance Reform, HI

  • 2015, President, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, Passage of Licensure for Behavior Analysts, HI

  • 2018-2019, Legislative Chair, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, HI

  • 2014-2016, President-elect, President, Past President, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis, HI

  • 2012, Community Member Advocate, Passage of Licensure for Behavior Analysts, MA

  • 2010, Community Member Advocate, Passage of Autism Insurance Reform, MA

Board, Advisory & Professional Service

  • 2016 – Present, Secretary, Hawaii Disability Rights Center

  • 2013 – Present, Advisor, Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies

    Previous Positions

  • 2017-2019, Volunteer Advocacy Ambassador, Autism Speaks, Hawaii

  • 2016-2021, Advisor, Behavior Analyst Program, Hawaii Regulated Industries Complaints Office

  • 2014-2020, Board Member, Hawaii Association for Behavior Analysis

  • 2012-2012, Student Member, Behavior Change for a Sustainable World, ABA: International

  • 2009-2013, Marketing Chair, Dissemination of Behavior Analysis Special Interest Group

  • 2008-2009, Member-at-large, Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis Special Interest Group

Leadership Experience 

  • 2024–2025, Director, Adult Services, Unumb Center for Neurodevelopment, SC

  • 2022–2023, Director, Recruitment and Talent Development, My Favorite Therapists, FL

  • 2020–2022, Chief Clinical Officer, Breakthrough Behavior, FL

  • 2019–2020, Chief Clinical Officer/Co-Founder, Distinguished Organization of Behavioral Enterprises, FL

  • 2017-2019, Regional Clinical Training Coordinator, PBS Corp., HI

  • 2017-2017, Director, Anuenue Behavior Analysts, HI

  • 2014-2017, Owner, Keiki Educational Consultants, Inc., HI

  • 2009-2013, Coordinator of ABA Home & School Services, SEEM Collaborative, MA

Expert Witness & Consulting Experience

  • Expert Witness in autism, behavior analysis, education, and disability-related matters

  • Consultant to providers, organizations, attorneys, schools, and advocacy groups

  • Subject matter expert in ethics, medical necessity, treatment planning, and access to care

  • Developed and delivered professional trainings on telehealth, ethics, treatment planning, and service delivery

Media, Content Creation & Thought Leadership

  • 2008 – Present, Content Creator and Public Speaker, Behaviorbabe

  • 2023-2024, Content Creator and Collaborator, RadBX

  • 2022-2023, Content Creator and Collaborator, Brightkyte

  • 2015-2018, ABA Marketing Liaison, Relias Learning

University Teaching Positions

  • 2022 – Present, Instructor, Bay Path University, Dept of Special Education: Ethics, Performance Management

  • 2020 – Present, Instructor, Verified Course Sequence: Philippines (Recorded Content)

  • 2016-2017, Director, University of West Florida, Dept. of ABA, Hawaii Cohort

  • 2013-2016, Instructor, University of West Florida, Dept. of Behavior Analysis

  • 2013-2013, Instructor, Granite State University, Dept. of Special Education

  • 2010-2011, Instructor, Bay Path University, Dept. of Special Education

  • 2009-2011, Teaching Assistant, Simmons University, Dept. of Behavior Analysis

Clinical Experience

  • 2026-Present, Telehealth Behavior Analyst, Pediatrics Plus, AR

  • 2025-2025, Behavior Analyst, part-time, Paramount Interventions, SC

See Leadership Experience

  • 2014-2017, Counselor, part-time, Assets Elementary, K-8, HI

  • 2013-2014, Senior Behavior Analyst, Malama Pono Autism Center, HI

  • 2013-2013, Senior Behavior Analyst, Autism Behavior Consulting Group, HI

  • 2003-2012, Behavior Analyst, Private Families, MA

  • 2008-2009, District Behavior Analyst, Triton Regional Public Schools, MA

  • 2006-2008, District Behavior Analyst, Cambridge Public Schools, MA

  • 2005-2006, Special Education Teacher, North Shore Education Consortium, MA

  • 2003-2005, Special Education Teacher, Melmark New England, Residential & Day Services, MA

  • 2003-2003, Special Education Teacher, New England Center, Residential & Day Services, MA

  • 2000-2002, Behavior Technician, Private Family, WV

Certifications & Licensure

  • 2016-2027, Licensed Behavior Analyst, HI, LBA, #1

  • 2013-2027, Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctorate BCBA-D, #1-08-4140

  • 2007-2027, Licensed Elementary Education Teacher, MA, Grades 1-6, #414619

  • 2008-2013, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, BCBA, #1-08-4140

  • 2005-2008, Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst, BCaBA, #0-05-1828

  • 2002-2006, Elementary Education Teaching License, WV Grades K-5

Education

  • 2008-2013, Doctorate of Behavior Analysis, Simmons University, MA

  • 2006-2007, Master of Science in Behavioral Education, Simmons University, MA

  • 2003-2005, Certification in Behavior Analysis, University of Massachusetts, MA

  • 1998-2002, Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, K-6 Shepherd University, WV