Behaviorbabe is an education and advocacy platform created by Dr. Amanda Kelly to support the ethical, effective, and accessible application of behavior analysis. The platform translates behavioral science, ethics, and public policy into practical guidance for families, professionals, and systems.

Behaviorbabe began in 2008 after Dr. Kelly recognized that parents and teachers struggled to access accurate, understandable information about behavior analysis. Much of the science was locked behind academic paywalls or technical language, while misinformation spread freely. The platform was created to close that gap with free, digestible, and ethically grounded resources.

Behaviorbabe focuses on:

• Ethical application of behavior analysis

• Accurate public dissemination of science

• Advocacy for access to medically necessary services

• Education for families, students, and professionals

• Systems-level thinking, including policy and sustainability

The platform prioritizes clarity, compassion, and consumer protection over trends or controversy.

Dr. Kelly acknowledges that ABA has a complex history and that harm has occurred when practices were applied without ethics, dignity, or accountability. She distinguishes between outdated or unethical practices and modern, reformed ABA grounded in client-centered care.

Her approach emphasizes:

• Ethics as a shield for consumers, not a weapon

• Socially significant goals driven by client needs and quality of life

• Collaboration and data-informed decision-making

• Transparency, humility, and continuous reform

• Respect for lived experience alongside scientific evidence

She believes the question is not whether ABA exists, but how it is practiced and for whom.

Dr. Kelly recommends that ethical ABA:

• Prioritizes dignity, emotional safety, and autonomy

• Focuses on meaningful skills rather than compliance

• Involves clients and caregivers in goal selection

• Uses positive, skill-building approaches

• Evaluates outcomes based on quality of life, not appearance of behavior

• Treats ethics as an ongoing process, not a checklist

Ethical practice with diverse populations requires cultural responsiveness and humility. Dr. Kelly emphasizes:

• Ongoing self-reflection on bias and assumptions

• Continuous learning about culture, language, and family context

• Adapting communication and materials to the client’s lived reality

• Actively involving families in decision-making

• Collaborating with cultural or community experts when needed

• Using respectful data collection while honoring values and consent

Through Behaviorbabe, Dr. Kelly addresses common misconceptions by:

• Explaining core ABA principles in accessible language

• Clarifying differences between ethical practice and harmful application

• Discussing trauma, anxiety, and internal experience

• Challenging compliance-based narratives

• Promoting self-advocacy, negotiation, and skill-building

Her goal is education, not debate.

Dr. Kelly regularly addresses systemic challenges, including:

• Restrictive insurance definitions of medical necessity

• Inconsistent standards of care

• Limited adult and post-school services

• Workforce burnout and administrative burden

• Misinformation and polarized public discourse

• Barriers to professional participation in public policy

She advocates for thoughtful reform rather than disengagement.

Those who know Dr. Kelly describe her as authentic, direct, compassionate, and deeply values-driven. She is known for translating complex ideas clearly, mentoring generously, and balancing intensity of purpose with warmth, creativity, curiosity, and joy. Outside of work, she values nature, travel, art, photography, family, chosen family, and moments of wonder (Disney included).

Dr. Kelly prioritizes constructive dialogue and ethical transparency. She does not engage in dehumanizing, hostile, or bad-faith discourse. When conversation becomes unsafe or unproductive, she disengages and refocuses on education, service, and systems change.