Collaboration across disciplines is essential for providing high-quality, client-centered care, yet the relationship between occupational therapy practitioners (OTs) and board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) can present unique challenges. Each discipline brings valuable expertise but differs in worldview, terminology, and definitions of evidence-based practice. These differences can lead to misperceptions, disagreements, and barriers to effective teamwork. Despite these challenges, successful collaboration offers significant benefits, including more integrated services, comprehensive goals, and improved outcomes for individuals and their families. This presentation will explore key similarities and distinctions between ABA and OT, highlighting how these differences shape practice and influence collaboration. Attendees will examine common barriers, learn strategies to strengthen interprofessional communication, and evaluate practical approaches for building effective partnerships. Ethical considerations will also be addressed, with a focus on decision-making strategies that support professionalism and mutual respect within interprofessional teams. By the end of this CEU, participants will walk away with clear, actionable strategies to strengthen communication, enhance teamwork, and ultimately enhance outcomes by aligning two lenses into one vision.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to analyze and articulate key similarities and differences between applied behavior analysis and occupational therapy and describe how these impact collaborative practice.
2. Participants will be able to evaluate the benefits of OT and BCBA collaboration and apply practical strategies to overcome common barriers to effective teamwork.
3. Participants will be able to apply decision-making strategies to address ethical concerns within interprofessional teams.

About the Presenter

Kristina Gasiewski

Kristina Gasiewski is a rare blend of two worlds, an Occupational Therapist and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, who has spent more than 15 years supporting individuals with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities. She earned her M.Ed. in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis from Endicott College and her MOT in Occupational Therapy from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Her career has spanned school districts, private programs, and now her role as a Behavior Analyst and QIDP in Melmark’s Adult ICF/ID program, where she designs, oversees, and coordinates active treatment and clinical programs. Kristina is a passionate advocate for collaboration across disciplines, evidence-based practice, and enhancing quality of life for individuals with autism across the lifespan. She is a published author in Behavior Analysis in Practice, Autism Spectrum News, and Science in Autism Treatment. Additionally, Kristina is a Board member of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT). She’s also a frequent presenter and has presented at conferences such as Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and the Profound Autism Summit. Outside of her professional life, Kristina finds joy in the simple things like unwinding by the campfire with her family and hanging out with her dog, Swift, who reminds her daily of the importance of play, presence, and the occasional muddy adventure.