Affirming Care Plans (ACPs) are developed to provide person centered guidance and accommodations to help consumers meet their goals. This service offers assessment procedures, treatment guidelines, and caregiver recommendations towards ethical practices which work together to help a client reach their desired outcomes. Clients can expect to receive support in skill building, recommendations for combating systemic oppression, and individualized support. ACPs respect body autonomy, and follow an assent and consent models. ACPs provide specific recommendations to adult behavior change, and environmental alterations to increase affirmation of gender expansive people.

Gabriella Barrientos PhD MAE, BCBA, CDE, LBA, ICA, CSSC is the first practitioner to publish comprehensive and replicable recommendations for parents and practitioners working at the intersection of autistic and transgender identities via applied behavior analysis (ABA). Autistic adolescents were 4 times more likely to be gender-diverse (Hisle-Gorman et al., 2019). Compared to the 1-2% of the global population, 4.8% to 26% of people who sought gender diversity clinics had an autism diagnosis (Warrier et al., 2021). A gap is evident in mainstream treatment considerations for the intersectionality of transgender identity and autistic identities (Strang et al., 2014, Jansen et al., 2016, May et al., 2017, George et.al., 2017, Hisle-Gorman et al., 2019, Warrier et al., 2021). Through her research and practice, Dr. Barrientos has created comprehensive and innovative guidelines while meeting quality standards to classify as evidence-based practice. Dr. Barrientos has created a training program and tool kit to teach BCBAs how to address this need via traditional applied behavior analysis. The affirming transgender and autistic kids tool kit includes: unique assessment surveys, how to write and develop client centered gender affirming treatment goals, and gender affirming behavior intervention plans. The tools and training course have been designed to support the complex needs of an autistic learner

Dr. Barrientos provides professional consultation, mentorship, and supervision in the areas of autism, LGBTQAI+, vocational skills training, adaptive skills training, school aged services, adult group home intervention, intensive behavior intervention, and international dissemination. All support is offered through an intersectional framework where recommendations are made with marginalized identities centered. Training follows an assent and ascent withdrawal framework to prevent client abuse.

More information is coming soon!

TCS/TABS acknowledges the historic and current harm of Applied Behavior Analysis. TABS and it’s founders, recognize the traditional prescription of practices through a racist, binary, homophobic, transphobic, and ableist lens. TABS continues to shape their practices by listening to, and learning from, the lived experiences of Autistic Self-Advocates. Furthermore, TABS recognizes the harm Applied Behavior Analysis played in the original creation of conversion therapy. Twice Affirming Behavioral Services stands with the LGBTQAI+ community and believes in order to work as agents of change, our roles are best served from within the field than outside of it. We are committed to providing an affirming environment for all.