Rejected 2026 Conference • RBT PDU Schedule
Rejected isn’t your typical ABA conference. It was created to spotlight the voices, practices, and topics often pushed aside by journals, gatekeepers, and traditional conference committees.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at megan@dobettercollective.us
Warm regards,
Dr. Megan and the Rejected Conference Team
SCHEDULE
- RBT SCHEDULE
December 5th at 2pm to 3pm ET
Autistic Play Is Authentic Play: Follow the Pattern, Join the Play, Build the Learning
1 RBT PDU
Autistic play is authentic play. This practical webinar helps behavior technicians move from correcting or redirecting autistic play to becoming curious about what a child’s play communicates and provides. Through an NDBI and neurodiversity-affirming lens, participants will learn to recognize common play schemas, join and expand the play already happening to create meaningful opportunities for communication, engagement, and learning. Using the framework Observe → Understand → Join → Co-Construct → Expand, participants will leave with practical strategies they can immediately use to support assent, maintain client dignity, and embed naturalistic teaching within the child’s authentic play.
PRESENTER(S)
Jamie Hughes-Lika, PhD, BCBA-D, IBA, LBA
Dr. Jamie is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the doctoral level (BCBA-D), a licensed behavior analyst (LBA), an International Behavior Analyst (IBA), and an Early Start Denver Model Certified Therapist and Trainer. She has been providing evidence-based services for children with autism and related disorders for over 29 years, and for the past 14 years, she has specialized in interventions for young autistic children (0-4 years). She presents her research at national and international conferences, and her research studies are published in peer-reviewed journals. She is the founder of The NDBI Navigator, an organization dedicated to supporting professionals working with young autistic children. Rooted in the principles of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), it offers accessible, evidence-based, and developmentally appropriate resources to help clinicians, educators, and behavior analysts turn knowledge into meaningful practice.
December 5th at 3pm to 4pm ET
Beyond: "Do This," & "What is it?": Teaching Imitation and Tacting Through NET
1 RBT PDU
PRESENTER(S)
Elizabeth Mills
I have been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2017, beginning my career as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) in Illinois. Throughout my career, I have relocated across the United States due to military life, providing me with the opportunity to work with a variety of learners, BCBAs, RBTs, and organizations across three states and six companies.
These experiences have allowed me to learn from a variety of clinical approaches, gain valuable insight into the implementation of evidence-based practices, and develop a deeper understanding of what contributes to meaningful and effective ABA services.
I am passionate about providing socially meaningful care that promotes skill generalization within learners’ natural environments. I believe in creating engaging, individualized, and fun learning opportunities that support each learner’s unique needs and goals. I am also committed to sharing my knowledge and experiences to help RBTs build confidence, strengthen their clinical skills, and provide high-quality, compassionate care.
My goal is to continue improving the experiences of our learners while supporting the growth and development of the RBTs who work with them.
December 5th at 4pm to 5pm ET
Receiving Effective Supervision: Getting the Most from Every Supervision Contact
1 RBT PDU
PRESENTER(S)
Michael Carrero
December 5th at 5pm to 6pm ET
Supporting Community Participation Through Climbing: Choice, Assent, and Natural Supports for RBTs
1 RBT PDU
PRESENTER(S)
Hallie "Hal" Foster
December 5th at 6pm to 7pm ET
Plan, Play, Pivot! Making the Most of Every ABA Session
1 RBT PDU
PRESENTER(S)
Sara Smith
December 5th at 7pm to 8pm ET
Feedback Without the Freakout: An RBT’s Guide to Building Confidence Through Coaching
1 RBT PDU
PRESENTER(S)
Savannah Vasquez, BCBA
Savannah Vasquez is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and RBT Coordinator at Appleseeds Behavioral Center, supporting the Kennesaw and Douglasville clinics. She joined Appleseeds in January 2022 and grew within the organization from RBT to student analyst to BCBA and RBT Coordinator. Certified since June 2024, Savannah has more than two years of experience as a BCBA. Her own progression gives her a personal understanding of receiving feedback, building confidence, and learning to put clinical skills into practice. She brings that perspective to supporting RBTs through coaching and professional growth.
Ally Moon, BCBA
December 5th at 8pm to 9pm ET
From Probe to Plan: RBTs in the Assessment Process
1 RBT PDU
PRESENTER(S)
Theresa Praul-DeFrank
December 6th at 2pm to 3pm ET
Effective Communication with Parents: Building Trust Through Clarity, Compassion, and Safety
1 RBT PDU
PRESENTER(S)
Renee KD Hurff, MA, BCBA, LBA
December 6th at 3pm to 4pm ET
Regulation in Real Time: The Science of Stress, Co-Regulation, Ethical Practice, and Recovery for RBTs
1 RBT PDU
PRESENTER(S)
Jacqui Williams
Jacqui Williams, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and clinical executive with extensive experience in autism services, behavioral healthcare, organizational leadership, and program development. She currently serves as Chief Clinical Officer, providing strategic leadership in clinical operations, quality assurance, staff development, and service delivery.
Throughout her career, Jacqui has been passionate about improving outcomes for children and families through compassionate, evidence-based care. Her expertise spans clinical program design, behavior analytic assessment and treatment, supervision and mentorship, organizational restructuring, quality improvement, and the development of sustainable service models that balance excellence in care with operational effectiveness.
Recognized for her collaborative leadership style, Jacqui specializes in building high-performing clinical teams, developing future leaders, and creating systems that support both clinical quality and organizational growth. She is particularly interested in trauma-informed, assent-based, and neurodiversity-affirming approaches that honor the dignity and individuality of every learner while promoting meaningful skill development.
In addition to her executive leadership, Jacqui is a speaker, trainer, and mentor who frequently shares practical strategies related to clinical excellence, ethical practice, supervision, staff wellbeing, behavior analytic service delivery, and leadership development. She is committed to advancing the field through education, innovation, and the cultivation of compassionate professionals dedicated to improving lives.
Her mission is to create meaningful, lasting impact for children, families, providers, and communities by combining clinical excellence with authentic human connection.
December 6th at 4pm to 5pm ET
Beyond the Warrior Mentality: Knowing When to Pause, Shift, or Tap Out
1 RBT PDU
PRESENTER(S)
Abbey Mix
Abbey is a LMSW and BCBA serving Kent ISD in Grand Rapids, Michigan as the Supervisor of Specialized Programming and Instructional Supports, where she leads Special Education Coaches specializing in Autism, Behavior, and Functional Communication. Her work integrates social work, behavior analysis, applied neuroscience, and education to support compassionate, evidence-informed systems change.
Abbey’s professional interests include anti-ableist work, neurodiversity-affirming practices, reducing the use of restrictive practices, and supporting inclusive educational environments that prioritize dignity, autonomy, communication, and belonging. Through coaching and professional learning, she partners with educators to build proactive systems that improve meaningful outcomes for students.
December 6th at 5pm to 6pm ET
The RBT Clinical Thinking System: Beyond Running Programs
1 RBT PDU
This presentation introduces the RBT Clinical Thinking System through five practical frameworks: SEE, NOW, PAAUSE, LOWER, and SHIFT. Participants will follow one unfolding session to explore how these tools support observation, awareness of staff reactions, and thoughtful responses to changing circumstances.
PRESENTER(S)
Cassie Leutenegger, BCBA
Cassie Leutenegger, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, licensed behavior analyst, clinic director, and former special education teacher. Her experience spans elementary and middle school classrooms as well as clinical practice, giving her a perspective on how behavioral supports translate across educational and therapeutic settings.
As a clinic director, Cassie supports BCBAs and Registered Behavior Technicians through clinical supervision, staff training, and ongoing professional development. She is particularly interested in helping practitioners move from knowing a procedure to understanding how to implement it thoughtfully when sessions become complex. Her approach emphasizes clear expectations and specific feedback, with opportunities to rehearse skills and build confidence through supported practice.
Cassie’s clinical interests include services for adolescents and young adults, naturalistic teaching, self-advocacy, and support for individuals with significant behavioral needs. She draws on acceptance and commitment training (ACT) and contextual behavioral science to inform her approach to supervision and meaningful skill development. She holds a master’s degree in education and has completed doctoral coursework focused on ACT.
Through Adventures in Behavior and AiB Academy, Cassie develops educational resources and professional training that connect behavior science with everyday decisions. Her work reflects a commitment to compassionate, individualized services that support meaningful participation in people’s lives. Whether she is coaching a clinician or developing a training, her goal is the same: make it practical enough to use on Monday morning.
December 7th at 730pm to 830pm ET
Walking the Ethical Tightrope: Public Discourse, Client Dignity, and Digital Behavior Traps on the RBT Frontline
1 RBT PDU
coming soon
PRESENTER(S)
Sean Yocum, MA, BCBA, LBA
Sean Yocum is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, founder and CEO of Hickory Learning Group in Western North Carolina, and co-host of the Rad N Bad Podcast. Rooted in radical behaviorism, Relational Frame Theory (RFT), and functional contextualism, Sean is an outspoken advocate for modernizing behavioral science by stripping away sterile compliance models in favor of human dignity, moment-to-moment assent, and caregiver collaboration. From direct-care technician trenches to clinical leadership, Sean combines candid humor with unvarnished clinical critique, empowering frontline practitioners to navigate modern ethical dilemmas, challenge outdated clinic norms, and practice behavior analysis with empathy and scientific rigor.
December 8th at 730pm to 830pm ET
The RBT Clinical Thinking System: Beyond Running Programs
1 RBT PDU
In this interactive, one-hour workshop, participants will explore how personal experiences, assumptions, and biases can influence their interpretations and professional responses. Grounded in behavior-analytic principles, participants will learn to apply the P.A.U.S.E. framework:
P — Pinpoint what you observed
A — Assess your assumptions
U — Uncover what you don’t know
S — Seek alternative hypotheses
E — Engage effectively
PRESENTER(S)
Karen Yosmanovich, BCBA
About Instructor
Course Includes
- 1 Lesson
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