At the University of British Columbia, Natalia Modzelik is working on a research project aimed at reshaping applied behaviour analysis, or ABA, for autistic clients. The Master of Arts in Special Education student in Vancouver is developing a framework for neurodivergent-affirming ABA practice, a project that could influence how service providers are trained and how support is delivered.
Key facts
- Modzelik is enrolled in UBC’s Master of Arts in Special Education program in the Faculty of Education.
- Her research topic is “A Framework for Neurodivergent-Affirming Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Practice.”
- She is supervised by Dr. Victoria Knight.
- She was selected for the Canada Graduate Research Scholarships Master’s (CGRS M) Program.
- Her project will consult practitioners and autistic adults to build consensus on affirming ABA practice.
What does this research mean for students and practitioners?
For students and early-career researchers in education and special education, the project shows how graduate work at UBC can connect practical experience with applied research. Modzelik says her background as a behaviour interventionist and her undergraduate studies helped prepare her for graduate work, while UBC’s in-person ABA training and thesis option were part of what attracted her to the program.
For practitioners, the practical goal is clear: the project is meant to produce a framework that can guide neurodivergent-affirming ABA and be offered as an accredited training for service providers. If that happens, the work could support more consistent practice across settings and help professionals align ABA support with evidence-based, empowering and safe approaches for autistic clients.
The research also reflects a broader question facing the field: how ABA can be reformed in response to criticisms that it may be harmful or ableist, while still serving autistic people in a supportive way. Modzelik’s project is designed to gather input from both practitioners and autistic adults, which means the framework is intended to reflect more than one perspective on what ethical practice should look like.
Why is this ABA project getting attention?
It is getting attention because it focuses on a disputed area of practice and tries to define a workable middle ground. Modzelik’s research asks two linked questions: what neurodivergent-affirming ABA is, and how traditional ABA can be reformed so that it is evidence-based, empowering and safe for autistic clients.
That matters because the project is not only theoretical. It is intended to produce a practical framework that service providers can use, with the longer-term aim of improving confidence and quality in ABA services.
What is Natalia Modzelik studying at UBC?
She is a Master of Arts in Special Education student in UBC’s Faculty of Education, where her work centers on a thesis project about neurodivergent-affirming ABA. According to her student profile, she chose UBC in part because she had a positive undergraduate experience there and wanted a graduate program that matched her professional goals.
Her preparation includes managing research labs and working directly with neurodivergent children as a behaviour interventionist. Those experiences, she said, gave her both research skills and practical experience that she can bring into her graduate studies.
Frequently asked questions
What is the aim of Modzelik’s research?
The project aims to define neurodivergent-affirming ABA and create a practical framework for reforming traditional ABA so it is evidence-based, empowering and safe for autistic clients. It will draw on input from practitioners and autistic adults to build consensus on the framework.
Who is supervising Natalia Modzelik’s work?
Her research supervisor is Dr. Victoria Knight. Modzelik is conducting the project through UBC’s Faculty of Education in the Master of Arts in Special Education program.
