Show Notes
In this episode of Behaviour Speak, host Ben Reiman speaks with Sarah Elkami Trdina, Lina Pezzo Szodo, and Camila Grullon from Always Connected Treatment Network (ACTN) about an innovative partnership with Mississauga Fire.
The conversation explores how behaviour analysts and fire safety professionals collaborated to create accessible fire safety education for neurodivergent children, youth, and families. The guests discuss caregiver workshops, desensitization protocols for smoke alarms, emergency preparedness training, and strategies for teaching potentially life-saving skills using behaviour analytic principles. The episode also highlights the importance of cross-sector collaboration, community engagement, and creating practical resources that can be shared across organizations, schools, and emergency services. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xGxFs-8ofr4 Continuing Education Credits IBAO: 1.0 ABA TopicsQABA: 1.0 GeneralCBA/CPD: 1.0 Learning Complete The Behaviour Speak CE Knowledge Check To Earn Your CEUs Enter your answers here: (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop) Question 1 Sarah described how many larger fire safety skills are actually made up of smaller prerequisite skills. Which of the following was discussed as an example of a prerequisite skill involved in successful fire evacuation? A. Learning to identify all fire truck equipment B. Following instructions during an emergency C. Learning firefighter rank structures D. Understanding municipal fire codes Question 2 What behaviour analytic strategy did the ACTN team describe for helping learners become more comfortable with smoke alarms? A. Overcorrection B. Response cost C. Desensitization through gradual exposure to alarm sounds D. Token economies only Question 3 During the episode, Camila shared that behaviour analysis is still emerging in the Dominican Republic. Approximately how many behaviour analysts did she estimate were practicing in the country when she completed her supervision hours? A. About 5 B. About 25 C. About 100 D. About 500 Contact Always Connected Treatment Network https://alwaysconnectedtn.ca/ Sarah Elkami Tridina https://www.linkedin.com/in/elkamisarah/ Camilla Grullon https://www.linkedin.com/in/camilagrullon/ Lina Pezzo Szodo https://www.linkedin.com/in/lina-pezzo-szodo-39127b146/ Links: The September 26th Project https://september26.org/ Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officers Association https://omfpoa.com/ PECS Canada Fire Safety Resources https://pecs-canada.com/blog/teaching-fire-safety-messages-to-aac-users/ https://pecs-canada.com/n-i-c-k-for-fire-and-burn-safety/ Caribbean Association For Behaviour Analysis https://caribbeanba.org/
More from Behaviour Speak with Ben Reiman
In this inspiring episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben welcomes Dr. Pooja Panesar, behaviour analyst, Doctor of Behavioural Health, entrepreneur, educator, and founder of Kaizora Centre for Neurodevelopmental Therapies. Born and raised in Kenya, educated in Canada, and driven by a passion for helping children and families, Dr. Panesar shares her remarkable journey from working with a single child in a small room furnished with only a table and two chairs to building leading autism and neurodevelopmental services across Kenya and Tanzania. The conversation explores the evolution of autism services in East Africa, overcoming stigma, building professional capacity, integrating cultural humility with evidence-based practice, and creating interdisciplinary systems of care. Dr. Panesar also reflects on leadership, resilience, parenting, and her vision for the future of autism services across the continent. This episode offers powerful lessons for behaviour analysts, educators, healthcare professionals, parents, and anyone interested in creating meaningful systems change. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ycA180S1EgE
What happens when psychology is viewed through the lens of Indigenous knowledge, community, language, and lived experience? In this episode, Ben welcomes Dr. Vicky Lomay, a Navajo (Diné) clinical psychologist, assessment specialist, educator, and leader in Indigenous psychology. Dr. Lomay shares her journey from engineering student to psychologist and reflects on how growing up in a bilingual Navajo household shaped her understanding of healing, wellness, and human behaviour. The conversation explores the intersections between Indigenous knowledge systems and Western psychology, including cultural impacts on assessment, diagnosis, trauma treatment, and mental health care. Dr. Lomay discusses why many traditional Indigenous healing approaches represent generations of what she calls "practice-based evidence," long before Western psychology developed similar concepts and terminology. Ben and Dr. Lomay also discuss the challenges of psychological assessment in Indigenous communities, the risks of cultural misinterpretation during evaluation, and the importance of understanding language, history, ceremony, and context when working with Indigenous clients. The episode concludes with a discussion about leadership, mentorship, and the future of Indigenous psychology through organizations such as the Society of Indian Psychologists and the American Psychological Association's American Indian and Alaska Native Section. Watch the video! https://youtu.be/3K-L9uVa6gs Connect with Dr. Vicky Lomay Tsinajini Psychology Services https://tsinajinipsych.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-t-lomay-phd-5320626/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tsinajini_psychology
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