ABA Inside Track – December 2025 Preview

Podcast: ABA Inside Track
Episode Title: December 2025 Preview
Date: December 3, 2025
Hosts: Robert Perry Crews, Diana Perry Crews, Jackie McDonald

Episode Overview

The ABA Inside Track team provides listeners with a lively and comprehensive preview of upcoming December 2025 episodes, highlighting anticipated special guests, episode topics, key journal articles, and important changes to how Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be delivered in the coming year. The hosts also share some personal holiday traditions, interspersing their unique humor and camaraderie throughout.

December 2025 Episode Lineup

1. PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) Tutorial

Special Guest: Judy Southey, SLP

• Focus: Step-by-step tutorial on implementing PECS for communication with individuals with ASD.
• Key Articles:
  • Interaction of Participant Characteristics and Type of AAC with Individuals with ASD: A Meta-Analysis
    Gans, Mason, Goodwin, Bowles, Heath, & Davis; American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 2014
  • Predictors of Successful Picture Exchange Communication System Training in Children with Communication Impairments: Insights from a Real World Intervention in a Resource Limited Setting
    W. Pashang Vivitanai & Wong Kwan Wang; BMJ Pediatrics Open, 2025

“She’s provided us with three different articles. I might have to put my glasses on here to be able to tell you about these.”
— Diana Perry Crews (01:40)

2. Culturally Responsive Leadership Practices

Special Guest: Denisa Jingles

• Focus: An exploration of anti-oppression and culturally responsive practices in leadership, mentoring, and curriculum for behavior analysts.
• Key Articles:
  • Application of the Principles of Anti-Oppression to Address Marginalized Students and Faculty's Experiences in Counselor Education
    Sheikh, Gumaluri, Dar, Carter, & Quag; Teaching and Supervision in Counseling, ~2024
  • Ubuntu Leadership: An Explication of an Afrocentric Leadership Style
    Lalu; Journal of Values-Based Leadership, 2022
  • Mentoring for Admission and Retention of Black Socio-Ethnic Minorities in Medicine: A Scoping Review
    Kemzang et al.; Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development, 2024
  • Exploring Aspects of Mentoring for Black and Minoritized Healthcare Professionals in the UK: A Nominal Group Technique Study
    Sriram, Atwal & McKay; BMJ Open, 2024
  • Culturally Responsive Curriculum for Behavior Analysts: A Meaningful Step towards Social Justice
    Mater & Rodriguez; Behavior Analysis and Practice, 2022

“...very excited for that episode.”
— Diana Perry Crews (04:55)

3. Operationalizing Assent

• Focus: Understanding assent in therapeutic and research contexts within behavior analysis.
• Key Articles:
  • Dignity and Respect: Why Therapeutic Assent Matters
    Flowers & Dawes; Behavior Analysis and Practice, 2023
  • Consent and Assent Practices in Behavior Analytic Research
    Me, Jaspers, Kelly, Ward, Fernand, Jocelyn & Van DJK; Behavior Analysis and Practice, 2025

4. Year-End Bonus Episode

Special Guest: Matt Cicoria from Behavioral Observations

• Content:
  • Reflecting on 2025
  • Looking forward to 2026
  • Light-hearted topics: movies, holiday fun, and traditions

“It’s been a tradition, so we’re very happy to do it. I have a scathing political commentary I already started taking notes on. Very excited. I got a face. It's gonna be good.”
— Robert Perry Crews (05:46)

Key Show Announcements

Upcoming Changes to Continuing Education and Website

[06:12–11:36]

• BACB ACE Provider Requirement Changes:
  New rules effective July 2026 necessitate a quiz component for all asynchronous CE offerings.
• Website Revamp:
  The website is being overhauled, with a new location launching in March to support CE quizzes and a more user-friendly experience.

“Now, I know many of you are saying, I don't want to do a quiz, I just want to do the code words... What we are saying is we don't want to do the amount of work this is taking, but it is a requirement.”
— Robert Perry Crews (07:26)

• Positive Outcomes:
  • Immediate delivery of CE certificates (no more waiting for manual email processing).
  • Centralized account management for all newly earned CEs from March onward.
  • Improved backend and user experience, though some growing pains are expected during the transition.

“...with our new format and new site, the CE will come immediately to you. So you can just email us with like positive things like love the episode...We like those emails and now we won't have to deal with the hey, I demand to see E immediately anymore.”
— Robert Perry Crews (08:08)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Diana’s Glasses Gag: The ongoing joke about needing glasses to read article titles adds a spark of personality to the academic rundown.
• Robert’s Dry Humor about Holiday Traditions:

  “One tradition I love is when I buy all the Christmas presents for everyone and wrap them all. And then Diana says, what the hell? I wanted to buy some Christmas presents, too.”
  — Robert Perry Crews (13:08)

• Jackie’s Festive Nostalgia:

  “One of my favorite holiday traditions is going to this place called Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. It's like an old colonial village…It's called Christmas by Candlelight. And visiting Real Life Santa.”
  — Jackie McDonald (11:55)

• Movies & Family Rituals: The team connects through humor reflecting on family traditions, aging children, and the cyclical joys of the holidays.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Episode Previews: 00:30–05:31
• Year-End Bonus Episode Teaser: 05:31–06:12
• CEU and Website Announcements: 06:12–11:36
• Holiday Traditions & Banter: 11:36–15:26

Tone & Style

The hosts maintain their signature conversational and approachable tone, blending professional updates with plenty of playful banter and warm anecdotes. The preview strikes the right balance between practical information (especially about the upcoming CEU process changes), academic rigor (detailed article highlights), and personal relatability (holiday traditions and inside jokes).

Final Thoughts

This December preview is packed with valuable updates for behavior analysts, including timely research topics, a heads-up about 2026 CEU requirements, and invitations to connect through both scholarly and celebratory lenses. The blend of academic discussions with lighthearted traditions and genuine camaraderie makes this episode both informative and enjoyable for listeners, new and returning alike.