Let's talk about Naturalistic Developmental Behavior Interventions (NDBI) !

What are Naturalistic Developmental Behavior Interventions?

Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI), a term first introduced by Laura Schreibman and collaborators in 2015, are those interventions that combine the technological framework of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with the science of developmental psychology. The umbrella term NDBI illustrates that treatment models developed at different Universities may be more similar than different, and highlights the need for alliance and collaboration across these models. Many current treatment models fall under the NDBI umbrella, including Early Start Denver Model (ESDM); Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT); Classroom Pivotal Response Treatment (cPRT); Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT); Incidental Teaching (IT); Project ImPACT (Improving Parents as Communication Partners); Project DATA (Developmentally Appropriate Treatment for Autism in Toddlers); Social ABC’s; and Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement and Regulation (JASPER).

NDBI were seeded and studied in University labs and clinics, and as a result dissemination and community access have been slow. A new book called “Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder” (Bruinsma, Minjarez, Stahmer and Schreibman) aims to provide a comprehensive overview of NDBI core components and teaching strategies across models. The release of the book is followed by a one-day conference in October of 2019 bringing together many of the key NDBI treatment model experts. We hope to see you there!