In 1996, Liz and Steve’s daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed with Autism. They saw the difference
that Applied Behavior Analysis made to Sarah’s progress. As a result, Liz went back to school and earned
her Masters degree in Special Education with an emphasis in ABA, and then became a Board Certified Behavior
Analyst (BCBA).
In 2005, Liz started consulting in schools in North-East Pennsylvania, working with teachers and
their students with Autism to decrease problem behaviors and increase communication using Skinner’s Analysis
of Verbal Behavior. As Liz worked with staff in schools she found that it was difficult to assess whether a
treatment plan was working. Data, even if it had been taken consistently, was usually not graphed.
Moreover, as a family Liz and Steve often needed to take data on Sarah’s behavior. The use of a timer and
a clipboard was not easy or very discreet in public.
Liz needed to find a quick and easy solution to the problem of taking data and instantaneous graphing both
professionally and personally. Her husband, who had spent the last 15 years as a senior level UNIX systems
administrator, suggested using an iTouch application. Steve began liaising with developers and Behavior Tracker Pro
was the result.
Soon followed the VB-MAPP App. Our story continues and we'll add more as we continue the fight.