William H Ahearn, Ph.D., BCBA

Medical Practice

The New England Center for Children

For 32 years The New England Center for Children (NECC®) has provided state-of-the-art education and individualized treatment, with care and respect, for children with autism. An award-winning not-for-profit treatment and education center dedicated to bringing out human potential and creating productive lives, NECC operates a school in Greater Boston and in Abu Dhabi for children from around the world. For more information about NECC, please visit www.necc.org.

Education

B.S., Psychology, University of MiamiUndergraduate, 1988 - 1988

M.A., Experimental Psychology, Temple UniversityGraduate, 1990 - 1990

Ph.D., Experimental Psychology, Temple UniversityUndergraduate, 1992 - 1992

Medical Training

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Behavioral Psychology - Fellowship - 1993 - 1993

Board Certification

2000: Board Certified Behavior Analyst; Charter Certificant #1-00-0309

Affiliations

1993-1996: Researcher, Division of Child Development and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

1996-present: Program Manager - Pediatric Feeding Program, Children's Seashore House

1996-present: Clinical Assistant Professor, Northeastern University

2007-present: Clinical Adjunct Professor, Western New England College

Professional Memberships

Association for Behavior Analysis
Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy
Eastern Psychological Association

Professional Publications

Ahearn, W.H., Clark, K.M., MacDonald, R.P.F., & Chung, B.I. (2007). Vocal stereotypy: Assessing and treating acontextual vocalizations in children with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 40.

Ahearn, W.H., Clark, K., Gardenier, N., Chung, B., & Dube, W.V. (2003). Persistence of automatically reinforced stereotypy: Examining the effects of external reinforcers. Special Issue on Translational Research Ð Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 36, 439-448.

Ahearn, W.H.(2007). Do vaccines cause autism?: A review of some recent evidence. Ret. Jan. 24, 2007 Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies Website.

MacDonald, R.P.F., Cota, S., Mansfield, R., Wiltz, K., & Ahearn, W.H. (in press). Using video modeling to teach reciprocal pretend play to children with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.

Ahearn, W.H., MacDonald, R., Graff, R.B., & Dube, W.V. (2007). Behavior Analytic Teaching Procedures: Basic Principles, Empirical Demonstrations. In P. Sturmey, & A. Fitzer (Eds.), Autism Spectrum Disorders: Applied Behavior Analysis, Evidence and Practice, Austin, TX: Pro-ed.

Ahearn, W.H., Castine, T., Nault, K., & Green, G. (2001). An Assessment of Food Acceptance in Children with Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 505-512.

Ahearn, W.H., Kerwin, M.E., Eicher, P., Shantz, J., & Swearingen, W. (1996). An alternating treatments comparison of two intensive interventions for food refusal. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29, 321-332.

Ahearn, W.H. (2001). Why does my son only eat macaroni and cheese?: Dealing with feeding problems in children with autism. In C. Maurice, R. Foxx, & G. Green (Eds.) Making a Difference: Behavioral Intervention for Autism. Austin, TX: Pro-ed.

Smaby, K., MacDonald, R.P.F., Ahearn, W.H., & Dube, W.V. (2007). Assessment protocol for identifying preferred social consequences. Behavioral Interventions.

Forums

Autism & Asperger's Syndrome

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