Presentation Overview

From the Table to the Floor: Everyday Tools for Naturalistic Teaching

This practical, how-to session is designed for behavior technicians working directly with young autistic children. Drawing on Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI), we'll move beyond table-based drills and into the kind of teaching that happens on the floor, in play, and inside everyday routines. Participants will learn six concrete strategies for recruiting and maintaining engagement, walk through a five-step teaching cycle that can be embedded in any play activity, and learn the Help-Prompt-Wait-Praise framework for responding to behavioral escalations in ways that support the child and protect the relationship. Throughout the session, attendees will explore neurodiversity-affirming principles that guide how we work — including following the child's lead, using the smallest prompts possible, and recognizing that compliance is not the goal; communication is. Real examples, scripted teaching trials, and a troubleshooting guide for common scenarios are included. By the end of the session, RBTs will have specific tools they can use in their very next session.

Learning Objectives

What you'll learn...after completing this presentation, participants will be able to

  • Use six specific strategies to recruit and maintain a child's engagement before beginning instruction.

  • Implement a five-step naturalistic teaching cycle within play and daily routines.

  • Apply the Help-Prompt-Wait-Praise framework to respond appropriately to behavioral escalations.

Continuing Education

The NDBI Navigator is an approved continuing education provider for the BACB, QABA, and IBAO.

Professionals from other disciplines will receive a professional development certificate, which they can submit to their respective licensing boards for consideration.

Your Presenter

Ariana Boutain, PhD, BCBA-D

Dr. Ariana Boutain is the Chief Clinical Officer at ANNA Autism Care, where she oversees clinical quality, training, development, and research across the organization's growing network of centers and its expanding diagnostic evaluation services. A doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Dr. Boutain has been working with autistic children and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 2006. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities and both a Master's in Applied Behavioral Science and a PhD in Behavioral Psychology from the University of Kansas. Her scholarly work, including publications in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and The Behavior Analyst, has focused on prompting procedures, skill acquisition, and the use of telehealth in parent-mediated intervention. Outside of clinical work, she enjoys performing in musical theater, cycling, and going on adventures with her husband and twins.

Presentation Content

  1. 1

    • About the Presentation

    • Meet Ariana Boutain

    • Professional Practice Reminder

    • Video: From the Table to the Floor: Everyday Tools for Naturalistic Teaching

    • Presentation Handout

    • Quiz

    • Survey