Rachel N. Freedman, MA, MS, BCBA, LABA
Doctoral Student
Autism Researcher
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Special Education Program Coordinator
Parent Advocate
Welcome to my professional portfolio!
Welcome to my professional portfolio!
I am an autism researcher, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, experienced Special Education Program Coordinator, and proud Mom of a preschooler on the Autism Spectrum. Since becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in 2011, my professional practice has focused on supporting families and school districts in promoting the development of meaningful, functional skills for learners with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and social-emotional challenges. I am currently a doctoral student in the Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) program in Organizational Learning and Leadership at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
From 2018 to 2020, I completed the Utah Regional Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (URLEND) program as a long-term trainee in both the Core Curriculum track and the Autism-Enhanced track. While completing the URLEND program, I also provided fieldwork supervision to staff at the Idaho Center on Disabilities and Human Development, which is the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities for the state of Idaho. My research interests include measuring and reducing parenting stress in families of children and adults with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), building adaptive behavior repertoires in individuals with autism and related developmental disabilities, improving early screening and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, and increasing the capacity of healthcare providers and educators to provide high-quality services to individuals with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities in their local communities.
I have been providing Applied Behavior Analysis and Special Education services to toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities since 2007, with a focus on naturalistic approaches and integrating students with disabilities into inclusive educational environments alongside their typically developing peers. I currently serve as a member of the Community Outreach Team for The Journal of Special Education Preparation (JOSEP). My previous editorial roles include serving as a Guest Reviewer for the journal Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities (FOCUS) and as Technical Editor of the Journal of International Special Needs Education (JISNE). My research has been published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (JADD).