Behaviour Speak with Ben Reiman

What happens when there are no autism services in your country? In this episode, Ben speaks with Maxcia Williams, a parent, advocate, and behaviour technician in the Turks & Caicos Islands, about her journey raising a son with autism in a system that didn’t yet exist—and how she helped build one. From navigating stigma and cultural myths to founding the Hope Foundation for Autism Awareness, Maxcia shares what it means to move from isolation to impact. This conversation explores culturally responsive care, workforce challenges in small communities, and the power of caregiver-led change. At the heart of the episode is Israel—Maxcia’s son—whose journey into self-advocacy, homeschooling, and authorship reminds us that autism is not a limitation, but a different path. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZqhcnZnjN4I This episode is presented by our founding academic partner, the Doctor of Education in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis program at Western University’s Faculty of Education. Program Information: https://www.edu.uwo.ca/graduate-education/edd/applied-behaviour-analysis.html How to apply: https://www.edu.uwo.ca/graduate-education/apply.html Program brochure: https://www.edu.uwo.ca/graduate-education/edd/foe120_edd_aba_r1.png Continuing Education Credits (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop) BACB: 1.5 Ethics IBAO: 1.5 Cultural QABA: 1.5 General CBA/CPD: 1.5 Cultural Diversity Follow us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behaviourspeak/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/behaviourspeak/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@behaviorspeak Contact Maxcia LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxcia-williams-ibt-ados-2-administrator-1b735a77/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maximalicious/ The Elephant Rooms - (The clinic Maxcia works in) https://theelephantrooms.com/team/ Links: What Happens Next? by Isreal Rigby https://www.amazon.com/What-Happens-Next-Isreal-Rigby-ebook/dp/B0CTZV63ZM Caribbean Association for Behaviour Analysis https://caribbeanba.org/leadership/ The Black Association of Behavior Analysts https://babainfo.org/ International Behavior Analysis Association https://theibao.com/ To learn more about behaviour analysis in the Caribbean, check out these interviews: https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-93-behaviour-analysis-in-the-caribbean-with-kim-woolery-gabi-torres-and-sloane-pharr-strang/ https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-97-bridging-the-gap-culturally-responsive-telehealth-and-behavior-analysis-with-kimberly-woolery-ms-bcba/ https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/epiosde-187-culturally-grounded-autism-training-for-black-parents-with-camille-proctor/

In this special role-reversal episode, Dr. Asmahan Saleh Khalil returns—this time as host—to interview Behaviour Speak’s own Ben Reiman. Marking five years and close to 300 conversations, Ben reflects on the unexpected evolution of the podcast—from a simple networking idea to a global platform amplifying diverse voices in behaviour analysis. Together, they explore: The origins and evolution of Behaviour Speak What global conversations revealed about access, equity, and culture Common challenges across countries in building ABA services The impact of Ben’s late ADHD diagnosis Why cultural humility and self-reflection are essential in practice The “missing link” in ABA training: working with people The role of motivational interviewing and the constructional approach What’s next—including multilingual episodes and global expansion This is a deeply personal and reflective conversation about growth, discomfort, and the power of listening across cultures. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/GMwTUnOWYoQ This episode is presented by our founding academic partner, the Doctor of Education in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis program at Western University’s Faculty of Education. Program Information: https://www.edu.uwo.ca/graduate-education/edd/applied-behaviour-analysis.html How to apply: https://www.edu.uwo.ca/graduate-education/apply.html Program brochure: https://www.edu.uwo.ca/graduate-education/edd/foe120_edd_aba_r1.png Links: CBI Consultants https://www.cbiconsultants.com Asmahan Saleh Khalil https://drasmahan.com/about/ https://www.instagram.com/dr.asmahan.sk/ Dr. Monica Gilbert https://drmonicagilbert.com/ MI for Change Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/1RFSGrj1w5MPjTQpEN4Vi5?si=9393ff06f5244066 Ben's First Interview with Danni Reid https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-1-racism/ Interview with Ben's BCBA Supervisor https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-18-values-based-supervision-and-mentorship-with-hilary-mcclinton-med-bcba/ Interview with Dr. Rocío Rosales https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-30-a-conversation-with-dr-rocio-rosales-phd-bcba-d/ Interview with Alia Yasir https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-145-behavior-analysis-in-pakistan-with-alia-yasir-bcaba-iba/ Corina Jimenez-Gomez and Lauren Beaulieu Cultural Responsiveness Research Jimenez-Gomez, C. and Beaulieu, L. (2022), Cultural responsiveness in applied behavior analysis: Research and practice. Jnl of Applied Behav Analysis, 55: 650-673. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.920 Beaulieu, L. and Jimenez-Gomez, C. (2022), Cultural responsiveness in applied behavior analysis: Self-assessment. Jnl of Applied Behav Analysis, 55: 337-356. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.907 April is MENA Heritage Month - Check out these episodes for FREE CEUs! https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/ep-243-culturally-responsive-behaviour-analysis-in-the-united-arab-emirates-with-amina-maliki-med-bcba/ https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-240-from-the-frontlines-civilian-stories-of-war-and-resilience-with-dr-iman-farajallah/ https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-238-behaviour-analysis-in-bahrain-with-ingy-alireza-med-ms-bcba/ https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-232-behaviour-analysis-in-sudan-with-salma-abdelrahmanabdalla-med-iba-qba/ https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-228-the-nubian-egyptian-behaviour-analyst-with-nehal-siam-mped-bcba-rba-ont/ https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-218-behavior-analysis-in-morocco-with-mina-el-qalli-qasp-s-iba/ https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-215-behavior-analysis-in-turkiye-with-dr-buket-kisac-demiroglu/ https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-200-safeguarding-vulnerable-children-in-the-arab-world-with-dr-asmahan-saleh-khalil/ Check out these episodes on the Constructional Approach! https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-257-a-compassionate-approach-to-exposure-therapy-with-danielle-cohen/ https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-252-applications-of-the-constructional-approach-with-dr-madhura-deshpande/ https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-250-the-constructional-approach-a-primer-with-awab-abdel-jalil/