University of Illinois Chicago
Project Title: Equivalence Class Formation and Attitudes Toward Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Amanda Chastain holds a master’s degree in Psychology (Applied Behavior Analysis) from California State University, Sacramento, and is currently completing her doctoral degree in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago. In 2024, she was awarded a Certificate in Disability Ethics from the University of Illinois Chicago’s Department of Disability and Human Development. Her dissertation integrates findings on the equivalence model of social categorization, implicit attitudes, and stimulus blocking to investigate the role of prior history on the development and maintenance of bias toward individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities. This work contributes to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts by advancing the understanding of implicit bias and laying the groundwork for the development of effective stigma-reduction strategies aligned with the neurodiversity social justice movement. Specifically, she examines the mechanisms by which stereotypes are maintained and resisted. She has over a decade of clinical experience working in applied behavior analytic programs, where she has held roles including Program Director, Behavior Consultant, and Senior Behavior Therapist. She has worked as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in school-, clinic-, and home-based programs with autistic children and adolescents. Most recently, Ms. Chastain began a position as an Assistant Professor of Applied Behavior Analysis at the Oregon Institute of Technology. Her primary research interest is the influence of language and cognition on behaviors and practices across individual, interpersonal, and cultural levels. She is committed to improving the availability and efficacy of individual and social supports for members of the broader neurodiversity community, emphasizing the need for neurodiversity affirming practice and social systems change. Additionally, Amanda currently serves as a Planner for the Behaviorists for Social Responsibility (BFSR) Special Interest Group within the Association for Behavior Analysis International organization, where she has played a key role in developing a Public Policy Working Group composed of researchers, practitioners, and community members working to integrate behavior analysis into public policy and advocacy.
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