Enrich at the UKSBA Conference in London March 2026

Back from the UKSBA Conference: Why I’m Feeling Re-Energised About Behavioural Gerontology

Did you catch me presenting at the UKSBA Conference in London last week?

In early March, I headed down to London and had a genuinely fantastic time at the UK Society for Behaviour Analysis conference. It was one of those events that reminds you why you got into this field in the first place. I had the chance to reconnect with colleagues I already knew and, just as importantly, to build new connections with behavior analysts working across the UK.

The talks throughout the conference were brilliant. There was such a wide range of topics covered, from burnout and sleep to procedural fidelity and trauma-informed care. It was inspiring to see how much important work is happening across different areas of practice, all grounded in behavioral science.

I also had the opportunity to present as part of a symposium alongside three phenomenal colleagues who I previously presented with at ABAI in Philadelphia. It was really special to come together again and share our work in a UK setting.

Dr. Hanna Steinunn Steingrimsdottir from Reykjavik University in Iceland brought some incredibly innovative research. Hanna’s research focuses on stimulus control in individuals with dementia, and she is also leading a fantastic programme where students can complete a master’s degree in ABA while gaining hands-on practicum experience working with behavioral gerontologists in care home settings. It is exactly the kind of training model our field needs more of.

I was also joined by Shawa Fleming and Brittany Clarke from Ontario, Canada. Their work is truly pioneering. Together, they run an intensive programme for older adults with aphasia that sits at the intersection of behavior analysis and speech and language pathology. Brittany is a speech and language pathologist, and Shawna is a behavior analyst, and their collaboration highlights just how powerful interdisciplinary work can be.

As part of the symposium, Hanna presented her research on using virtual reality in dementia care, comparing it to more picture based interactions. Shawna and Brittany shared their work on their aphasia programme, offering practical insights into how behavioral approaches can support communication outcomes in older adults.

For my part, I presented my study published last year, which focused on teaching a spouse to support his wife with showering after she had gone four months without doing so. It is a piece of work that really highlights the impact behavior analysis can have on quality of life while maintaining dignity, not just for the individual, but for their family as well.

If you missed my talk, you can watch the full presentation and earn 1 CEU through Enrich.

Overall, the conference left me feeling re-energised. Spending time talking about ABA with older adults, alongside colleagues who are doing such meaningful and innovative work, is something I never take for granted. It is a reminder of how much potential there is in behavioral gerontology and how important it is that we keep building this space together.