Behavior Analysis and the Delivery of Services in Austria: A Call for Dissemination

The rise in the number of children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) brings attention to the importance of evidence-based practices to address its core and co-occurring conditions. Years of empirical research have repeatedly demonstrated and validated the effectiveness of applied behavior analysis (ABA) as the basis for the intervention for children with ASD. Different prevalence rates of ASD are observed on a global scale, and most countries in the world do not have the same level of accessibility to quality ABA services as the United States. This is the case in Austria, which currently has only one certified behavior analyst countrywide and only a few sites offering interventions based on ABA. Barriers to the delivery of interventions in Austria involve the complete absence of behavior analysis in Austrian research and higher education programs, limitations related to funding and insurance coverage, and the lack of licensure requirements and recognition of behavior analysts as a profession. In this article, we will present our analysis and experience navigating some of these barriers and describe the efforts put forward to overcome the issues of dissemination and barriers to service delivery.