Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): Practical Strategies for Supporting Individuals with Intellectual Disability and Behavioural Challenges
Hosted by the PsySSA The South African Society for Clinical Psychology (SASCP) Division
Webinar Details:
- Date: 14 July 2026
- Time: 18:00 – 20:00
- Platform: Online via Zoom
- 2 General CPD Points
About the Webinar:
Join Philip for an engaging and practical introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), an evidence-based approach for supporting neurodiverse individuals and people with intellectual disabilities.
This workshop will explore practical behavioural strategies for managing challenging behaviours, improving adaptive functioning, and creating consistent interventions across home, school, healthcare, and community settings. Participants will gain insight into Functional Behaviour Assessments, Behaviour Intervention Planning, reinforcement strategies, prompting, and skill-building techniques grounded in contemporary ABA practice.
With 18 years of experience working with neurodiverse individuals and special needs populations, Philip brings together clinical knowledge, community-based experience, and practical behavioural support approaches relevant to multidisciplinary teams and public sector environments.
Ideal for psychologists, educators, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and support staff seeking practical, ethical, and person-centred behavioural support tools.
Overview:
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a structured, evidence-based approach widely used to support individuals with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and complex behavioural challenges. Increasingly, ABA principles are being integrated across educational, healthcare, and community settings to improve adaptive functioning, emotional regulation, communication, and quality of life.
This workshop provides an accessible and practice-oriented introduction to ABA, with a particular focus on working with individuals who present with challenging behaviours within family, school, residential, and healthcare environments. Participants will be introduced to core ABA principles, including reinforcement, prompting, chaining, functional behaviour assessment, and behaviour intervention planning. The workshop will also explore ethical and person-centred approaches to behavioural support, emphasizing dignity, consistency, and collaborative intervention.
Drawing from both research and extensive practical experience, the training will examine how behavioural interventions can be implemented realistically within multidisciplinary and resource-constrained settings. Case examples and applied strategies will be discussed to assist participants in developing practical skills that can be translated into everyday clinical and support environments.
The workshop is suitable for psychologists, interns, educators, nursing staff, allied health professionals, caregivers, and others working with neurodiverse individuals and people with intellectual disabilities.
Philip Viljoen
Presenter
Philip qualified as an ABA therapist through the Florida Institute of Technology and has also received training in behavioural therapy. He holds undergraduate and honours degrees in psychology from the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa respectively. He has worked with neurodiverse individuals and people with special needs for the past 18 years, with a particular focus on supporting individuals who present with aggressive behaviours and on developing consistent behavioural interventions across family and school environments. Philip currently manages a sheltered employment and skills-training centre for adults with special needs and facilitates weekly social events for socially isolated neurodiverse individuals. He is also a published author and has presented at the annual PsySSA Congress.