As part of the ISBA community day on the 11th April at 11am, we were joined by Dr Nichola Booth. Nichola’s work focuses on the practical application of behavioural analysis to bring real inclusion.  

Nichola is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience as a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst certified in 2009. Currently serving as the Programme Director for the MSc Applied Behaviour Analysis at Queen’s University Belfast, she also lectures across various postgraduate degrees. Her current research focus is with projects that use virtual reality to enhance staff training in educational settings.

Prior to her tenure at Queen’s University, Nichola played a pivotal role as the clinical lead at the PEAT charity. In this role, she provided in-house training and support to parents of children and young autistic people, emphasising the application of behaviour analysis to understand and address behavioural challenges (behaviour that have a risk of harm to themselves or others).

Nichola was instrumental in helping establish; Autism in the Air – try before you fly, an initiative, conducted in collaboration with George Best Belfast City Airport, since 2014. This annual event allows 50 families the opportunity to visit the airport, providing them with a practice run to familiarise themselves with the environment before embarking on a holiday. This was the first event of its kind offered across the island of Ireland and the United Kingdom, and was featured in BBC1’s The One Show.

Nichola and the team have produced a series of videos which give children and families the opportunity to practise the steps they will experience when going on a flight. 

Autism in the Air

Real inclusion looks like a family going on holidays together. 

A copy of Nichola’s slides can be found here

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