Thursday: April 23, 2026 @ 8pm

Cutting Through the Noise: Understanding Misinformation About Autism & Finding Evidence-Based Answers

Description of Webinar:
Families and professionals navigating autism services are often overwhelmed by misinformation that creates confusion and false expectations. This webinar, designed for parents, caregivers, and allied professionals, explores why myths spread, how they impact client outcomes, and what role behavior analysis plays in guiding families with accurate, evidence-based answers. Participants will leave with practical tools to evaluate sources, communicate effectively, and advocate for interventions that align with promoting effectiveness, dignity, safety, and quality of life.

Outcomes of Webinar:
Improved Decision-Making by Families and Professionals: Participants will be better equipped to identify misinformation, evaluate the credibility of sources, and make informed decisions grounded in evidence-based practice rather than trends, fear, or social media narratives.

Stronger Advocacy for Ethical, Effective Intervention: Attendees will leave with practical language and tools to advocate for services that prioritize effectiveness, dignity, safety, and long-term quality of life.

More Collaborative and Trusting Partnerships: By understanding how myths spread and how to address them respectfully, families and professionals can engage in clearer, less adversarial conversations, leading to stronger therapeutic alliances and better client outcomes.

Would you like to provide CEUs for the webinar?:
No

About the Presenters:
MiBAP Quality Committee (Stefanie Beattie, Paul Doher, Jon Timm)

Presenter Bios:

Paul Doher
I’m Paul Doher the director of clinical quality at Acorn Health. I have been a behavior analyst since 2016 and prior to working in the field of ABA, I taught special education in public schools for five years. I believe everyone deserves access to high quality care and in my current role I focus on training clinicians on how to design and deliver therapy for individuals who are significantly impacted by their disability, in addition to developing quality assurance tools and processes that ensure quality. I believe it’s incredibly important that people in the community have access to reliable and valid information about autism to ensure they get the appropriate treatment they deserve.

Stefanie Beattie
I am the Interim Outpatient Services Director at the Great Lakes Center for Autism, an organization that provides outpatient ABA therapy to individuals with autism in West Michigan. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2013, I joined the Great Lakes Center in 2016. Throughout my career, I have been committed to evidence-based practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community education. I am passionate about promoting accurate, inclusive understandings of autism that go beyond stereotypes, and advocate for accessible, high-quality support for individuals across the spectrum.

Jon Timm
Jonathan Timm, MA, BCBA, is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 17 years of experience serving individuals with developmental disabilities. A Western Michigan University graduate, certified instructor in Professional Crisis Management, Founder of North Arrow ABA, and previous leader in multiple ABA organizations, Jonathan brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. Based in Traverse City, Michigan, Jonathan launched North Arrow ABA to provide high quality behavior analytic services to individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities throughout Northern Michigan.

Register Here