About the Event
Many children and adolescents with autism and other neurodiverse conditions present significant concerns to carers who are trying to ensure proper levels of nutrition. The presentation will begin with a discussion of selective eating and the factors that can affect a child’s eating. Dr. Binnendyk will then discuss how food preferences develop and the importance of children tasting a wide range of foods.
The presenters will provide step by step strategies for expanding a child’s diet. These will include ways to increase the likelihood your child will take a bite as well as how to respond when your child is refusing. Discussion will include how interventions can be modified to fit each family’s mealtime routine.
The presentation will include answers to questions commonly asked by parents during therapy, including:
“What if I’ve tried rewards but my child still won’t take a bite?”
“Will my child always rely on rewards to eat new healthy foods?”
“What if it never gets easier to feed my child?”
“When do I honour my child’s dislike for a new food?”
“What if my child is sensitive to textures?”
Attention BCBAs: The BC Association for Behaviour Analysis (BC-ABA) has 4.0 CEUs available for purchase for those attending this workshop. Visit the BC-ABA website to purchase your credits before November 22. All questions regarding CEUs should be directed to conference@bc-aba.org.
About the Presenters
Lauren Binnendyk, PhD, BCBA-D
Lauren Binnendyk has a PhD in Special Education (concentration in autism and related disabilities) and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) and has worked with children with developmental disabilities since 1997. Dr. Binnendyk is the Clinical Director at West Coast Feeding and Behaviour Specialists which she opened in 2010 to provide families with evidenced-based, family centred treatment of severe feeding disorders. Her practice has expanded to include a range of feeding concerns including, picky eating, bottle or milk dependence, chewing issues, and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
Chantal Juilfs, M.Ed. BCBA, Behavior Analyst Consultant
Chantal received her Master’s degree in Special Education (concentration in developmental disabilities) from the University of British Columbia in 2017 and is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst. In 2013, Chantal began specializing in feeding disorders under the supervision of Dr. Binnendyk at West Coast Feeding and Behaviour Specialists. Chantal has focussed her practice on working with individuals diagnosed with Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, food selectivity, food refusal, and oral motor delays. Chantal understands the underlying fear involved with trying new foods for most of the individuals she works with and uses evidenced-based strategies to help them work through their fears to reach their goals.