Beyond Compliance: Supporting Children Across Cultures with ABA and PBS with Dianna Yip, M.Ed., BCBA

In this episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben Reiman is joined by Dianna Yip, behaviour analyst and practitioner with over a decade of experience building services in Hong Kong.

Dianna shares her journey from Vancouver to Hong Kong and what it was like entering a system with limited services, minimal regulation, and little awareness of ABA or PBS. Over time, she helped grow access, build community, and shift perceptions—often starting from scratch.

This conversation explores how culture shapes behaviour support, from parenting expectations to professional practice. Dianna explains why positive behaviour support (PBS) has been more readily accepted than ABA in Hong Kong, and how language, history, and collaboration play a role.

Together, they unpack:

The realities of autism services in Hong Kong
Why ABA is often misunderstood—and how PBS helps bridge the gap
The challenges of privately funded care and lack of regulation
Cultural values like compliance, academic success, and authority
How to balance respect for culture with person‑centred practice

The conversation also dives into emerging ideas that are still gaining traction in the region:

Assent-based practice and mutual respect
Neurodiversity and shifting from charity to empowerment
Moving from compliance to collaboration

Dianna also shares her work in building international practitioner communities, including the Global PBS Coalition, aimed at bringing more diverse perspectives into behaviour science.

This is a thoughtful, grounded conversation about what happens when behavioural science meets culture—and how we can do better when we listen, adapt, and stay curious.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rr7g18L9J-M

Continuing Education Credits (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop)

BACB: 1.0 Ethics
IBAO:  1.0 Cultural
QABA: 1.0 Ethics
CBA/CPD: 1.0 Cultural Diversity 

Follow us!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behaviourspeak/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/behaviourspeak

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@behaviorspeak

Find Diana here!

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianna-yip-plai/

PBS Asia

https://www.pbsa.asia/

P.L.A.I. Consulting

https://plaiconsulting.com/

Resources:

The Global PBS Coalition

https://globalpbscoalition.org/

Related Episodes:

Empowering The Chinese Autism Community 

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-212-empowering-the-chinese-autism-community-with-hazel-lim/

Reclaiming the Constructional Approach in PBS with Dr. John Wooderson and Oliver Roschke

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/beyond-behaviour-reduction-reclaiming-the-constructional-approach-in-pbs-with-oliver-roschke-john-wooderson/  

Family Centred Positive Behaviour Support with Dr. Joe Lucyshyn

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-43-family-centred-positive-behaviour-support-with-dr-joseph-lucyshyn-phd-bcba-d-part-1/

https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-44-family-centred-positive-behaviour-support-with-dr-joseph-lucyshyn-phd-bcba-d-part-2/