Building Cultural Humility in ABA: Meghan Deshais on Teaching Diversity, Social Justice, and Behaviour Analysis

Many helping professions have made cultural humility and multicultural education core elements of professional training. Behaviour analysis is still working toward that goal.

In this conversation, Ben speaks with Meghan Deshais about her efforts to help move the field forward through education, curriculum development, and the creation of an open-access Culture & Diversity Toolkit for ABA Instructors. Meghan describes how her interests in social justice, feminism, and behaviour science gradually converged, leading her to explore how radical behaviourism and intersectional feminism share common contextual and pragmatic foundations.

Listeners will learn how a faculty-led initiative at Caldwell University evolved into a comprehensive resource that helps educators incorporate culture and diversity content throughout ABA coursework. Meghan explains the toolkit's foundation in the cultural competence standards established by Lyz Hughes-Fong and colleagues and discusses the addition of a new eighth standard focused on understanding behavioural mechanisms that contribute to social inequities.

The discussion also explores practical teaching strategies, including creating psychologically safe classroom environments, encouraging respectful discourse, and helping students engage with difficult topics without becoming defensive or overwhelmed. Meghan offers thoughtful perspectives on navigating politically charged language, emphasizing behavioural definitions and observable realities rather than ideological labels.

This episode is an important listen for behaviour analysts, educators, supervisors, graduate students, and anyone interested in culturally responsive and ethically informed behavioural practice.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aEvbC_fIWYM

Continuing Education Credits (Click here to purchase!)

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

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Contact Meghan Deshais

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-deshais-644998151/
 
Rutgers 
https://gsapp.rutgers.edu/meghan-deshais
 
Research Referenced
Catagnus, R.M., Gharapetian, L., Najdowski, A. et al. Breaking Barriers with Humor and Heart: Dr. Elizabeth Hughes Fong’s Contributions to the Culturally Sensitive Practice of Applied Behavior Analysis. Behav Analysis Practice 18, 1290–1299 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-025-01083-8
 
Fong, E. H., & Tanaka, S. (2013). Multicultural alliance of behavior analysis standards for cultural competence in behavior analysis.International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, 8(2), 17–19. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0100970
 
Fong, E. H., Catagnus, R. M., Brodhead, M. T., Quigley, S., & Field, S. (2016). Developing the Cultural Awareness Skills of Behavior Analysts. Behavior analysis in practice, 9(1), 84–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-016-0111-6
 
Jimenez-Gomez, C., Beaulieu, L., Vance, H. et al. Fostering Culturally Responsive Practice in Behaviour Analysts Through Online Training and Supervision. Behav Analysis Practice (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-026-01218-5
 

If you enjoyed this conversation, you may also be interested in these related Behaviour Speak episodes exploring cultural competence, cultural humility, and culturally responsive practice in behaviour analysis:

Episode 53: Cultural Competence in Behaviour Analysis: How Far Have We Come? with Dr. Elizabeth Hughes Fong
https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-53-cultural-competence-in-behaviour-analysis-how-far-have-we-come-with-dr-elizabeth-hughes-fong/






Episode 214: Cultural Humility in Behavior Analysis with Quintara Tucker
https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-214-cultural-humility-in-behavior-analysis-with-quintara-tucker/






Episode 202: The Culturally Responsive Behavior Analyst with Dr. Ruby Mannankara Cabrera
https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-202-the-culturally-responsive-behavior-analyst-with-dr-ruby-mannankara-cabrera/






Episode 102: Enhancing Cultural Responsiveness in Behavioral Service Delivery for Latino Families (Part 1)
https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-102-enhancing-cultural-responsiveness-in-behavioral-service-delivery-for-latino-families-part-1/






Episode 22: Cultural Competence with Jessica Bethel, MEd, BCBA
https://www.behaviourspeak.com/e/episode-22-cultural-competence-with-jessica-bethel-med-bcba/