About Ken
Dr. Ken MacAleese founded Advanced Child Behavior Solutions (ACBS) with his wife, Alicia, in 2006. He graduated from Auburn University in Auburn, AL in 1998 with a B.A. in Psychology (cum laude). Ken received M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Psychology (with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis) from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). While at UNR, he was fortunate to receive training and supervision from prestigious faculty in a variety of areas in the behavioral assessment and treatment of childhood disorders including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), other childhood and adult intellectual and developmental disabilities, rare genetic or medical conditions, as well as the common behavioral challenges of neurotypically developing children such as toileting issues, sleeping in one’s own bed, and following parent instructions.
In addition to supporting ACBS’s clinicians, training processes, and business operations, he works as a clinical supervisor and consults with regional school districts in Northern Nevada. He started his school consulting in rural districts and continues to be passionate about creating access to quality behavior analytic services for children, families, and schools in areas outside of the greater Reno/Sparks area. Having over 20 years of experience working with a variety of children of different ages with varying learning and behavior problems, Ken is uniquely positioned to offer excellent clinical service to children and families in their homes as well as students with special education needs and their teachers. When typical textbook interventions fail to provide significant changes in a child’s learning or behavior, Ken is able to apply his educational and clinical experience to better fit the learner’s needs. He knows the clinicians, schools, and systems of support that exist in our community and is able to leverage that knowledge to help families and schools achieve high levels of success.
Values and Commitments
Ken’s commitment to the science of behavior and its application drives his active participation in behavior analysis, both nationally and locally, in areas outside of his clinical and business operations. Ken has presented in applied, experimental, and conceptual research topics at professional conferences throughout North America and has taught college-level behavioral classes at UNR and Truckee Meadows Community College. His commitment to behavioral science includes published scientific articles and book chapters on a variety of behavioral topics that include managing and implementing token economies, stereotypic behavior, reinforcement schedules, and bedtime resistance. He continues to remain active in promoting the science by regularly participating as an invited reviewer of manuscripts for publication in prominent behavior analytic journals and participating as a committee member for graduate student research in behavior analysis at UNR and Sacramento State University. He has supported public policy efforts in Nevada since 2009 including regulatory professional and practice issues as well as funding and health insurance issues and has participated in legislative affairs as the public policy representative for the Nevada Association for Behavior Analysis (NABA) for the last 11 years. He continues to support advocacy organizations and funding and health insurance reimbursement improvements for children needing educational and behavioral services in the state. Ken has supported the profession by serving as a subject matter expert for the Behavior Analysis Certification Board’s Registered Behavior Technician examination and has been twice served as the President of NABA. He will shortly join the Board of Amplify Life, a local non-profit agency whose goal is to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. Ken’s strong commitments to the community, his contributions to legislative processes and senate bills related to behavior analytic services, and his leadership in forging a path for access to quality ABA treatment and educational services for all individuals state-wide, were recently recognized by NABA, as he received the inaugural Silver Sage Award which will be presented at NABA’s annual conference in October 2019
Personal Life
Ken is a proud husband and father of two children and loves his Reno community, which has been his home for over 20 years. When he isn’t working, he loves being active and spending time outdoors (his newest interest is rock climbing!). He loves playing guitar, watching sports, and coaching flag football.
His Vision
Ken is committed to a vision of substantial improvement in the number and quality of services available to those in need in Nevada. He is proud to offer skilled, compassionate, and dedicated behavior analysts for your clinical needs that share the vision, values, ethics, and strong behavior analytic foundation required to be employed at our company.