Professionals on both international and national levels who work with children with autism are expressing the need for graduate-level training in applied behaviour analysis. The implementation of effective instruction in higher education for professionals working with children with autism and their families is a complex undertaking: the learner needs to acquire an understanding of the principles and procedures of applied behaviour analysis and also adapt this knowledge to the learning prerequisites of individuals with autism. In this paper we outline some current thinking about adult education and blended learning technologies and then describe and illustrate with examples emerging possibilities of multimedia technology in the development of teaching materials. We conclude that synergies between graduate-level curriculum requirements, knowledge of adult learning, and communication technology are necessary to establish comprehensive learning environments for professionals who specialize in autism intervention.

As the ageing population grows, more and more interest is given to the behavioural deficits and excesses of the elderly. Whereas most gerontological research follows the medical model, research in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) directs attention to an individual’s interaction with the environment in order to explain their behaviours. When functional relationships between the environment and behaviour are identified, it becomes possible to change behaviour to the benefit of the individual. This paper outlines behavioural research, as compared to other psychological approaches, and the many ways it has positively improved quality of life issues for both the community dwelling elderly and those in long-term care settings.

Sixty-seven widows whose husbands had been killed in the context of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland were assessed in relation to the cause of death, the quality of their marital relationship and the level of worry prior to the loss. Results reported here show that the violent cause of death led to a greater level of long-term psychological distress than other causes of death. Furthermore, widows who reported happiness regarding their marital relationship showed more signs of distress after the loss than those who reported less happiness. Widows who had not worried about their husband showed less signs of psychological distress after the loss than those who had worried. The interpretation of the findings is based on recent thinking in behaviour analysis.