ABA Saudi Arabia – 2025 Annual Report – Inside Behavior Analysis

By Sara Silsilah

ABA Saudi Arabia was accepted as an affiliated chapter of ABAI on May 31, 2013. After 8 years since the establishment of the chapter, ABA Saudi Arabia is committed to its mission statement.

ABA Saudi Arabia was established with the mission to disseminate information about the science of behavior analysis and support the development of and access to behavior analytic services for people in need. To accomplish this mission, the chapter supports the development of graduate opportunities for appropriate candidates in Saudi Arabia, plans and supports continuing education (CE) for practicing behavior analysts, and advocates for access to community-based behavior analytic services through governmental and regulatory channels. The current officers are Sara Silsilah, Ph.D., BCBA, President, and Shahad Alsharif, Ph.D., BCBA, LBA, Vice President.

In the following section, we highlight the activities carried out by the chapter members in 2025 to further disseminate behavior analysis across Saudi Arabia.

This year, two significant projects have been launched with dedicated committees established for each initiative.

First, the Mentorship Program was initiated to support new supervisors in the field by pairing them with experienced mentors who have been in the field for five years or more. This program is designed to last three months and involves one mentee being paired with five mentors. We are pleased to report that one round of mentorship has been successfully completed, and we are now starting a second round. This program has provided invaluable support to emerging supervisors, facilitating their professional growth and enhancing their clinical decision-making skills.

Secondly, the chapter launched CEU Workshops, offered free of charge to support the ABA community in maintaining their certification and expanding their expertise in various areas. The most recent CEU workshop, titled “Assessment and Intervention for Food Selectivity in Children,” was well-received, contributing to the ongoing professional development of our members and practitioners in the field.

ABA Saudi Arabia welcomes membership to all individuals interested or actively engaged in behavior analysis. For the time being, until we become an associate chapter, any person wishing to become a member must submit a completed application form. Contact ssilsilah@theseedsofknowledge.com for membership information.

Regards,

Dr. Sara Silsilah, Chapter President