Mary Barbera

Mary Barbera is an American behavior analyst and author who specializes in autism. She is known for her work on the application of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for children with autism. Her notable publications include The Verbal Behavior Approach (2007), a book that covers Applied Behavior Analysis and B. F. Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior.

Barbera received a Ph.D. from Alvernia University in 2011, where she wrote her dissertation on fluency-based autism training. She is also a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D), and holds an MSN in Nursing Administration from the University of Pennsylvania and a BSN from West Chester University (1986).

After Barbera’s son Lucas was diagnosed with autism in 1999, she became the founding president of the Autism Society of America's Berks County Chapter. Since becoming a behavior analyst in 2003, she has served as the lead behavior analyst for the PA Verbal Behavior Project from 2003-2010.

Since 2015, Barbera has offered online courses and mentorship programs based on Applied Behavior Analysis. Her methodology has been used by various clinics and organizations, including the Autism Centers of Michigan.

Mary Barbera is married to Dr. Charles F. Barbera, who is a Emergency Medicine physician and the Vice President of Unscheduled Care for Tower Health system. She is the mother of two sons. Her eldest son Lucas was diagnosed with autism in 1999, and her son Spencer is a college student.

Selected publications by Mary Barbera include the following.

• Barbera, Mary Lynch; Rasmussen, Tracy (2007). The Verbal Behavior Approach: How to Teach Children with Autism and Related Disorders. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. (with Foreword by Dr. Mark Sundberg and translations in over a dozen languages)
• Barbera, M.L. (2015). More talking less tantrums:Ten key components needed for effective autism programming for any age, any ability, any setting.
• Barbera, M.L. (2011). The effects of fluency-based autism training on emerging educational leaders. Doctoral Dissertation. Alvernia University.
• Barbera, M. L. (2009). Getting started with the Verbal Behavior Approach. Autism File Magazine, 30, 108-112.
• Barbera, M. L. (2007). The experiences of “autism mothers” who become Behavior Analysts: A qualitative study. The Journal of Speech and Language Pathology–Applied Behavior Analysis, 2(3), 287-305.
• Barbera, M. L., & Kubina, R. M. (2005). Using transfer procedures to teach tacts to a child with autism. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 21, 155-161.

• Barbera, M. L. (2014). Using Applied Behavior Analysis and Verbal Behavior Strategies to Improve Autism Programming for both Toddlers and Teens with Autism. Knospe-ABA.
• Barbera, M. L. (2013). Using ABA/VB Strategies to Improve Autism Programming Across the Spectrum. Kentucky Association of Behavior Analysis (KYABA) workshop, April 2013, University of Louisville.
• Barbera, M. L. (2011). Evaluating the Efficiency of Non-Traditional Staff Training in Autism Interventions. 37th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International.
• Barbera, M. L. (2011). Measuring the Effects of a Fluency-Based Autism Training on Emerging Educational Leaders. 37th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International.
• Barbera, M. L. (2010). The Verbal Behavior Approach: Home Programming for Children with Autism. 4th annual Autism Conference, “Stepping Stones to Excellence”, Oct. 29-30, 2010. Florida Institute of Technology School of Psychology and Scott Center for Autism Treatment.
• Barbera, M. L. (2010). Early Identification: Pennsylvania First Signs. 36th National Conference on Autism Spectrum Disorders, Autism Society of America (July 13-16, 2005).
• Barbera, M. L. (2005). Case studies of response to intervention for sites participating is PA VB Project and selected single subject efficacy studies. The Association for Behavior Analysis International 31st Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.