RUBI Program
Empower Caregivers with Confidence
Learn how to develop family-centered support plans to help caregivers navigate behavioral challenges with clarity and compassion.
Enable Parents to Be There for Their Kids
RUBI is a leading parent training program, grounded in decades of research and proven to create lasting behavior change in children with autism and other I/DDs.
The RUBI Program provides practitioners with a strong foundation for beginning clinical practice using RUBI Parent Training. Learners develop an understanding of the theoretical foundations of RUBI and build practical skills for implementing the model with fidelity while navigating common clinical challenges. Through three self-paced courses — RUBI Foundations, RUBI Core Sessions, and Caregiver Engagement — practitioners learn to design effective, family-centered RUBI intervention plans that support autistic youth and their caregivers.
Upon completion of the RUBI Program, practitioners are prepared to deliver the RUBI Parent Training intervention clinically with fidelity. Learners demonstrate the ability to implement RUBI, engage caregivers effectively, and apply ABA-based strategies to support families of neurodiverse children with co-occurring challenging behaviors. Successful completion of the RUBI Program results in the designation or title of RUBI Trained Practitioner, with inclusion in the RUBI Network directory.
The RUBI Program is an asynchronous, online training completed at the learner’s own pace. The program includes three self-paced courses — RUBI Foundations, RUBI Core Sessions, and Caregiver Engagement. Coursework is followed by a live virtual capstone session focused on applied learning. Learners must pass a final exam and a fidelity assessment, submitting one mock RUBI session for review.
RUBI is a short-term, low-intensity, manualized, parent-mediated intervention grounded in applied behavior analysis (ABA). The program guides practitioners in teaching tailored behavioral strategies to families of children with autism, intellectual or developmental disabilities and co-occurring challenging behaviors. RUBI emphasizes empowering caregivers as agents of change by strengthening their ability to understand, scaffold and respond to their child’s behavior in everyday contexts.
Who should take this program?
This program is designed for practitioners whose scope of practice includes working with families of neurodiverse children (autism, intellectual/developmental disabilities, ADHD) with co-occurring challenging behaviors.
Prerequisites
- A master’s degree or higher in a related field (preferred).
- Learner must have their own copy of the RUBI Manual and Parent Workbook (available for purchase through Oxford).
Who will you support?
Ages
- Children 3-12
- Youth 12-14
Treatment Format
11-13 weeks of parent coaching, typically delivered through weekly coaching sessions between the practitioner and caregiver.
What's Included?
- From Theory to Practice: RUBI Modeling Videos
- RUBI Program Resources
- RUBI Treatment Planning Form
Office Hours
We provide Office Hour sessions for learners who have completed a certificate program. These 1:1 consultations let you discuss topics from your completed program with designated instructors.
Capstone Session
A 1.5-hour virtual session with an instructor that includes final course content, Q&A and applied discussion. It’s the final step in completing your Catalight certificate program.
Julie Wittman, MEd, PhD, BCBA
Developer and Instructor
Degrees/Credentials
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Certificate #1-20-46505
- Verified Course Sequence from University of Washington for BCBA
- Experience acquired at the Center on Disabilities and Human Development at the University of Idaho, Clinical Services
- MEd in Special Education, University of Idaho
- PhD, Animal Physiology, University of Idaho
- BS, Animal Science, Cornell University
Current Position
- RUBI Certified Trainer
- RUBI Certified Provider
Programs
- RUBI Program
- RUBI Workshop
- RUBI Advanced Certification
Disclosures
- Julie is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis, International (ABAI)
Karen Bearss, PhD
Creator of RUBI, Developer and Instructor
Degrees/Credentials
- Licensed Psychologist #Y60675554
- PhD, Clinical Child Psychology, University of Florida
- MS, Clinical Psychology, University of Florida
- BS, Psychology, University of Florida
Current Position
- Creator of RUBI
- Vice President of Caregiver Mediated Care Solutions, Catalight
Programs
- RUBI Program
- RUBI Workshop
- RUBI Advanced Certification
Disclosures
- Dr. Bearss receives royalties from Oxford University Press and grant funding from NIMH and the Eagles Autism Foundation.
Lindsey Sneed, PhD, BCBA-D
Developer and Instructor
Degrees/Credentials
- Licensed Psychologist #PSY34154
- PhD, Clinical Psychology, Walden University
- MS, Applied Psychology, Walden University
- MS, Educational Counseling, National University
- BA, Counseling Psychology, William Jessup University
- RUBI Certified
Current Position
- Vice President of Clinical Excellence, Catalight
- Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco
Programs
- Calibrate ABA Program
- Compass-Behavioral Program
- RUBI Program
- Everyday ABA Program
T. Lindsey Burrell, PhD
Developer and Instructor
Degrees/Credentials
- Licensed Psychologist #PSY003805
- MA and PhD, Clinical Psychology, Texas Tech University
- BA, Psychology, West Virginia University
Current Position
- Master RUBI Trainer
- Owner of Burrell Behavioral Consulting
- Licensed Psychologist at Atlanta Children's Center, Atlanta, GA
Programs
- RUBI Program
- RUBI Workshop
- RUBI Advanced Certification
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