Meet the BCBA

My name is Anna Garcia. I have dedicated the past 10 years to working with children with autism and their families. During this time, I have provided Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services across diverse settings including family homes, schools, clinics, and hospitals.  

I take great pride in helping children develop essential skills, from saying their first words and expressing their needs to engaging in meaningful play with siblings and their caregivers.

What I ove most about my work is witnessing the transformative impact of these new skills. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child use what they've learned to explore their world, communicate their desires, and connect with those around them. Watching their confidence grow as they realize the power of their abilities is truly inspiring.  

• Board Certified and Licensed in Applied Behavior Analysis
• Bachelor's in Psychology
• Master's and Doctorate in Applied Behavior Analysis
• Thesis: Adapting Functional Communication Training to Client's Family Values
• Post-Doctorate Research: Teaching Children with Autism to Tell Stories

2020 National Academy of Education (NAEd/Spencer) Postdoctoral Fellowship Semifinalist 

2017 B. F. Skinner Graduate Student Research Award   

2017 SABA Senior Student Presenter Grant  

2017 University of South Florida Conference Presentation Travel Grant  

2014-2016 Tampa Interbay Rotary ABA Graduate Grant

2016 USF ABA Program Graduate Student Assistance Grant

2013-2014 Center for Inclusive Communities Conference and Travel Grant  

Garcia, A. R., Bloom, S. E., Campos, C., & Weyman, J. R. Training parents to conduct trial-based

Functional analysis using behavior skills training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis-Accepted

pending revisions

Campos, C., Bloom S. E., & Weyman, J., & Garcia, A. R. (2020). Parent-implemented multiple

schedules. Behavioral Interventions, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.1743

Cividini-Motta, C., Garcia, A. R., McNaul, H., & Livingston, C. (2018) The effect of response

interruption and redirection with and without a differential reinforcement of alternative behavior component on stereotypy and appropriate responses. Behavioral Interventions, 34(1), 1-16. doi: 10.1002/bin.1654

Weyman, J. R., Bloom, S. E., Campos, C., & Garcia, A. R. Some Effects of Praise During the Escape

Condition of the Functional Analysis. Behavioral Intervention. To be published. on yur chance to explore the world with us.

Invited Presentations 

Garcia, A. R. Cultural reciprocity in applied behavior analysis. Michigan Autism Conference (MAC), October 2020

Garcia, A. R. Culturally adapted functional communication training. Michigan Autism Conference (MAC), October 2020

Garcia, A. R. Cultural reciprocity in behavior analytic services: Why does it matter? Invited Leadership Council (BALC), May 2020

Garcia, A. R. Cultural reciprocity in behavior analytic services: Why does it matter? Invited presentations UNCOMFORABLEX.COM/EVENTS, October 2019

Garcia, A. R. Culturally competent functional communication training. Behavior Analyst presentations UNCOMFORABLEX.COM/EVENTS, October 2019

Garcia, A. R. Cultural Competence. Invited presentation at Florida Center for Inclusive Communities, May 2015

Garcia, A. R. Cultural Competency Training. Invited presentation at AHCA Local Florida KidCare Coalitions Conference at the University of South Florida, March 2015

Conference Presentations

Garcia, A. R. (2020, August). Cultural Reciprocity in Applied Behavior Analysis. In A. Garcia (Chair). Providing Culturally Competent Services to Families of Diverse Backgrounds Symposium presented virtually at the Women in Behavior Analysis (WIBA) Conference.

Bell, M., Bloom, S., & Garcia, A. R. (2019, May). Culturally Adapted Services: Using Pyramidal Training to Teach Behavior Analytic Procedures to Hispanic Families. In C. Campos (Chair). Family- Centered Dissemination of Interventions. Symposium paper presented at 45th annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis International Conference, Chicago, IL

Camargo-Peña, M., Garcia, A. R., & Spencer, T. D. (2019, May). Review of Storytelling Intervention

Studies Involving Children with Autism. In 

T. D. Spencer (Chair). Storytelling intervention promotes academic language skills and inclusion: A verbal behavior analysis and applied research. Symposium paper presented at 45th annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis International Conference,

Chicago, IL

Garcia, A. R., & Spencer, T. D. (2019, May). Storytelling Intervention Improves Vocabulary and Inferencing: An Inclusive Approach. In T. D. Spencer (Chair). Storytelling intervention promotes academic language skills and inclusion: A verbal behavior analysis and applied research. Symposium paper presented at 45th annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis International Conference,

Chicago, IL

Weyman, J. R., Bloom, S. E., Campos, C., Garcia, A. R. (2019, May). Some Effects of Praise during

the Escape Condition of the Functional Analysis. In C. P. Livingston. Assessment and Intervention: Adjusting the Lens. Symposium paper presented at 45th annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis International Conference, Chicago, IL