Communication Sciences and Disorders

Biography

Heather Forbes joined West Chester University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2024. She earned her M.A. in speech-language pathology from Northwestern University and Ph.D. in special education from University of Kansas. Dr. Forbes is also a doctoral-level board certified behavior analyst. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Dr. Forbes provided autism-related educational consultation to special education classrooms in Pennsylvania public schools. Her research focuses on interventions to improve communication for children with autism and other developmental disabilities, with a particular focus on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions and interprofessional/collaborative service delivery.

Education

Ph.D. in Special Education (2022)
University of Kansas, Lawrence KS
Dissertation: A comparison of symbol exchange interventions for teaching mands to children with autism and other developmental disabilities

M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology (2005)
Northwestern University, Evanston IL

B.A. in Speech Communications (2003)
Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove PA

Course Number	Course Name
SLP 511	Child Language I
SLP 512	Child Language II
SLP 570	School Programs
CSD 350	Clinical Principles in Communicative Disorders

Certificate of Clinical Competence, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Certificate #12082444

Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral Level, Behavior Analyst Certification Board Certificate #1-13-13637

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, West Virginia Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology License #SLP-2316

Selected Publications

Forbes, H., Crain, M., & Slim, L. (2024). A treatment summary of the Natural Language Acquisition protocol for gestalt language development. Science in Autism Treatment, 21(8). https://asatonline.org/for-parents/learn-more-about-specific-treatments/natural-language-acquisition/

Forbes, H. J., Travers, J. C., & Vickers Johnson, J. (2024). A systematic review of acquisition and mastery of skills taught using Picture Exchange Communication System. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 40(2), 100-114. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2024.2302154

Forbes, H. J., Travers, J. C., & Vickers Johnson, J. (2022). Supporting the replication of your research. In D. J. Cox, M. T. Brodhead, & S. P. Quigley (Eds.), Research ethics in behavior analysis: From laboratory to clinic and classroom (pp. 238-262). Academic Press, Elsevier.

Forbes, H. J., Vickers Johnson, J., & Travers, J. C. (2021). Some concerns about the next big thing in special education: Persistency of fads. In B. G. Cook, M. Tankersley, & T. J. Landrum (Eds.), Advances in learning and behavioral disabilities: The next big thing in learning and behavioral disabilities (Vol. 31, pp. 191-202). Emerald Publishing Limited.  https://doi.org/10.1108/S0735-004X20210000031012

Travers, J. C., Forbes, H. J., Vickers Johnson, J., & Ayers, K. M. (2020). Inclusion and students with severe, sensory, and multiple impairments. In J. M. Kauffman (Ed.). On educational inclusion (pp. 160-175). Routledge.

Forbes, H. J., Travers, J. C., & Vickers Johnson, J. (2020). A systematic review of linguistic and verbal behavior outcomes of Pivotal Response Treatment. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(3), 766–778. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04307-3

Forbes, H. J. (2018). Augmentative and alternative communication intervention in public schools: Achieving meaningful outcomes through collaboration. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 3(12), 55-69. https://doi.org/10.1044/persp3.SIG12.55

Esch, B. E., & Forbes, H. J. (2017). An annotated bibliography of articles in the Journal of Speech and Language Pathology-Applied Behavior Analysis. Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 33(1), 139-157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40616-017-0080-z

Selected Presentations

Forbes, H. J., Travers, J. C., & Vickers Johnson, J. (2024, May). A systematic review of acquisition and mastery of skills taught using the Picture Exchange Communication System. Poster presented at the 50th Association for Behavior Analysis International Convention. Philadelphia, PA.

Forbes, H. J., Travers, J. C., Tuck, K. N., & Vickers Johnson, J. (2024, May). Comparing symbol exchange interventions for teaching mands to children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Poster presented at the 50th Association for Behavior Analysis International Convention. Philadelphia, PA.

Forbes, H. J. (2023, December). Incorporating Skinner’s analysis of verbal behavior in the education and training of current and future speech-language pathologists. Webinar presented for the Verbal Behavior Special Interest Group ABAC Panel.

Risen, S., Forbes, H. J., & Lindblad, T. L. (2023, November). Analyzing popular practice approaches with low-quality evidence: Gestalt language processing. Webinar presented for the 15th Speech Pathology Applied Behavior Analysis Community of Practice Event.

Forbes, H. J., & Lindblad, T. L. (2023, August). Teaching picture-based manding to children with autism. Paper presented at the 27th Annual Penn State National Autism Conference: State College, PA.

Lindblad, T. L., & Forbes, H. J. (2023, August). Problem solving case studies for augmentative and alternative communication intervention for individuals with autism. Paper presented at the 27th Annual Penn State National Autism Conference: State College, PA.

Forbes, H. J. (2022, October). Collaborating to support augmentative and alternative communication for students with autism. Paper presented at the 17th Annual Thompson Center Autism Conference: St. Charles, MO.