Dr. Naima Bhana, BCBA-D

Biography

Dr. Naima Bhana, BCBA-D is an assistant professor in special education and applied behavior analysis at Niagara University in Lewiston, NY. Through her scholarship, she supports caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities with a focus on caregivers from Latinx backgrounds. She teaches caregivers naturalistic strategies they can implement during routine activities to increase the child’s socio-communicative and behavior skills. Additionally, she also investigates recruitment and retention strategies for special educators of color. She uses single-case and qualitative methodologies to create interventions that will improve the quality of life of families and of teachers of color in the USA and Latin America.

Naima received her doctorate in special education from Penn State University and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University. She has published and presented at national and international conferences in English and Spanish on the topics of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Diversity and Equity in Special Education, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Current Research

Publications:

1. Taylor, J.T., & Bhana, N. (2021). Incorporating High-Leverage Practice 7 in Classroom/Behavior Management Courses: Creating Supportive Learning Environments. Journal of Special Education Preparation. https://doi.org/10.33043/JOSEP.1.1.47-54
2. Bhana, N., McNaughton, D., Raulston, T.J., & Ousley, C. (2020). Supporting communication and participation in shared storybook reading using visual scene displays. Teaching Exceptional Children, 52(6), 382-391. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040059920918609
3. Raulston, T.J., Bhana, N., & McIntyre, L.L., & Ousley, C. (2020). Supported joint engagement with peers: Collateral effects of a playdate intervention for children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 51(1) 357-363. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04544-x

Oral Presentations:

1. Bhana, N. (2023; January 18-20). A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Supporting Communication, Early Literacy, and Social Skills with Photographs and Visual Scene Displays. Council for Exceptional Children, Division of Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD) National Conference, Clearwater, Florida.
2. Bhana, N., Bagawan, A. (2023; January 18-20). Muslim Families and Family Centered Services. Recommendations for Increasing Cultural Sensitivity. Council for Exceptional Children, Division of Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD) National Conference, Clearwater, Florida.
3. Bhana, N., Lukins, J., Sallese, M., Calhoun., E. (2002; November 8-11) “Comfortability comes from seeing people like you in positions of power” Experiences of Special Education Teachers of Color. Council for Exceptional Children, Teacher Education Division (TED) National Conference, Richmond, Virginia.

Current Involvement

• Council for Exceptional Children-NY Chapter- Secretary
• Council for Exceptional Children- Division for Emotional and Behavioral Health- International Member at Large
• Pi Lambda Theta-Chapter Counselor

Educational Background

• Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education, Cognate in Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Pennsylvania State University, 2021
• Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, Concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Florida State University, 2013
• Bachelor of Arts in Exceptional Student Education, Florida State University, 2012