Daemen University Assistant Professor of Applied Behavior Analysis Dr. Deborah Napolitano has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for Parent to Parent of New York State, a not for profit organization that supports and connects families of individuals with special needs.

Napolitano has focused much of her work on advocacy with, and for, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. She said it is an honor to be invited to the board, stating, “This feels like such a good fit for me given my work with families and, particularly, my interest and focus on the needs of individuals with IDD who are in the foster care system who often do not have families that can strongly advocate for their needs.”

In her new role on the board, Napolitano said her goal is to listen, learn, support, and consider what she knows about the needs of individuals with IDD, particularly those who have severe challenges or are in the child welfare system.

The mission of Parent to Parent of New York State is to build a supportive network of families to reduce isolation and empower those who care for people with developmental disabilities or special healthcare needs to navigate and influence service systems and make informed decisions.

This aligns with Napolitano’s work at Daemen, teaching ABA students how to improve countless lives through evidence based practice.

Dr. Vicki Knapp, chair of the ABA Department, said, “Dr. Napolitano is a leader in the field of ABA and in the area of interprofessional collaboration. Working with this important state-wide group is a natural step for her to ultimately foster and develop additional opportunities for Daemen University ABA students.”

Overall, Knapp said the ABA Department is proud of Napoloitano’s collaborative efforts. “It is by working together with others that we can be the most effective at helping people who receive our services to do their best and become more independent,” she said.

Learn more about Daemen’s ABA program at daemen.edu/aba, and Parent to Parent of New York State at parenttoparentnys.org.