Why a Sleep Niche is a Game-Changer for BCBAs
I’m turning 50 this month (🎉), and with that milestone comes a lot of reflection—not just on life in general, but on the path that brought me to where I am today. If there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that specializing in sleep has been one of the best decisions I’ve made as a BCBA.
For over two decades, I’ve worked in behavior analysis, and for the last 14 years, I’ve dedicated my career to sleep. Why? Because sleep is one of the most critical and overlooked variables in behavioral success. And yet, despite its significance, most BCBAs aren’t trained in sleep science. The more I learned about the profound impact of sleep on behavior, learning, and overall quality of life, the more I realized that the field of ABA needed a structured, evidence-based approach to addressing sleep challenges. Without adequate sleep, the very interventions we work so hard to implement become far less effective—attention, self-regulation, skill acquisition, and emotional stability all suffer when sleep is disrupted.
For autistic learners, sleep disturbances are not just common—they are pervasive. Research indicates that anywhere from 50-80% of autistic children experience significant sleep difficulties, including delayed sleep onset, frequent night wakings, and reduced overall sleep duration. These issues compound existing challenges related to executive function, social engagement, and emotional regulation. When a child isn’t well-rested, their ability to engage in therapy, retain new skills, and generalize learned behaviors is severely compromised. Despite this, sleep is often dismissed as a medical issue or left out of the behavior plan entirely, when in reality, it is a crucial setting event that BCBAs are uniquely positioned to address. By understanding sleep as a behavioral process influenced by environmental, physiological, and reinforcement-based variables, we can create sustainable, individualized sleep interventions that actually work.
Including sleep in an ABA practice is one of the most impactful, yet underutilized ways to serve families. Sleep interventions offer families tangible, life-changing improvements—not just for the learner, but for everyone in the home. When a child sleeps better, parents experience less stress, siblings get better rest, and daytime functioning improves across the board. BCBAs who specialize in sleep not only enhance their professional skillset but also set themselves apart in a highly competitive field. More importantly, they become a true lifeline for families struggling with chronic sleep deprivation. The difference we can make in a child’s life doesn’t end when therapy hours are over—by addressing sleep, we create lasting, sustainable improvements that support lifelong success.
The Power of a Sleep Niche in ABA
Many BCBAs hesitate to specialize, fearing that niching down limits opportunities. The reality? Specialization expands opportunities. A sleep niche provides:
✔ A highly valuable and in-demand service. Sleep disturbances impact up to 80% of autistic learners, and families are desperate for effective, ethical solutions.
✔ A way to differentiate yourself in the field. While many BCBAs focus on daytime behaviors, few are trained to effectively assess and treat sleep challenges—making sleep specialists a rare and highly sought-after resource.
✔ Greater career fulfillment. Addressing sleep issues transforms the lives of learners and their families. Seeing a child finally sleep through the night for the first time in years? That’s life-changing.
✔ Increased earning potential. BCBAs who specialize in sleep can offer consultations, private pay services, and workshops that extend beyond traditional ABA models.
Why I Created The Sleep Collective
After years of trial, error, and deep dives into both behavior analysis and sleep science, I founded The Sleep Collective—the first certification program designed specifically for BCBAs to ethically and effectively integrate sleep support into their practice.
It’s not just about offering a few CEUs or throwing sleep into a general behavior plan. It’s about developing real expertise so that sleep support is done correctly—with sustainability in mind, without relying on extinction-based methods, and in a way that aligns with both the science of sleep and the principles of behavior analysis.
My Birthday Gift to You: 50% Off Sleep-Pro!
Whether you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of sleep or fully integrate sleep support into your ABA practice, there’s never been a better time to start.
Here’s to the next chapter—let’s make sleep an integral part of behavior analysis together.
