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Benjamin Ryan Thomas, Ph.D.

Benjamin Ryan Thomas, Ph.D.

Contact

Appointment (585) 276-7900
Fax (585) 288-1381

About Me

Professional Background

Dr. Thomas is a licensed psychologist and a licensed, doctoral-level board certified behavior analyst. He is Director of the Practicum Training Program in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for the Department of Pediatrics, and a member of the URMC-Warner School of Education ABA research lab. Dr. Thoma...
Dr. Thomas is a licensed psychologist and a licensed, doctoral-level board certified behavior analyst. He is Director of the Practicum Training Program in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for the Department of Pediatrics, and a member of the URMC-Warner School of Education ABA research lab. Dr. Thomas's clinical specialties at URMC are the functional assessment and treatment of severe behavior problems (e.g., self-injury, pica, aggression, destructive behavior, compulsive behavior, elopement), as well as the promotion of healthy behavior and healthcare participation. At the Complex Care Center, an interdisciplinary primary care and dental setting, Dr. Thomas sees adolescent and adult patients with childhood onset conditions such as autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, rare genetic and metabolic disorders, and/or complex medical conditions (e.g., epilepsy, feeding disorders, vision impairment). Dr. Thomas also provides behavioral consultation with the Intensive Behavior Team at Golisano Children's Hospital.

Prior to joining URMC, Dr. Thomas received training and held senior-level positions within the Neurobehavioral Unit at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Claremont Autism Center at Claremont McKenna College, and the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center at Rutgers University.

Faculty Appointments

Assistant Professor - Department of Pediatrics, Transitional Care Medicine (SMD)

Credentials

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

Fellowship in Psychology, Clinical at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Kennedy Krieger Institute 2019 - 2021

Internship in Psychology, Clinical at Claremont University Consortium - Claremont Autism Center 2016 - 2018

Education

PhD | Claremont Graduate Sch. Psychology. 2019

MA | City University of NY, Queens College. Psychology. 2007

Research

• Interaction of biological and environmental factors in the development of behavior problems in neurogenetic disorders
• Understanding symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in neurogenetic disorders
• Caregiver-based behavior therapy

Publications

Journal Articles

Severe behavior problems in SYNGAP1-related disorder: A summary of 11 consecutive patients in a tertiary care specialty clinic

Thomas, B.R.; Ludwig, N.N.; Falligant, J.M.; Kurtz, P.F.; Smith-Hicks, C.

Epilepsy & Behavior. 2024; 150.

Functional Analysis and Chained Schedule Treatment of Elopement in Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Thomas BR, Nasca B, Cohen J, Strohmeier CW

Developmental neurorehabilitation.. 2023 March 22 :1-11. Epub 03/22/2023.

Parent Use of a Safety Checklist to Prevent Their Child's Pica

Thomas, B.R.; O'Connor, J.T.

Behavior Analysis in Practice. 2023; .

Parent Treatment of Complex Pica in a Teen with Autism

Thomas, B.R.; Bowman, M.D; Sanchez, A.; Strohmeier, C.W.

Behavioral Interventions. 2023; .

Behavioral Treatment of Pica in a Child with Sickle Cell Disease

Thomas, B.R.; Bali, D.; O'Connor, J.T.

Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. 2023; ePub.

Parent-Conducted Competing Stimulus Assessment and Treatment of Challenging Behavior by a Girl With Kleefstra Syndrome

Thomas, B. R.; White, K. M.; Clayborne, J. C.; O'Connor, J. T.

Child & Family Behavior Therapy. 2022; 44(4): 259-280.

Enhancing Parent-Implemented Functional Communication Training by Assessing Indices of Happiness

Thomas, B.R.; Bauer, B.A.; Macek, L.V.; O'Connor, J.T.

Child & Family Behavior Therapy. 2022; .

Measuring Happiness Behavior in Functional Analyses of Challenging Behavior for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Thomas BR, Charlop MH, Lim N, Gumaer C

Behavior modification.. 2021 May 45 (3):502-530. Epub 09/30/2019.

Teaching Basketball Shooting Skills to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Thomas, B.R.; Gumaer, C.; Charlop, M. H.

Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. 2021; 34: 113-125.

Effects of socially appropriate singing on the vocal stereotypy of children with autism spectrum disorder

Thomas, B.R.; Charlop, M. H.; Lim, N.; Gumaer, C.

Behavioral Interventions. 2020; 35(2): 249-262.

Modifying a behavior intervention plan according to classroom aides acceptability ratings: effects on treatment integrity and challenging behavior.

Thomas BR, Lafasakis M

International journal of developmental disabilities.. 2019 June 2265 (3):185-194. Epub 06/22/2019.

A Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder Teaches Siblings to Skateboard: Effects on Sibling Skills and Family Social Behavior

Thomas, B. R.; Lafasakis, M.; Spector, V.

Child & Family Behavior Therapy. 2019; 41(3): 125-140.

Brief Report: Using Behavioral Skills Training to Teach Skateboarding Skills to a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Thomas, B. R.; Lafasakis, M.; Spector, V.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2016; 46: pages3824–3829.

Combining The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) with Functional Communication Training (FCT) to Decrease Problem Behavior in Children with Autism (PDF)

LaBelle, C.A.; Jones, C.; Charlop, M.H.; Thomas, B.R.

Perspectives on Early Childhood Psychology and Education. 2016; 1(2): 93-119.

Unsuccessful treatments of "writer's block": a meta-analysis.

Mclean DC, Thomas BR

Psychological reports.. 2014 August 115 (1):276-8. Epub 06/24/2014.

Effects of conducting peer behavioral observations on the observer's correct use of discrete trial teaching procedures.

Thomas BR

Research in developmental disabilities.. 2013 July 34 (7):2143-8. Epub 05/01/2013.

The effects of prompting, fading, and differential reinforcement on vocal mands in non-verbal preschool children with autism spectrum disorders

Thomas, B.R.; Lafasakis, M.; Sturmey, P.

Behavioral Interventions. 2010; 25(2): 157-168.

Books

Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders (2021)

Chapter: Behavioral Curricula

Authors: Charlop, M. H.; Thomas, B. R.; Miltenberger, C.

Publisher: Springer International Publishing 2021

The Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development (2020)

Chapter: Family-Based Interventions

Authors: Charlop, M.H.; Thomas, B.R.; Gumaer, C.B

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons 2020

Solve common teaching challenges in children with autism: 8 essential strategies for professionals & parents (2015)

Chapter: "Hands Off" Approaches to Prompting

Authors: Thomas, B.R.

Publisher: Woodbine 2015