What does behaviour analysis look like in Russia today?In this episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben welcomes Natalia Polikarpova, behaviour analyst, educator, supervisor, and leader in the Russian-speaking ABA community.Natalia shares her journey from engineering to behaviour analysis, discusses the early development of ABA in Russia, and reflects on the growth of professional training, supervision, and certification opportunities across Russian-speaking countries. She also explores the impact of the BACB's withdrawal from Russia, the emergence of local credentialing systems, and the importance of developing professional organizations that reflect local cultural and educational realities. The conversation also examines autism services across Russia and neighbouring countries, including parent involvement, educational options, government-supported initiatives, and ongoing efforts to improve diagnostic pathways for families. Natalia highlights the growing influence of Practical Functional Assessment (PFA) and Skills-Based Treatment (SBT), as well as the broader movement toward compassionate, trauma-informed care. Most importantly, Natalia challenges listeners to remember that every learner is first and foremost a child, deserving of dignity, flexibility, and compassionate support.In this episode, we discuss:How ABA first emerged in RussiaEarly misconceptions about ABAThe growth of Russian-language BCBA trainingCertification changes following BACB withdrawalDevelopment of local professional standards and ethicsPFA and SBT implementation across RussiaAutism services and school placement optionsParent involvement in interventionChallenges facing adult autism servicesCompassionate and trauma-informed behavior analysisThe future of ABA in Russian-speaking communitiesWatch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tV9Ja9ziEZ8Continuing Education Credits IBAO:  1.0 CulturalQABA: 1.0 EthicsCBA/CPD: 1.0 Cultural Diversity  Complete The Behaviour Speak CE Knowledge Check To Earn Your CEUsEnter your answers here:  (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop)Question 1Natalia discussed one challenge with importing educational models into Russia. What concern did she raise?A. Teachers refused to use behaviour analysisB. Imported models sometimes require adaptation to local educational and cultural realitiesC. Families preferred residential treatmentD. Universities prohibited ABA trainingQuestion 2A. Government-funded universal ABA servicesB. Large numbers of university-based ABA doctoral programsC. Strong interest in learning new practices and professional developmentD. National licensing requirements for all therapistsQuestion 3Which statement best reflects Natalia's philosophy of practice?A. Compliance should always be prioritized before teaching anything elseB. Standardized intervention plans are more effective than individualized approachesC. Every child should receive the same educational placementD. Practitioners should remember they are working with a child first and build interventions compassionately Contact Азбука АВАhttps://azbukaaba.com/FTF Behavioral Consultinghttps://ftfbc.com/our-team/natalia-polikarpova/https://ftfbc.com/natalia-polikarpova/Explore More Global Perspectives on Behaviour AnalysisNatalia's story is part of a broader series of conversations on Behaviour Speak that examines how behaviour analysis is developing across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. While each country faces unique cultural, educational, regulatory, and service-delivery challenges, a common theme emerges: dedicated professionals are building behaviour analytic communities, expanding access to services, and adapting evidence-based practices to meet local needs.Episode 184: Behaviour Analysis in Ukraine with Alla Moskalets Learn how behaviour analysis developed in Ukraine, the challenges of expanding autism services, and the efforts of practitioners working to increase professional training, family support, a