Abstract

Research on the integration of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with educational technologies to address behavioral challenges in Ukraine remains scarce. Concurrently, the evolution of digital technologies has opened new avenues for supporting parents of children with special educational needs (SEN). These developments unfold against the backdrop of the ongoing war, placing additional demands on families, educators, and practitioners supporting children with SEN and behavioral needs. To address this gap, we gathered data from Ukrainian families raising children with SEN and from educators enrolled in the first Ukrainian-language ABA training programs. Grounded in Behavioral Skills Training (BST), these programs were designed to broaden access to ABA practices through technology-mediated instruction. The study sought (1) to identify the key issues and questions that need to be clarified for parents regarding the utilization of digital technologies (DT) and artificial intelligence (AI); and (2) to determine the training needs of practitioners working across diverse educational settings.

Introduction

In inclusive education, which demands specially designed learning environments alongside differentiated and individualized instruction, DT and AI considerably broaden the possibilities for their design and organization. Children with ASD require an individualized approach to the selection of digital learning tools - a task rendered particularly complex by the heterogeneity of the condition, which is characterized by difficulties in social communication, restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, and distinctive features of information processing (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, rev. 2022). Communication difficulties, particularly at the pragmatic and discourse levels, may impair children’s capacity to construct narratives and organize memories (Drill & Bellini, 2022). In this context, DT and AI are best positioned not as substitutes for professional judgment but as complements to professional expertise, equipping parents to foster executive functions and implement individualized behavioral interventions.