Dr Rachel Freeman

Rachel Freeman is the Director of State Initiatives in the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Freeman has been actively involved in positive behaviour support (PBS), statewide technical assistance systems for evidence-based practices, evaluation design and implementation, and person-centered practices for over 20 years.

She conducts research and provides consultation and technical assistance at the state, regional, and local levels to teams implementing positive behaviour support (PBS) and other practices within IDD organisations, education, juvenile justice, and mental health systems.  Dr. Freeman has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Association for Positive Behaviour Support for 15 years and as President for three years.

Her research interests include implementation factors associated with research to practice, PBS, physiological and biochemical factors related to problem behaviour, online instructional systems, and interagency systems change.

Dr Anne MacDonald

Anne is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow, where she leads on developing qualifications for the health and social care workforce in relation to people with learning disabilities and behaviours that challenge.

Her research interests are around the impact of support on the lives of individuals with learning disabilities and complex needs, particularly in relation to the use of Positive Behaviour Support. Prior to this role, Anne worked for nearly 20 years for a voluntary sector social care service provider, where she managed the organisation’s Positive Behaviour Support Team.

Anne is also seconded part-time to the Learning Disability Policy section of the Scottish Government. As part of this role, she wrote the Scottish Government’s Coming Home report which focused on out-of-area placements and delayed discharge from hospital for people with learning disabilities and complex needs.

Anne is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent, and she is the book editor for the International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support.

Dr Tom Tutton

Dr Tom Tutton is Executive Manager, Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) supporting Aspect’s Comprehensive Approach, Inclusion and Autism Friendly work.

Tom trained as a Clinical Psychologist in the UK and has worked for Aspect for 15 years supporting autistic people in challenging situations in schools, family homes and communities through direct service, training, writing and research.

Tom is passionate about working in partnership with autistic people to develop respectful, autism-specific Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). Tom wrote chapter 6 ‘Behavioural Support Within an Australian Non-government Organisation’ (2019) in Bryer F., Beamish W. (eds) Behavioural Support for Students with Special Educational Needs (part of the ‘Advancing Inclusive and Special Education in the Asia-Pacific’ series) and has written for Parenting Special Needs magazine.

Tom is currently researching an autism specific version of the Tiered Fidelity Inventory with the Aspect Research Centre for Autism Practice (ARCAP) and writing about Tier 3 PBS for ‘PBS: The Australian Handbook’.