The Origins of Behavior Tracker Pro

The concept of grew out of a personal and professional need. The application was designed by Elizabeth Maher, BCBA and her husband Steve with the assistance of Nick Rudolfsky of Nitrex Pro Inc.

Eleven years ago, Liz and Steve’s daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed with Autism. They saw the difference that Applied Behavior Analysis made to Sarah’s progress. As a result, Liz went back to school and earned her Masters degree in Special Education with an emphasis in ABA, and then became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Three years ago Liz started consulting in schools in North-East Pennsylvania, working with teachers and their students with Autism to decrease problem behaviors and increase communication using Skinner’s Analysis of Verbal Behavior. As Liz worked with staff in schools she found that it was difficult to assess whether a treatment plan was working. Data, even if it had been taken consistently, was usually not graphed.

Moreover, as a family Liz and Steve often needed to take data on Sarah’s behavior. The use of a timer and a clipboard was not easy or very discreet in public.

Liz needed to find a quick and easy solution to the problem of taking data and instantaneous graphing both professionally and personally. Her husband, who had spent the last 12 years as a senior level UNIX systems administrator, suggested using an iTouch application. Steve began liaising with Nick Rudolfsky and Behavior Tracker Pro was the result.