Joshua Feder, MD, on presenting DRBIs, NDBIs, as options in addition to applied behavioral analysis

Contemporary Pediatrics previously spoke with Joshua Feder, MD, about the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's (AACAP) recent updated policy statement, urging broader access to autism care. The policy, approved by AACAP council in October 2025, recommends, in light of a continued rise in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), that providers begin to incorporate a broader range of developmental interventions, in addition to applied behavioral analysis (ABA) to support social interaction, communication, and adaptive skills.^1,2

“The headline is that the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, after a very long deliberative process—8 years, actually—decided to join the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association and actually go beyond those statements to specifically include developmental, relationship-based approaches (DRBI) and naturalistic developmental behavioral approaches (NDBI) as part of the care offerings for autistic people and their families," Feder previously told Contemporary Pediatrics.¹

Updated AACAP policy statement on access to autism care

The AACAP stated in October, "To ensure that all patients and families impacted by ASD/IDD have access to the full range of ASD/IDD interventions, the AACAP recommends:

1. Physicians and other clinicians should consider a full range of evidence-based treatment options—not just ABA—when recommending care for individuals with ASD/IDD.
2. Public policies should support the training of qualified professionals to provide timely, evidence-based interventions and promote appropriate telehealth use to improve access to care.
3. Insurance policies should cover the entire continuum of evidence-based interventions for ASD/IDD across the lifespan, avoiding rigid, predetermined lists of approved treatments.

With the recommendation in place, Feder, in this video, explains why providers should present DRBIs and NDBIs, as opposed to just ABA, related to practicality and informed consent.

Informing families about DRBIs, NDBIs

"There has been, really, a dominance of the applied behavioral analysis for many decades, and it's great when kids can get care," Feder said. "The problem is that there are long waitlists. They could be a year or 2 just to get an assessment and a diagnosis, much less get care. So, this [policy statement] really opens up the field."

WATCH MORE: Joshua Feder, MD, expands on aligning autism interventions with child and family needs

"I think from the standpoint of pediatricians and other people who are meeting families and trying to guide them, there's an issue of evidence-based practice and informed consent," he added. "If you limit yourself to only one choice, you're not actually giving them informed consent. So, what this policy is really saying is that true informed consent is giving families these options so that they can make decisions based on their own culture and values, what's going to be a good fit for them."

References:

1. Policy statement of expanding access to care for the autism community. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Press release. October 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Policy_Statements/2025/Expanding_Access_Care_for_Autism
2. Fitch J. Joshua Feder, MD, discusses AACAP’s call for expanded autism treatment options. Contemporary Pediatrics. Published December 2, 2025. Accessed December 10, 2025. https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/joshua-feder-md-discusses-aacap-s-call-for-expanded-autism-treatment-options