Decades ago, a collection of seminal studies on early intensive behavioral intervention brought about a paradigm shift in the conceptualization and delivery of autism services.

That paradigm shift, in turn, transformed the outcomes of countless individuals with autism. As is inevitable, the field of applied behavior analysis and autism intervention has evolved over the years, leading to a wide array of applications to enhance increasingly complex skills that improve the quality of life for individuals and their families. Moreover, applied behavior analysis is increasingly acknowledging and advocating for the pivotal role of relationship variables in fostering compassionate-driven innovations. This presentation will assess the progressive arc of autism intervention, with an eye toward anticipating how the enduring fundamentals of applied behavior analysis provide not only a connection to an esteemed history but also a path forward into a promising future.