Dr. Sigal Tidhar-Paz

Date and Place of Birth – Israel, 1971

Address and Telephone – Kfar Saba, Israel, +972-52-855-161

E-Mail –  sigal@lovaasisrael.co.il

Education

2012 – Ph.D. in Psychology – Haifa University, Israel

Dissertation: in the field of Applied Behavioral Analysis: Treatment of Self Stimulatory Behaviors in Children with Autism

Advisors: Prof. Barry Berger, Prof. Amos Rolider, BCBA-D

2000-2001 – Courses in Behavior Modification – University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Prof. Ivar Lovaas

1. Behavior Modification.
2. Fieldwork in Behavior Modification.
3. Advanced Fieldwork in Behavior Modification.
4. Practicum: Design and Implementation of Behavioral Interventions.

1996-1998 – M.A. in Developmental Psychology – Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (with honors)

Thesis: Comparison of Parental Reports and Clinical Diagnosis in Children with Autism

Advisors: Dr. Cory Shulman, Prof. Charles Greenbaum

1992-1996 – B.A. in Psychology and Sociology – University of Haifa, Israel

Professional Experience

2001-Present – Director of Lovaas Israel Site

• Designing, implementing and monitoring behavior analysis programs for children with Autism, PDD and Developmental delays.
• Supervision of teams implementing direct one-to-one behavior analysis programs.
• Guiding supervisors for ABA home programs and for ABA schools’ and kindergartens’ programs.
• Running a replication research of Lovaas’ behavioral intervention for young children with autism as a part of the UCLA Multi-Site Young Autism Project.
• Lectures and workshops in Lovaas Israel Site regarding clinical issues in Applied Behavioral Analysis for children with Autism and PDD.
• Lectures and workshops in child development centers and for educational psychologists in Israel regarding Applied Behavioral Analysis for children with Autism and PDD.

Teaching Experience –  2012-Present

• Kinneret College – M.A. ABA Program, under Prof. Amos Rolider – Practical Course of ABA for Children with Autism and Developmental Delays.
• Field Guidance as part of Practicum in ABA for Children with Autism and Developmental Delays for many students in ABA University and Colleges ABA programs.
• Tel Aviv University – under Dr. Shiri Ayvazo, BCBA-D – Program Director – Practical Course of ABA for Children with Autism and Developmental Delays.
• Wingate College – under Dr. Eitan Eldar, BCBA-D – Program Director – Practical Courses of ABA for Children with Autism and Developmental Delays.

2000-2001 – Internship at Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention (LIFE) Training as a Site Director for the Multi-site Young Autism Project

• Implementation of direct one-to-one behavioral intervention.
• Leading a behavioral intervention team.
• Individual weekly meetings with Dr. Jodie Deming (BCBA) regarding designing behavioral intervention programs.
• Weekly staff meetings and trainings.
• Training in conducting assessments.

1998-2000 – Supervisor of ABA Home Programs of Young Children with Autism

• Designing, implementing and monitoring Behavior Analysis Programs for children with Autism.
• Supervision of teams implementing direct one-to-one Behavior Analysis Programs.
• Under supervision of Dr. Cory Shulman from the Hebrew University.

1998-2000 – Educational Psychologist

Psychologist of kindergartens for children with Autism spectrum and of regular public service kindergartens.

1996-2000 – Research Assistant

Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel for Prof. Nurit Yirmiya, Dr. Cory Shulman, Dr. Jacob Burack.  

Publications

1. Shulman, C., Tidhar, S. & Bukai, O. (2000).  Diagnosis and Assessment of Young Children with Autism.  Presentation at SRCD, Minneapolis, MN.
2. Shulman, C. Bukai, O., & Tidhar, S. (2001). Communicative Intent in Autism.  In E. Schopler, N. Yirmiya, C. Shulman, & L. Marcus (Eds.). The Research Basis for Autism Intervention, pp. 117-133.  NY: Plenum Press. 
3. Yirmiya, N., Pilovsky, T., Tidhar, S., Nemanov, L., Altmark, L. & Epstein, R. (2002). Family-Based and Population Study of a Functional Promoter-Region Monoamine Oxidase A Polymorphism in Autism: Possible Association with IQ. American Journal of Medical Genetics (Neuropsychiatric Genetics). 114, 284-287.