Nicole Neil

Dr. Nicole Neil, PhD

Associate Professor - Applied Psychology

Dr. Nicole Neil, PhD

Associate Professor - Applied Psychology

I am a Registered Behaviour Analyst in Ontario, a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, and Coordinator of the Master of Professional Education in Applied Behaviour Analysis. My work is interdisciplinary, integrating applied behaviour analysis with education, mental health, economics, and data science to address complex challenges facing individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. I collaborate with community partners, advocacy groups, and researchers across disciplines to develop practical, inclusive solutions and ensure research findings inform both practice and policy.

I have ongoing projects in the following areas:

  • Inclusive camp programming for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • Autism policy research on waitlists, economic impact, and access to services
  • Behaviour analytic interventions for individuals with Down syndrome
  • Assessment and treatment of co-occurring mental health conditions in developmental disabilities, including OCD and anxiety in autism
  • Social skills and family support programs for children, siblings, and parents

 

In The News

1. July 11, 2025, CBC News – Online Article, “Thunder Bay, Ont., family who took fight for girl's autism funding to court to learn if it was worth it”

2. July 4, 2025, CBC Radio – Afternoon Drive, “How summer camps can be more inclusive to neurodiverse children”

3. June 6, 2025, The Impact Project, “How inclusion can change the lives of disabled children”

4. June 21, 2024, Western News, “Education prof leads the way with behaviour science for inclusion”

5. December 12, 2023, Western Education, “Nicole Neil honoured with ONTABA Research Award”

6. October 4, 2023, Western Education, “S3 Camp: Where friendship, STEM and research collide”

7. March 24, 2021, Western Education, “STEM pilot program boosts confidence for youth with autism”

8. December 3, 2018, Western Education, “Professor wins award for online teaching excellence”

9. August 14, 2018, Western Education, “Researchers receive SSHRC grant to examine after-school STEM program for students with autism”

10. January 11, 2018, Western News, “Pioneering direction in Down syndrome research”

Recent Publications

  1. Vause, T., Neil, N., Anderson, B., & Feldman, M. (2025). Addressing Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior in Autism with Functional Behavior-based CBT: A Clinician’s Manual. Routledge.

  2. Vause, T., Neil, N., Anderson, B., & Feldman, M. (2025). I Believe in Me, Not OCB! A Workbook for Addressing Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior in Autism with Functional Behavior-based CBT. Routledge.

  3. Ranieri, J., Grasziosi, G., Neil, N., & Puvirajah, A. (2025). Inclusion of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at Museums, Aquariums, Zoos, and Science Centers in Canada. Inclusion.

  4. Sheen, H., Vause, T., Neil, N., Anderson, B. & Feldman, M. (2024). Functional Analysis and Treatment of Hoarding in a Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Behavior Analysis in Practice. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-00967-5

  5. Mannion, A. Neil. N., Fiani, T., Athamanah, L., Lyons, J., McDonagh, K., Boland, E., Cooney, R., Lynch, M., Youssef, M., & Leader, G. (2024). An investigation of sleep problems, gastrointestinal symptoms, comorbid psychopathology and challenging behavior in children and adolescents with Down Syndrome. Research In Developmental Disabilities, 151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104788

  6. Ranieri, J., Neil, N., *Sadowski, M., & Azzam, M. (2024). Supporting Inclusion in Informal Education Settings for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Scoping Review. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-024-09970-8

  7. Neil, N., Ibrahim, I. , Withers, A., & Dimos, T. (2024) Perceptions of Inclusion in an Informal Education Setting. Inclusion, 12, 111-122 https://doi.org/10.1352/2326-6988-12.2.111

  8. Lee, E., Neil, N., & Friesen, D. (2021). Support needs, coping, and stress among parents and caregivers of people with Down Syndrome. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 119,. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104113

  9. Cappa, C., Njelesani, J., Neil, N., & Maladwala, A. (2021). Measuring environmental factors and school participation for children with disabilities. The International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 70, 1312-1327 https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2021.1959021

  10. Neil, N., Anderson, B., Amicarelli, A., Liesemer, K. (2021). A meta-analysis of single-case research on applied behavior analytic interventions for individuals with Down syndrome. American Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 126, 114-141. https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-126.2.114

  11. Hart, K., & Neil, N. (2021). Down syndrome caregivers’ support needs: A mixed method participatory approach. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 65 (1), 60-76. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12791

 

 

 

Teaching and Supervision

Recent Courses Taught

  • Behavior Analysis Research Design: Single Subject Research
  • Behavior Assessment and Treatment
  • Basic Behavior Principles
  • Advanced Topics in ABA
  • Laboratory of Practice in Applied Behavior Analysis