Why Sleep Is a Behavior—and Why BCBAs Should Care

Hello BCBAs and fellow sleep advocates!

As behavior analysts, we’re trained to focus on observable and measurable actions. But what if I told you that sleep—something we often view as a passive biological process—can actually be understood and approached as a learned behavior? This perspective has the potential to revolutionize the way we help the families and caregivers we serve. In this week’s blog, I explore this idea further and share why treating sleep as a behavior can lead to better outcomes for your learners.

For those of you who have worked with families facing sleep challenges, you know how crucial it is to solve these issues. When a child isn’t sleeping well, everything becomes more difficult: behaviors escalate, learning slows down, and the stress on families grows. In fact, research shows that 50-80% of autistic children experience some form of sleep disturbance, which can have cascading effects on their daytime behavior, emotional regulation, and overall health.

The Science Behind Sleep as a Behavior

So why does it matter if we see sleep as a behavior? Because if sleep is a behavior, we can apply the same principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to support, shape, and improve it. When you break sleep down into smaller components—like winding down, separating from caregivers, and falling asleep independently—each of these steps can be reinforced and taught, just like any other skill we work on in ABA, with sleep appearing as the primary reinforcer at the end of the behavior chain..

One recent study found that structured bedtime routines (when applied consistently) can increase sleep duration by over an hour per night for young children. This has huge implications for our autistic community who may struggle with routine, separation, or sensory sensitivities at bedtime. By addressing sleep as a chain of teachable behaviors, we can provide tailored support that helps both the learner and their family.

Why Specializing in Sleep Matters for BCBAs

For BCBAs, incorporating sleep interventions into your practice can be a game-changer. Sleep problems aren’t just nighttime issues—they affect a learner’s ability to engage in therapy, focus during sessions, and retain skills. Addressing sleep could be the key to unlocking better behavior, faster learning, and happier families.

Here are some quick stats to consider:

• Up to 80% of autistic learners experience sleep problems, often related to difficulties with sleep onset and maintenance.
• Consistent bedtime routines can reduce night wakings and improve overall sleep quality for both the learner and the family.
• Sleep deprivation has been linked to increased behavioral problems, reduced attention, and slower learning rates—meaning poor sleep could directly affect the effectiveness of your ABA interventions.

By specializing in sleep, you can provide comprehensive care that sets your learners up for success not only during the day but also at night. It’s an area of practice that is often overlooked, yet it is deeply intertwined with the behavioral challenges we work to solve.

Practical Application for Your Practice

In the blog, I highlight practical ways BCBAs can address sleep issues, from using visual schedules to structure bedtime routines to teaching children how to fall asleep independently. The key takeaway? Sleep can be viewed as a behavior that can be shaped, supported, and improved using the same ABA techniques we apply in other areas of life.

If you’re looking to deepen your expertise and provide families with solutions that extend beyond daytime interventions, The Sleep Collective certification program is here to help you master sleep interventions within the ABA framework. This certification provides you with everything you need to address non-medical sleep problems using evidence-based strategies that are tailored to each learner’s needs.

Ready to Take Your Sleep Knowledge to the Next Level?

If you’re ready to make a real difference in the lives of the families you serve, check out the latest blog post here and explore how you can integrate sleep interventions into your ABA practice. And don’t forget, enrollment is now open for The Sleep Collective, where you’ll gain the skills and knowledge to become a Certified Behavioral Sleep Specialist—setting yourself apart in the field and offering an invaluable service to the families in your community.

Let’s help our learners (and their caregivers) get the rest they need so they can thrive during the day!

Sleep should be sweet,

Emily Varon, MS, BCBA

Founder, Ready Set Sleep