Photo of Catrone, Rocco Giovanni

Rocco Giovanni Catrone, PhD, BCBA-D

Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor

Special Education

Contact

Building & Room:

ETMSW 3335

Address:

1040 W Harrison St.

About

Dr. Rocco Catrone (he/him) has worked in various roles in the field of disabilities and behavior analysis since 2011, starting as a program aide in a special education school. After a few years as an in-home therapist, he pursued graduate studies at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale (SIU-C). Following my time managing in-home ABA teams, then transitioned to a children's hospital, where his focus was on creating successful environments for parents and staff working with children diagnosed with developmental disabilities.

Through Rocco's research lab, Behavioral Leadership in Education, Novel Science, and Dissemination (BLEND), he focuses on effective training methods for parents, caregivers, and healthcare staff in the disability field, as well as analyzing stigma to develop protocols that reduce prejudice against individuals with disabilities. Rocco's projects have secured thousands of dollars in grant funding, resulting in publications and conference presentations. By fostering success through training and stigma reduction, he aims to empower families to advocate for their children while helping them manage the stressors that come with parenting, drawing on his own lived experience as an individual with learning disabilities.

Selected Publications

  • Belisle, J., Paliliunas, D.,Catrone, R.G., Sickman, E., & Ramakrishnan, A. (2024). A comprehensive behavioral model of emotion rooted in relational frame theory and contemporary extensions. Psychological Record, 1-19.
  • Denegri, S., Cymbal, D., & Catrone, R.G. (2023). A multi-level framework for compassionate care in ABA: Approaches to cultivate a nurturing system. Behavior Analysis and Practice, 1-12.
  • Catrone, R. G.,Baires, N. A., Martin, M. R., & Brown-Hollie, J. P. (2022). An Intersectional Examination of Disability and Race Models in Behavior-Analytic Practice. Behavior and Social Issues, 1-30.
  • Baires, N.A.,Catrone, R.G., & May, B.K. (2021). On the importance of intercultural communication for actions against racism. Behavior Analysis and Practice.
  • Kennedy, D., Marten, H., O’Sullivan, C., &Catrone, R. (2021). Biological, Behavioral, and Ethical Considerations of Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Primer for Behavior Analysts. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1-9.
  • Catrone, R.G., Koch, D.S. (2021). A Behavioral Approach to Increasing Perceptions of Capability Toward People With Disabilities. Behavior and Social Issues, 30, 39–57.
  • Britwum, K., Catrone, R., Smith, G. D., & Koch, D. S. (2020). A University Based Social Services Parent Training Model: A Telehealth Adaptation During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Behavior Analysis and Practice, 13(3), 532-542.

Education

Elmhurst College
- B.A. Psychology
- B.A. Intercultural Studies (Disabilities Studies Focus)

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
- M.S. Behavior Analysis and Therapy

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
- Ph.D. Rehabilitation

Fellowship: Illinois Leadership in Education and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Licensures and Certifications

Board Certified Behavior Analyst (1-16-22588)