Naima Bhana Lopez Ph.D.
Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling
Assistant Professor
Contact Information
Office Location: EDUC 325Phone: 435-797-3212
Email: naima.bhana@usu.edu
Additional Information:
Educational Background
Biography
Dr. Naima Bhana-Lopez (she/her/ella) is an assistant professor of special education and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) at Utah State University. Her primary line of research focuses on developing naturalistic interventions and caregiver-implemented strategies to enhance the social-communication skills of young children with developmental disabilities, particularly those who benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. Her secondary line of research investigates recruitment and retention and professional development strategies for special education teachers and BCBAs. Additionally, Dr. Bhana-Lopez seeks to amplify and support the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students and their families, with a focus on Latino communities.
Research Interests
Naturalistic Socio-Communicative Interventions
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Family Supports
Special Education Workforce Shortages and Solutions
- Diego Mantecon, M., Bonilla del Rio, M., Bhana Lopez, N., (2025). Diseño Universal para el Aprendizaje (DUA) como oportunidad educativa para la inclusión en el mundo digital.: Neuroeducación, TEA, e inclusión en el siglo XXI.
- Lukins, J., Victoria, V., Bhana Lopez, N., (2025). Special Education Teachers as Role Models: Heart and Science: Teaching Special Education.
Publications | Book Chapters
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Journal Articles
Academic Journal
- D'Agostino, S., Landon, T., Roylance, A., Briggs, A., Bhana Lopez, N., (2025). Exploring the Social Validity and Diffusion Potential of Common Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention Strategies Implemented in Community Preschools. Behavioral Sciences, 15:3, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15030357
- Dueñas, A.D, Gómez, L.R, Martin Loya, M.R, Bhana Lopez, N., Price, R.A, Lee, J.D, (2025). “More Than Just Taking Off Your Shoes”: A Mixed Methods Study of Cultural Adaptation Practices in the Autism Service System. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-07128-9
- Bhana Lopez, N., Lukins, J.M, Sallese, M.R, Calhoun, E., (2024). “Comfortability Comes From Seeing People Like You in Positions of Power”: Experiences of Special Education Teachers of Color. Remedial and Special Education, doi: 10.1177/07419325241305589
- Bhana Lopez, N., Raulston, T.J, Gilhuber, C.S, (2024). Collateral Effects of the Tell Me MORE! Intervention on the Joint Reminiscing of Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 54:10, 3745-3758. doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-06103-6
- Bhana Lopez, N., Bagawan, A., (2024). Supporting Muslim Families of Young Children With Extensive Support Needs: Recommendations for Practitioners. Inclusive Practices, 3:1-2, 14-22. doi: 10.1177/27324745241230962
- Bhana Lopez, N., Rangel Rodriguez, G., Raulston, T.J, (2023). Conversations with Panamanian parents regarding their children with disabilities.
- Jordan, L., Bhana Lopez, N., Mary Rose, S., Andresen, J., (2023). Fostering Inclusive Dispositions: Integrating Disability Studies in Teacher Education. Journal of Special Education Preparation, 3:3, 4-15. doi: 10.33043/josep.3.3.4-15
- Bhana Lopez, N., Raulston, T.J, Ousley, C., Bagawan, A., (2023). Photographs and Parent Training to Support Conversations about Past Events between Caregivers and Childrenwith Autism.
- Taylor, J.T, Bhana Lopez, N., (2021). Incorporating high-leverage practice 7 in aclassroom/behavior management courses: Creating supportive learning environments.
- Raulston, T., Bhana Lopez, N., McIntyre, L.L, (2020). Supported joint engagement with peers: Collateral effects of a playdate intervention for children with autism.
- Bhana Lopez, N., (2020). Supporting communication and participation in shared storybook reading using visual scene displays.
Public or Trade Journal
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Other
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.