Why are they Waking up at 2 AM?

Abstract Research suggests that roughly 50% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder experience occasional or frequent middle-of-the-night awakenings. These wakeups aren’t just exhausting for families, they directly affect learning, behavior, emotional regulation, and overall progress in ABA. This presentation will offer a clear, behavior-analytic framework for understanding night wakings, including key assessment questions, how to identify common sleep dependencies, and when to consider medical or ethical factors. Attendees will learn practical, evidence-based strategies they can use immediately to help families reduce night wakings and build sustainable, independent sleep skills.