Problem:
The current manual methods of administering VB-MAPP were problematic, leading to errors and hindering effective therapy management. Therapists spent more time with paperwork than with their students. There is a need for an integrated, streamlined solution that combines digital data collection with the specific needs of ABA therapy.
Solutions:
Integrated VB-MAPP into Catalyst, enhancing the technical aspects and user interface to improve usability and efficiency with a dual-view system and automatic data capture API.
Role:
Lead UI/UX Designer
Teammate:
Project Manager
Lead Engineer
Researcher
Clinical team
Timeline:
April - October 2021
The feature has been launched and is now available on the Catalyst website.
Meet Caleb
Caleb was born special, but his parents noticed he had a smaller vocabulary and memory issues than other kids. He also struggled with social interactions. Despite this, his parents loved and supported him, recognizing signs of autism and helping him thrive.​
Autism Today
Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a group of conditions that affect social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. The Centers for Disease Control reports that approximately 1 in 36 children in the United States have autism.
Today, Caleb has made tremendous social and academic thanks to a dedicated team of teachers and therapists using highly structured behavioral, cognitive, and communication therapy programs. One such program is Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP).
When I started at Therapy Brands as a product designer, my first project was integrating VB-MAPP into our Catalyst platform and collaborating with DMTD, an external team for educational apps. Our goal was to create a seamless user experience that bridged the two platforms effectively.
We were working with an external team, DMTD, to introduce their VB-MAPP mobile app into the Therapy Brands' Catalyst platform, a SaaS, B2B, ​data-collection software for therapists and administrators in the ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) field.
Business Goals, and How Will VB-MAPP Benefit Users?
Catalyst is a leading provider of ABA services for children with ASD. The company recognized the need to modernize its data collection methods and sought to integrate VB-MAPP into its existing data collection software.
Integrating VB-MAPP into our data collection software, Catalyst aims to :
1. Streamline the assessment process,
2. Enhance data accuracy, and
3. Improve overall efficiency.
Business goals for adding VB-MAPP service to our data management software, Catalyst.
Introducing this feature onto our Catalyst platform will enable our users to have another essential tool to assist children with autism, automatically sync their data into our platform, and allow ABA practitioners to assess progress more efficiently and make critical decisions in treatment with their clients. And getting more therapists from the ABA field to use our platform.
The Challenge of Working With an External Team
The external team, DMTD, identified Catalyst as a suitable data collection software that could accommodate the complex requirements of VB-MAPP. DMTD conducted thorough research, evaluated various software options, and selected Catalyst based on its flexibility, scalability, and compatibility with VB-MAPP.

The R&D team started a month before I joined the team. Using their research, I quickly educated myself on the subject of VB-MAPP, and our ABA data collection software, Catalyst. What and how does it work right before the project kickoff.
After thoroughly understanding the subject matter and meeting with the stakeholders numerous times, I promptly created a prototype with low-fidelity screens to showcase a rough user flow of the complete integration process.
The low-fidelity workflow was a big win for our team and client, as it aided in comprehending the integration process.
Identifying Areas On How To Improve The User Experience
Client's version of VB-MAPP running on their current platform
Each VB-MAPP component contains many variables. Each assessment has its objective, materials needed to perform it, examples for practitioners to understand the question, and an area to add notes and known facts about the client. For scoring, there are a few different ways to input the score for each assessment, and users need to be able to access the scoring chart at any time.
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But all these elements are not apparent to new users on the user interface, and they can be accessed by tabbing on the assessment itself.
The client's current version of VB-MAPP's interface is hindered by obscuring some of the most critical information, such as the objective, materials, examples, etc., to save space to display more assessments.
​Because of those reasons, I want to expand the page layout of each assessment to display all variables in full view. Here are some examples of my early explorations with the expanded view.
Early explorations expanded the page layout of each assessment to display all variables in full view.
After meeting with the stakeholders, they mentioned their users might prefer the more condensed view format they currently have so that they can go through each question quickly. That's when I want to develop a solution that can support both layouts—a condensed view without sacrificing hiding all the functionality of each assessment.
I want to explore a more user-friendly option that doesn't compromise the accessibility of all assessment features.
A hybrid solution that supports the stakeholders' feedback without compromising the accessibility of all assessment features.
​I recommended a tab system better to organize the assessment variables on limited screen space. This UI pattern allows easy access to each section while keeping all the functionality intact. Additionally, this approach fulfills the shareholders' goal of displaying multiple questions on a single page.
My focus was on creating a dual-view system for each assessment. After prototyping and user testing, I introduced a tab system for a condensed overview and an expanded assessment view. This made all necessary information accessible without overwhelming the user, meeting the needs of in-depth assessments and quick checks in busy schedules.
The research and product team helped me address some edge-case scenarios I missed during the design phase. The engineering team was involved from the beginning to make sure the back-end architecture design and the scope were in check. The client has not only provided feedback on our bi-weekly meeting, but they also provided valuable clinical insights on how they use VB-MAPP working with kids with autism.
Solution Implementation: Technical Execution and User Interface Innovations
After about six months of collaboration, I handed my design to the engineering team to bring this to life.
Integrating VB-MAPP into the Catalyst significantly improved the efficiency of assessment administration and reduced human errors associated with manual data entry. The automated scoring system eliminated the need for manual calculations, saving time and improving accuracy.

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The availability of accurate and up-to-date assessment data empowered supervisors and administrators to make data-driven decisions regarding individualized treatment plans. They could identify trends, track progress, and modify intervention strategies accordingly.
Outcomes and Impact
The integration of VB-MAPP into Catalyst was transformative. Post-launch data indicated a 8% sign up rate. More importantly, error rates in data entry saw a dramatic decline, ensuring that decisions about Caleb’s care were based on accurate, timely information.
After
Before
After
Reflections and Learnings
This project was more than a technical achievement; it was a profound learning journey in understanding user needs and project leadership. Through this integration, I enhanced my collaborative design and stakeholder communication skills and affirmed my commitment to creating tools that empower therapists in the ABA field.
