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2009, September

ABAI Celebrates Grand Opening of New Building

2009 Fellows of ABAI

Recap of ABAI 2009 in Phoenix

2009 Presidential Scholar Essay

Dr. Sidney W. Bijou,
1908-2009

Upcoming Conferences

Updates from ABAI's Boards and Committees

Updates from ABAI's Affiliated Chapters

Updates from ABAI's Special Interest Groups

Inside Behavior Analysis

Volume 1 | 2009 | Number 1

ABA Italy (IESCUM)

By Paulo Moderato

A new spring for Behavior Analysis is flowering in Italy; many fruits have blossomed from the seeds of the main tree of IESCUM, the Italian Chapter of ABAI. IESCUM was established to translate into specific actions a vision of science in Italy, both on the experimental and on the applied side. Since its constitution, IESCUM has been committed to promote the full scope of BA scientific and humanistic potential.

In the mission of IESCUM, the commitment to alleviate human suffering is clearly stated. Why fly away from the clinical field and leave all this to cognitive psychology and therapy?

From this premises IESCUM committed to the training, development, and evaluation of behavior analysis in clinical settings in the various forms recently developed. Experiential trainings in ACT, BA in clinical settings, and FAP with S. Hayes, K. Wilson, P. Sturmey, and recently, R. Kohlenberg, M. Tsai, and JT Blackledge, have been offered in Italy through IESCUM. BA of development has been addressed as well thanks to contribution of G. Novak and M. Pelaez.

The dissemination of a sound culture in applied behavior analysis has been carried out institutionally through a two year post-graduate BACB credited courseware, which is now starting its 3rd edition. The growing request of ABA interventions for children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder has set the modus operandi for a strong demand in ABA training. Thanks to collaboration with New England Children’s Center, Treehouse, Cambridge Centre for Behavioral Studies, and contributions from P.N. Chase, N. Martin, D. Gould, and P.B. Cannon, the students of IESCUM courseware get in touch with high standards and reinforcing contingencies of learning. The course is addressing this request for Autism and it is not limiting its educational contents and purposes to this strong, but limited field of application.

IESCUM looks at its BACB accredited course as an opportunity to spread behavior analysis beyond the boundaries of autism treatment. From those initial experiences based on solid collaboration with BACB, IESCUM has taken an active role in the development of the internationalization of BA certification working jointly with other credited courses in Europe.

Those antecedents in training and dissemination have recently led to the development of an integrated model of intervention called MIPIA—Italian Model of Early and Intensive Intervention for Autism. MIPIA is characterized by individual (tailor made), early, intensive, integrated and sustainable programs. Although interventions are deployed in family homes, baseline assessment and program efficacy and effectiveness procedures of evaluation are centralized. This allows for the creation of an homogeneous environment both for clinical and research goals. Though we may speak of a “virtual” structure, in the absence of a specific building in a specific location, the model of the project and the Association behind it may represent a feasible way to spread ABA intervention procedures and model in a wide territory, while maintaining a high quality of service within the spirit of BACB standards of quality. This model includes designing and delivering ABA interventions to children and their family, but also uses Clinical BA to train and support tutors and consultant, as well as the families of the children in an integrated and clinical comprehensive fashion.

One of the aims of IESCUM is to show the potential of a science of behavior to address relevant social problems. Within this vision a joint project with the University of Bangor (UK) was carried out in collaboration with Fergus Lowe and Pauline Horne. An extension of the Food Dudes programme was implemented in Italy to address the obesity epidemic among young children. Originally developed in UK and then extended to Ireland, this is the first implementation of the Food Dudes programme in a non-English speaking country. The pilot research project involved more than 2,000 kids attending the elementary schools in five cities of Sicily and was supported by the regional department of Agriculture.

The Food Dudes programme implements on large scales well known and effective behavioral principles, thus demonstrating how the same principles applied at the level of a single individual may also work when applied in the context of large groups. While waiting for the long term results of the programme, it is a fact that the mid-term results are really encouraging. The Food Dudes programme was able to change the eating behaviors of the students promoting a healthy life style. Strong support and positive comments were received by teachers and families after seeing the changes in the behavior of their children. The initiative received good coverage by Italian national and local press and TVs, too. IESCUM is working hard to expand the programme in other areas of Italy.

All these actions have been developed under and with the supervision of IESCUM working as an umbrella organization. All these actions are detailed and visible at www.iescum.org. Even this year a relevant number of researchers and students of IESCUM—the Italian Chapter of ABAI—attended the ABAI conference in Phoenix and are going to attend the International ABAI Conference in Oslo, Norway; presenting basic, applied, and theoretical contributions.

IESCUM Contributions at ABAI Annual Convention, Phoenix, May 2009:

Panel Discussion:

Papers:

Posters:

Simposium:

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