Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 1 | 2009 | Number 1
Charter ABA
By Charles Merbitz
In April of 2009 the Charter Association for Behavior Analysis (formerly the Chicago Association) held its first conference under its new name. Four speakers presented talks related to the topic of using ABA to create positive change in the urban community. Approximately 30 people were in attendance.
Dr. Francis Mechner presented "Behavioral Contingency Analysis: Applications in Education, Economics, Public Affairs, Business Management, and Research." In this talk he described his system for the description and analysis of contingencies, and showed how simply describing contingencies with it revealed unexpected relationships and analyses of human relations.
Dr. Denise Ross discussed the "Garfield Park Preparatory Academy" (GPPA), a public elementary school opening in fall, 2009. GPPA will use the AIL model pioneered by Doug Greer from Columbia. Dr. Ross is on the faculty of The Chicago School in the Department of Applied Behavior Analysis and will become the principal of the new school.
Dr. Mark Mattaini presented a talk entitled "Cultural Analytic Science and Social Justice" and reviewed the state of the science in this area. He discussed some unresolved issues which lead to potential areas of research that could be helpful.
Mr. Matt Hancock presented a talk titled "Science of Behavior and Sustainable Economic Development." Mr. Hancock is Executive Director of the Center for Polytechnical Education, an agency that is opening an ABA High School in Chicago in fall, 2009. The school will use the Morningside Model of Generative Instruction and Precision Teaching to prepare its graduates for either college or high-technology/internet careers. The school is an element in the development of a sustainable economy and jobs in the urban environment by systematic application of ABA technologies toward solving some basic urban issues.
The program ended with a panel discussion moderated by Dr. John Eshleman in which all speakers participated. Panelists answered questions from the audience and discussed the use of ABA in creating a sustainable society, among other topics.
The 2010 CABA conference is planned for April, 2010. A business meeting is also held each year at the annual ABAI conference. Results of elections and future plans will be announced. CABA wishes to thank the leadership of the Chicago Students for Behavior Analysis and the student organizers of the CABA Conference, Mr. Samuel Yoffe and Ms. Debrah Kite.