Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 1 | 2009 | Number 1
Delaware Valley ABA
By James E. Connell and Melanie Pellecchia
The mission of the Delaware Valley Association for Behavior Analysis (DVABA) has changed little over the years. Our primary goal is to provide informational training opportunities for new and established regional behavior analysts in a casual setting. Additionally, DVABA is committed to increasing the cohesiveness of the local community of behavior analysts by providing opportunities to discuss the ever changing world in which we practice, and offering opportunities for behavior analysts to discuss career opportunities by means of an e-mail list.
DVABA typically offers two to four presentations per academic year. This past year, Dr. Matt Tincani (recently appointed to the Special Education program at Temple University) presented on integrating positive behavior support and behavior analysis using a data-based perspective. Dr. David Mandell from the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Autism Research described a current research study, Philly AIMS (Autism Instructional Methodologies Study), evaluating the effectiveness of an ABA curriculum designed for children diagnosed with autism and the dissemination of this curriculum within the School District of Philadelphia. Our third and final presenter for the year will be Dr. Steven Luce, Vice President of Clinical Programming, Training, and Research at Melmark. Dr. Luce will open a discussion on the recent PA law that licenses "Behavior Specialists" and to consider how that may affect the practice of BCBAs and BCABAs, behavior analysts, and all those working in the field with individuals diagnosed with autism. To begin our series next year, Dr. Richard Fox will present on the characteristics of PBIS and the relationship to ABA.
Dr. Paul Newman has stepped aside after many years of coordinating DVABA. We are grateful for his service and commitment to the community of behavior analysts in the Delaware Valley region.