Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 1 | 2009 | Number 1
Kansas ABA
By Edward K. Morris
The mission of the Kansas Association for Behavior Analysis (KansABA) is to provide a forum for (a) disseminating information about the science and practice of behavior analysis, and about education and training therein; (b) addressing issues relevant to the science and practice of behavior analysis; (c) maintaining disciplinary, professional, and ethical standards in the science and practice of behavior analysis; and (d) recruiting and enhancing interest in behavior analysis throughout the State of Kansas and in the Kansas City metropolitan area (i.e., Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties in Missouri). In particular, KansABA serves the citizens of Kansas and the Kansas City Metropolitan area through advocacy and support in advancing and disseminating information about behavior analysis, whether for individual and local needs (e.g., assessment, intervention) or systemic and statewide interests (e.g., legislation, education, training).
Our Executive Council consists of a president (Ed Morris), a full member representative (Linda Heitzman-Powell), an affiliate representative (Ron Johnson), and student co-representatives (Adam Brewer, Brooke Jones). The Council also has two secretaries (Jessica Royer, Nan Perrin) and a treasurer (Linda Heitzman-Powell). In addition, KansABA has a Legislative Affairs Committee (Nan Perrin, chair), a Membership Committee (Anna Neises, chair), an Information Technology Committee (Adam Brewer, chair), and a BACB Certification Committee (Claudia Dozier, chair).
Our primary activity this year was to support the State of Kansas and the Kansas City metropolitan area autism communities (e.g., Johnson County Autism Society, the Missouri FEAT, Kansas City Autism Training Center). We supported their advocacy for insurance coverage for children with autism – the Accessing Autism Services Bill (“Kate’s Law”) – in the Kansas State Legislature. Professor James A. Sherman (University of Kansas) testified on behalf of the bill. Linda Heitzman-Powell and Nan Perrin served on the Best Practices Subcommittee of the Kansas Legislative Task Force, which published “Best Practices for Autism Treatment in Kansas.” They also participated in the development of the Kansas income waiver policy and procedures for accessing evidence-based treatments for autism and are active members in the Autism steering committee, a group that provides guidance to the State for implementation of the waiver. In addition, both Nan and Linda are involved in the only approved State mandated training program for providers of autism. This training focuses on the implementation of applied behavior-analytic techniques and consists of both knowledge and skill acquisition.
KansABA also co-sponsored two related University of Kansas Department of Applied Behavioral Science (ABS) colloquia and provided BACB CEUs for them. One was Ron Leaf and Mitch Taubman’s (Autism Partners, Seal Beach, CA) “Variations in the Treatment of Autism”; the other was Pat Krantz and Lynn McClannahan’s (Princeton Child Development Institute) “Attracting a Proof.” The latter was on the occasion of their receiving ABS Alumni Distinguished Achievement Awards. Finally, Ed Morris prepared a review and defense of applied behavior analysis in autism – “A Case Study in the Misrepresentation of Applied Behavior Analysis in Autism: The Gernsbacher Lectures” – which was published in the spring issue of The Behavior Analyst.
KansABA also advanced the science and education of behavior analysis by co-sponsoring and providing BACB CEUs for other ABS colloquia. These were presented by Jennifer Zarcone (University of Rochester Medical Center), “Challenging Behavior and Psychotropic Medication: Evidence-Based Practices”; Hank Schlinger (California State University-Los Angeles), “A Behavior-Analytic View of Consciousness and Its Implications for Theory of Mind”; Len Green (Washington University), “Delay Discounting”; and Kate Hine and Sarah Major (KU, Life Span Institute, Parsons, KS), “Southeast Kansas Foster Care Treatment: Oasis for Applied Research.” In addition, we provided CEUs for formal ABS discussion groups on contemporary basic and applied behavior-analytic research.
In addition to maintaining our current activities, next year we plan to re-establish our Web site, pursue an Internal Revenue Service tax-exempts status as 501c6 organization (as opposed to a 501c3 organization), and increase our membership so that we can become more pro-active in pursuing our mission.