Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 1 | 2009 | Number 1
Parent Professional Parternship
By David Celiberti and Barbara Wells
The Parent-Professional Partnership Special Interest Group (PPP SIG) is now in its 8th year and was originally developed to help address the needs of the growing numbers of parents within the ABA community and more specifically, attending the annual ABAI convention. The PPP SIG provides information, networking, and resources for these parents. Although the bulk of our efforts center around autism spectrum disorders, parents of children with other disorders and disabilities may be interested in our SIG’s activities or our Web site.
Current SIG objectives include:
- Helping parents of newly diagnosed children, as well as parents whose children are already involved in applied behavior analytic (ABA) services, become more familiar with ABA through the information, resources, and links of our Web site, www.pppsig.org. More specifically, we are:
- Expanding upon the scope of our SIG’s Web site;
- Developing an extensive frequently asked questions (FAQ) section on the Web site;
- Helping parents access accurate information from other existing resources via links or summaries;
- Creating new resources to help parents become more familiar with ABA intervention and services, how to better advocate for such services, and how to promote accountability;
- Increasing awareness within the professional and parent communities about the Web site; and
- Collaborating with ABAI in developing new consumer friendly content for its Web site, www.abainternational.org
- Helping parents significantly benefit from the annual ABAI convention as well as other Autism-focused conferences. More specifically, we are:
- Providing information to parent attendees prior to the Convention;
- Sponsoring an orientation meeting for parents;
- Supporting conference events relevant to parents directly and indirectly by publicizing the efforts of others;
- Creating opportunities for networking; and
- Providing a forum for discussion of objectives at our annual business meeting.
- The current officers for 2007-2008 are as follows. The Co-Presidents are David Celiberti, Ph.D., BCBA and Barbara Wells, Parent Member; Secretary is Tamara Bannon, LMSW, BCBA; Consumer Liaisons are: Marianne Butler, Parent Member, Lynn Faerber, BA, Jenna Glennon, MAT, BCBA, Peggy Halliday, BA, BCABA, Germaine Ibrahim, M.Ed., and Audrey Meissner, M.Ed., BCBA(Canada).
All interested parents and professionals are encouraged to join the Parent-Professional Partnership SIG. To join, send your name, mailing address, and e-mail address to Marianne Clancy at marianne@autism-aims.com
Current Officers (2009-2010):
Co-President: David Celiberti, Ph.D., BCBA
Co-President: Barbara Wells, Parent
Secretary-Treasurer: Marianne Clancy, Parent
Consumer Liaisons: Kerry Ann Conde, BA; Lynn Faerber, B.A.; Jenna Glennon, MAT, BCBA; Pamela H. Gorski, MPA, BCBA; Peggy Halliday, B.A., BCABA; Randy Horowitz, M.S.Ed., SAS; Germaine Ibrahim, M.Ed.; Audrey Meissner, M.Ed., BCBA (Canada); Cynthia Singleton, Parent; Kim Williamson, MAED/SPE, BCBA, Parent
All of our officers and consumer liaisons serve on one or more committees. Currently, the PPP SIG carries out its mission and initiatives through the work of three standing committees: Web sites, convention, and public relations.
Web site Committee
Objectives:
- Develop the Web site for the PPP SIG;
- Expand and update content on www.PPPSIG.org;
- Work closely with the Autism SIG.
Members:
David Celiberti, Ph.D., BCBA (Chair)
Marianne Clancy, Parent Member
Kerry Ann Conde, BA
Peggy Halliday, BA, BCABA
Audrey Meissner, M.Ed., BCBA
Cynthia Singleton, Parent Member
Barbara Wells, Parent Member
Kim Williamson, MAED/SPE, BCBA, Parent
Josh Milstein, M.S. (Webmaster)
Convention Committee
Objectives:
- Develop and distribute materials for parents attending the ABAI convention;
- Organize networking opportunities for parents and professionals at the convention;
- Inform SIG members about upcoming conference experiences;
- Coordinate our activities with the Association for Behavior Analysis International.
Members:
Barbara Wells, Parent Member (Chair)
Kerry Ann Conde, BA
Pamela H. Gorski, MPA, BCBA
Randy Horowitz, M.S.Ed., SAS
Germaine Ibrahim, M.Ed.
Public Relations Committee
Objectives:
- Support ABAI in reaching out to the local and adjoining communities of the region hosting each annual ABAI convention, but more extensively the Autism specific conferences;
- Forge alliances with organizations that have compatible goals with the PPP SIG;
- Support the public awareness of the Web sites for the PPP SIG and the Autism SIG by sharing our link with other organizations and distributing information about the SIG.
Members:
Jenna Glennon, MAT, BCBA (chair)
Marianne Clancy, Parent Member
Lynn Faerber, BA
Germaine Ibrahim, M.Ed.
Update on PPPSIG.org
If you have not already done so, please visit our Web site, www.PPPSIG.org The Web site includes information about the goals and objectives of the SIG, officers and contact information, an annotated list of links, an extensive book list, a description of free resources available to parents, and a summary of upcoming conferences. We recently added new content prior to the ABA conference this past May, specifically more frequently asked questions and resource descriptions. This is a work in progress and we are grateful to Josh Milstein from Rutgers University who has provided significant support in maintaining and improving upon our Web site.
Want to become involved with the PPP SIG?
- If you would like to join the Parent Professional Partnership SIG or discuss ways to become more involved, send your name, mailing address, and e-mail address to Marianne Clancy at marianne@autism-aims.com
- If you have suggestions for resources and links for our Web site (www.PPPSIG.org), please contact David Celiberti at dacnys@aol.com
- If you have a suggestion for a consumer friendly, behavior analytic conference that can be added to our conference listing, please contact Barbara Wells at bwells@autismnj.org