Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 3 | 2011 | Number 2 | Online ISSN: 2151-4704
Alabama ABA
By Jennifer Gillis
The Alabama Association for Behavior Analysis (ALABA) is a membership organization dedicated to disseminating behavior analysis to professionals and consumers in the state of Alabama. ALABA aims to promote research that will advance the understanding of behavior and to identify and promote the use of effective and humane behavioral procedures that meet the educational and habilitative needs of individuals. ALABA holds an annual convention to provide opportunities for members and other professionals to network, learn about new and ongoing research, and earn continuing education (CE) credits.
ALABA has continued to benefit from increased membership participation in the organization. We have formed three committees this year, added a student member representative to our Executive Committee, and have appointed a director of continuing education. We have recently become an approved Type II CE provider, which is the first step in allowing ALABA to increase its efforts in providing members with more opportunities to earn CE credits and to sponsor CE events throughout the year. We have also created a new website with features to update members about employment opportunities, regional and national events, and news important to behavior analysts in Alabama. In addition to these exciting accomplishments, another successful convention was held for behavior analysts in Alabama and the region.
The 19th Annual Convention was hosted in Birmingham, AL during November of 2010. There were 2 days of paper presentations and 1 day of workshops. Keynote speakers, members, and workshop instructors presented on a diverse range of research and topics. Our keynote speakers were Janet Twyman, "First Steps to Critical Thinking: Using Behavior Analysis to Teach Reading Comprehension;" Patrick Friman, "Elimination Disorders: A Review and Update for Behavior Analysts," and David Wilder, "Techniques for Getting Staff Members To Do What They Were Hired To Do: Recent Research on Improving Safety and Performance in Human Service Settings." Workshop topics included behavioral skills training, identifying medical issues in individuals with developmental disabilities, and staff management training to produce optimal client outcomes. There were two tracks of paper presentations and symposia that incorporated a range of issues relevant to practicing behavior analysts, researchers, and consumers. During the poster session and networking hour, members showcased their research and clinical work and had opportunities to meet and discuss current issues with others in the state and region.
The 20th Annual Convention is right around the corner and will be held in Birmingham, AL at the Double Tree Hotel. We are pleased to have Drs. Wayne Fisher and Cathleen Piazza as our keynote presenters. We look forward to another year of informative and interesting presentations from our members and other behavior analysts in the region. For more information about ALABA, please visit us online at www.alabamaaba.com.
ALABA continues to be active in addressing its members' needs, remaining current on issues relevant to its members and meeting our mission to promote the ethical, humane, and effective application of behavior principles in all segments of Alabama society. We encourage and welcome behavior analysts in Alabama and the surrounding regions to contact us and to become a part of our growing community of behavior analysts.