Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 3 | 2011 | Number 2 | Online ISSN: 2151-4704
Behavior Analysis Association of Michigan
By James T. Todd
Approximately 300 people, representing more than a dozen universities and colleges from nine states and the province of Ontario, attended the Behavior Analysis Association of Michigan's (BAAM) 25th anniversary convention. Many local and regional agencies sent staff and administrators. Attendance was up from last year, despite especially poor weather. BAAM has maintained its general fees at the same level for 5 years, and has instituted a special $10 introductory rate for undergraduate students. This is an expansion of our $5 single-session rate of the past. Eastern Michigan undergraduates can earn "Learning Beyond the Classroom" credits by attending BAAM sessions.
BAAM scheduled all regular sessions in meeting rooms overlooking Eastern Michigan University's beautiful Lake House area. The BAAM staff, including Jennifer Kowalkoski, Tamara Perry, and Zina Eluri, did an excellent job organizing and running the convention. BAAM extends special thanks to the staff of the Eastern Michigan Events Planning Office, especially Linda Panzica, Catering, and to all the workers in the Student Center for their contributions to making BAAM run smoothly. BAAM implemented its online session evaluation system this year and will expand it in coming years. A record number of BACB type 2 continuing education units (CEUs) were awarded.
Richard W. Malott, ABAI president and professor of psychology at Western Michigan University, delivered the 2011 keynote address. Malott's address, "Dream Chasers," recounted the contributions of the many people who have made behavior analysis the success it is today. Malott also presented, "A Practitioner Model for Undergraduate and Graduate Training in Autism," and was coauthor on several other papers and posters. BAAM is especially indebted to Malott and his students at Western Michigan University for once again making our poster session a success with their many interesting and high quality submissions.
More than 100 listed authors gave over 60 individual addresses and posters. Convention highlights included several workshops: "Using Functional Assessment to Address Sleep Problems for Individuals With Autism" by Kim Renner (Sullivan, Nolan, Krone, Moesta, & Associates, PC); "Crafting Connections: Contemporary Applied Behavior Analysis for Enriching the Social Lives of Persons With Autism Spectrum Disorder" by Ron Leaf and Mitchell Taubman (Autism Partnership); "Enhancing Motivation for Behavior Change: Use of Motivational Interviewing" by Katie Brogan (Behavior Change Consulting); and "An In-Depth Analysis of Prompting Strategies and Their Effectiveness" by Michelle Gagliano, Krista M. Kennedy, Heather Burns, Melissa Huss, and Jenelle Wade (Children's Hospital of Michigan Autism Center). Presentations, too numerous to list in their entirety, included "Adapting Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for a Child With Severe Receptive-Expressive Language Delay" by Tamara Perry (Eastern Michigan University) and Lori Warner (Beaumont Children's Hospital); "Classroom Accommodations for Students With Externalizing Disorders" by Kim Killu and Sara Byrd (University of Michigan-Dearborn); "Use of a Structured Behavioral Interview Model to Hire Intervention Staff for Intensive Home-Based Health Management" by Lisa M. Todd and Kathryn E. Brogan (Wayne State University School of Medicine); "The BACB Educational Plan: Are We Missing the Boat?" by Jennifer D. Kowalkowski (Eastern Michigan University); "Behavioral Approaches to Cognitive and Social Phenomena: Concept Formation and Stereotype Threat" chaired by Daniel Maitland (Western Michigan University); "How to Assess Clinically and Interpret to Develop a Treatment Plan" chaired by Krista M. Kennedy (Children's Hospital of Michigan Autism Center), "The Case for Private Behavioral Events" by Jay Moore (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee); "Deconstructing the Time Out: What Do Mothers Understand About a Common Disciplinary Procedure?" by Amy K. Drayton (University of Michigan); "Sleep Problems in Children With Autism" by Rachel M. Knight and Carl M. Johnson (Central Michigan University); "Using a Decision-Making Protocol for Choice-Making Treatment of Problem Behavior for Children With Disabilities" by Stephanie Peterson, Shawn Quigley, Manish Goyal, and Calvin Gage (Western Michigan University); "Ethical Challenges in Clinical Service: Hidden Issues That Emerge When Boundaries Are Crossed" chaired by Flora Hoodin (Eastern Michigan University); "Animal Models of Important Behavioral Processes. Basic and Applied Implications" with papers by James Todd (Eastern Michigan University) and John R. Smethells, Killi Lewis and Mark P. Reilly (Central Michigan University); "Some Foundational Issues in Behavioral Autism Treatment" chaired by Erik Mayville (Connecticut Center for Child Development); and "The Rapid Prompting Method: How a Good Magic Trick Became a Bad Therapy" by James T. Todd (Eastern Michigan University). A full copy of the schedule, featuring additional session listings, is available on the BAAM website.
BAAM will hold its 26th annual convention on February 23–24, 2012, in the student center on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. BAAM's 2013 convention is also already scheduled for February 21–22, 2013. BAAM intends to continue to offer a mix of basic, applied, and theoretical presentations and workshops. Online program submission and registration will again be available and we look forward to an expanded book fair, more refreshments, and other new convention features, including a new BAAM-designed automated attendance verification system for CEUs. For more information, visit the BAAM website (www.baam.emich.edu).