Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 3 | 2011 | Number 2 | Online ISSN: 2151-4704
California ABA
By Kristi Miller
California ABA (CalABA) is dedicated to the science of behavior analysis and is committed to promoting research, education, and practice based on the principles of behavior analysis. CalABA was formed in 1998 when the Northern California Association for Behavior Analysis and the Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy/Southern California joined.
CalABA sponsors the top regional conference on behavior analysis in the United States. The 2011 conference, held February 17–19 in Burlingame, CA, featured a special track of presentations highlighting issues surrounding public policy. James Carr, Lorri Unumb, Susanne Letso, Jane Howard, Jim Gross, William Ahearn, and Gina Green were some of the presenters in this area. Presentations focused on the need to mobilize membership and consumers of services in regards to sponsoring effective legislation for behavior analysts. Additionally, CalABA formed a political action committee to promote behavior analysis and protect behavior analysts' right to practice.
The 2011 conference included many addresses, panel discussions, posters, symposia, and workshops across 11 program areas available to attendees. Invited presenters included Bridget Taylor, Judith Favell, Jennifer McComas, David Moore, Barbara Esch, Brian Iwata, Kenneth Silverman, David Pierce, Iser Deleon, George Sugai, Jay Moore, Iver Iversen, Anh Nguyen, Susan Schneider, Scott Geller, and Richard Malott. Ivar Løvaas was posthumously awarded the Outstanding Contributor Award and Greg Wagner received the Michael Hemingway Award for his contributions to promote the field of behavior analysis. In addition, funds were raised via silent auction for the B. F. Skinner Foundation and CalABA.
CalABA recently embarked on two projects related to promoting best-practice service standards for children with autism and developmental disabilities. The first was to respond to the California Department of Developmental Services request for recommendations regarding services for Early Start and behavioral services. CalABA participated in state workgroups and produced a set of guidelines for recommended services and practices. These guidelines are available for public use by contacting CalABA.
Additionally, CalABA initiated a task force to study service standards for organizations providing services to children with autism with the goal of producing recommendations regarding best practices in areas such as supervision hours, staff training, and hours of services.
CalABA currently has more than 1,100 members. For membership information, go to www.calaba.org.