Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 3 | 2011 | Number 2 | Online ISSN: 2151-4704
Lone Star ABA
By Gerald E. Harris and Wendy J. Neely
The mission of the Lone Star Association for Behavior Analysis (LSABA) is to promote the analytical science of behavior and its associated technologies:
- Serve as a scientific and professional network and reference group for all in the Houston Metropolitan Area who identify themselves as scientists or practitioners in disciplines that embrace the principles and practices of behavior analysis
- Promote research that will advance understanding of behavioral processes
- Identify and promote the use of effective and humane behavioral procedures in meeting the educational and habilitative needs of people within the Houston Metropolitan Area
- Advise political, legislative, and policy-making bodies with respect to all matters pertaining to behavior analysis in the Houston Metropolitan Area
- Work to support and develop quality standards for the practice of behavior analysis
LSABA was established in 2009 to provide local support for applied behavior analysis (ABA). LSABA is an organization for professionals and students in the field of ABA who live and work in the Houston Metropolitan Area. Members include practitioners as well as educators who work in either the public or private sectors. While a majority of the members are involved in the application of ABA to children with autism, LSABA recognizes and supports those professionals who utilize ABA across a wide variety of populations and problems.
The regular LSABA meetings are an excellent forum to inform members of ABA-related news, events, and issues. At the beginning of each meeting, the chair for each of LSABA's six committees presents specific information on current issues, typically followed by a lively discussion.
Legislative issues related to the practice of ABA are, of course, forefront in professionals' minds. The LSABA Legislative Committee is devoted to monitoring legislative activities that affect members and consumers in the Houston Metropolitan Area. The Legislative Committee informs LSABA members about how legislative actions will impact them and their consumers. This committee (as well as LSABA's individual members, when appropriate) responds to various requests for support or information from lawmakers and works to influence local laws and regulations that are related to the practice of ABA.
Many local ABA practitioners are particularly interested in third-party insurance issues related to ABA treatment for children with autism. The LSABA Insurance Committee has made huge (and, at times, difficult) strides in establishing vital rapport with several major insurance companies' autism policy and claims groups. This committee has worked in collaboration with insurance companies to help educate relevant decision-makers about ABA and related important considerations for treatment, thus increasing efficiency for processing claims for ABA treatment as well as required periodic reporting of progress resulting from treatment. Committee members have also participated in events within the community, such as Houston's Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT-Houston) round-table discussions and presentations, to provide important information about properly completing claim forms, specific coding information and procedures (e.g., relevant laws and provider restrictions), and requesting pre-authorizations for ABA treatment. One of the Insurance Committee's current projects is building a very extensive database of resources (e.g., references, white papers, model form letters, etc.) that will be very helpful when providing guidance and support to practitioners and families during the appeals process for Employee Retirement Income Security Act health plans that do not include (or, specifically exclude) benefits and/or coverage for ABA treatment.
Each LSABA meeting also includes a continuing education component, with BACB-approved continuing education units (CEUs). Current ABA research articles are selected, presented, and discussed in depth. The mix of practitioner and scholar viewpoints usually results in a very informative, lively, and interesting educational experience.
An important goal of LSABA is to inform and support the use of ABA in the Houston Metropolitan Area. To that end, we work closely with FEAT-Houston. An LSABA representative attends and participates in FEAT-Houston board meetings in order to facilitate communication between the two groups and help coordinate locally supported ABA activities. Such activities include LSABA BCBAs providing regular, full-day ABA workshops for the community. The "ABCs of ABA" workshops provide a foundation in ABA for parents, teachers, and others, while the "123s of ABA" workshops provide more detailed information about specific applications. LSABA also provided CEU support during FEAT-Houston's first annual conference. A new cooperative endeavor by LSABA and FEAT-Houston involves creating and delivering a training program for childcare workers (e.g., nannies, babysitters, etc.) that will provide a basic pragmatic skill-set to use when caring for children with special needs; this particular service has been much requested by the community. LSABA and its individual members also support other local organizations and participate in local events to promote ABA within the community to both professionals and consumers. For example, LSABA members have promoted the benefits of ABA through presentations given for The DePelchin Center and the Houston chapter of the Autism Society, as well as for specialized schools within the Houston Metropolitan Area. LSABA also participates in area autism resource fairs and special events.
LSABA is also very appreciative of the state chapter, Texas ABA, and works cooperatively with them to further the goals of ABA professionals. There is a good system of information exchange in place, and LSABA and its members participate both as an organization and individually to assist with TxABA activities and events.
At the national and international level, LSABA has certainly been supported and encouraged by ABAI, and expresses gratitude for all the assistance from that organization. As an affiliate of APBA, LSABA has received welcome support and encouragement from those professionals as well.