Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 3 | 2011 | Number 2 | Online ISSN: 2151-4704
Massachusetts ABA
By Steve Woolf
The purpose of the Massachusetts Association for Behavior Analysis (MassABA) is to regularly bring together a community of behavior analysts for professional development, promote the growth of the field, and to obtain and disseminate information relative to state legislative developments. MassABA is a true trade association directed by elected officers and governed by bylaws. It offers an annual conference, regular opportunities for professional networking, sponsors charitable events, and provides professional development in the form of advanced continuing education (CE) events scheduled throughout the year.
- This has been a very exciting year for MassABA) and the chapter enjoyed several accomplishments:
- Assisted with the passage of Massachusetts' Act Relative to Insurance Coverage for Autism (ARICA) bill
- Increased professional membership from 30 to over 350 members
- Hosted the First Annual MassABA Conference at Bentley University; with over 340 attendees
- Revised and implemented MassABA bylaws
- Successfully filed the MassABA Articles of Incorporation
- Submitted a nonprofit association application to become a 501(c)(3)
- Conducted an insurance workshop for members
- Conducted four CE-issuing events to help enable members to maintain their professional credentials
The MassABA Board of directors would like to thank our keynote speakers who helped to make our first annual conference a success: Dr. Aubrey Daniels, Dr. Keith Allen, and Dr. David Wacker. We would also like to thank the other first-class presenters who contributed. The chapter also had 13 exhibitors and three organizational members (Beacon ABA services, Melmark New England, and the Evergreen Center) sponsoring the conference. MassABA has already begun planning for our second annual conference, with a date set for April 6, 2012, at Bentley University. Our goal for the 2012 conference is to repeat having a sold-out event and to offer behavioral practitioners an array of both internationally recognized speakers and local professional talent.
The MassABA Board of Directors is also actively supporting the licensing bill introduced by Representative John Scibak, which is designed to further professionalize the work of behavior analysts and increase consumer protection in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Representative Scibak presented his proposed licensing bill at the MassABA conference legislative update panel discussion. It is our belief that the creation of the behavior analyst license will offer increased consumer protections for individuals utilizing behavior analysis services, allow increased reimbursement relative to serving children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder under the ARICA law, permit practitioners to provide services to individuals beyond the scope of developmental disabilities, and add increased professional credibility to the behavioral profession.
For the 2011–12 year, membership fees in MassABA are waived. Fees are charged at continuing education events for those who wish to receive BCBA CE's. All full members of ABAI who reside or practice in Massachusetts can join MassABA at no charge by sending an e-mail to massappliedbehavioranalysis@gmail.com. To become a professional voting member of MassABA one must qualify in one of the following categories:
- Full membership in ABAI
- BCBA, BCBA-D, or BCaBA
- Licensed as a professional in a profession in which applied behavior analysis is provided for within the "Scope of Practice"
MassABA will continue to offer regularly scheduled BCBA CE trainings to members. With the support of membership, we hope to create a vibrant and sustainable association that represents the voice of all behavior analysts across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.