Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 3 | 2011 | Number 2 | Online ISSN: 2151-4704
Oregon ABA
By Sarah Schaefer and Mark Vogl
It has been a busy and productive year for the Oregon Association for Behavior Analysis (ORABA). ORABA continues to grow and advocate for evidence-based practices in the state. We successfully hosted our first annual conference in October 2010, which was attended by parents, family members, behavior analysts, and several other professionals. ORABA was proud to welcome Dr. John Rapp, Dr. Vincent Carbone, Dr. Alan Neuringer, Dr. Jane Howard, and Colleen Sparkman, as well as local presenters. ORABA is busy planning for the second annual conference, tentatively scheduled for October 2011.
ORABA elected its second official Board of Directors in February 2011. The board is working diligently to continue on the productive path ORABA started at its inception in November 2008. In addition to extensive involvement with state legislation and local academic programs, the ORABA Board of Directors is in the process of improving the efficacy of organizational management. They are in the process of reviewing and revising the organization bylaws and establishing effective systems for managing member information and membership enrollment. They are also updating the organization's website to include current and relevant information about ORABA activities, local events, and upcoming quarterly meeting details.
ORABA has endorsed and spent much of this year involved with the Autism Insurance Mandate currently in legislation. ORABA has been advocating for BCBA recognition and unlimited inclusion of applied behavior analysis (ABA) in the proposed bill. Even though changes to the proposed bill are anticipated, ORABA is hopeful that it will pass and improve the services available to children and adults with autism in the state. ORABA is eternally grateful for the support and guidance that Dr. Gina Green from the APBA and Dr. Jim Carr and Dr. Jerry Shook from the BACB have provided during this legislative process.
ORABA has also been working with Dr. Marialynn Kessler and Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) to finalize the already approved BCaBA certification program, which is tentatively scheduled to start during the 2012 winter semester. OIT's long-term goal is to evolve this program into a BCBA certification program and eventually a full master's degree program. The establishment of these academic programs is essential for the future growth of ABA services within the state, especially at a time when legislation including BCBA recognition is likely. ORABA plans to continue focusing on assisting local colleges and universities in establishing successful programs in behavior analysis.
Last, but definitely not least, ORABA's Board of Directors was invited to attend CalABA's very successful annual conference in February. They had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Jane Howard and Colleen Sparkman from the CalABA Board of Directors to discuss ways of effectively growing ORABA's membership and further integrate the organization in the community.
ORABA would like to thank everyone from across the country who has reached out to support the state chapter. We are eternally grateful for the willingness of these individuals to take the time to offer advice, support, and dialog regarding state and chapter events. Maintaining the Oregon chapter presents its own specific challenges and ORABA would not be where it is without the help of these amazing people.