Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 3 | 2011 | Number 2 | Online ISSN: 2151-4704
Utah ABA
By Sarah Bloom
The Utah Association for Behavior Analysis (UtABA), founded in 2010, seeks to encourage scientific activity, professional training and development, and intellectual activity related to behavior analysis in the state of Utah. UtABA held its first meeting in June 2010, in cooperation with the Effective Practices for Teachers and Human Service Professionals Conference at Utah State University. UtABA participated in that conference by offering presentations within the behavior analysis strand. UtABA's first annual business meeting was held at that conference; the keynote speaker was Dr. Brian Iwata of the University of Florida, who gave a presentation titled, "Experimental Approaches to Behavioral Assessment and Practical Considerations for Conducting Functional Behavior Assessments." Additional national speakers within the behavior analysis strand were Dr. Jennifer Fritz of the University of Houston-Clear Lake and Dr. Jennifer Hammond of Stanford University. Some additional topics in the behavior analysis strand included designing and implementing functional communication training using signals, increasing language for individuals with autism and communication disorders, using independent activity schedules to promote play skills in children with autism, and preventing school avoidance.
This year's June conference (June 20–23, 2011) was again held in cooperation with the Effective Practices Conference at Utah State University. Dr. Rob Horner of the University of Oregon delivered the keynote address. Dr. Stephanie Peterson of Western Michigan University also gave a presentation. Additional behavior analysis presentations and an UtABA business meeting were held. This year, we added two behavior analysis research symposia and a poster session to the schedule.
UtABA is a BACB-approved type 2 accredited continuing education provider. Current UtABA officers are Sarah Bloom (president), Tom Higbee (president-elect), Andrew Samaha (secretary/treasurer) and Amy Odum (member-at-large).