Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 3 | 2011 | Number 2 | Online ISSN: 2151-4704
Wisconsin ABA
By Wendy Machalicek
The Wisconsin Association for Behavior Analysis (WisABA) was founded in 2004 as a local chapter of ABAI with the mission of promoting an evidence-based understanding of human behavior and helping the people of Wisconsin to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. WisABA is also an affiliate of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts. WisABA's recurring and ongoing activities include the annual WisABA Conference (focused on behaviorally based solutions in Wisconsin), collaborative road shows with academic and professional organizations around the state, continuing education opportunities for behavior analysts, social networking activities for members and other interested parties, position statements on issues within the state of concern to behavior analysts and their clients, educating interested community groups about applied behavior analysis, and advocating for behavior analysts and behavior analysis through public policy input. Depending on interest, experience, and training, membership in WisABA may take one of three types: full, affiliate, and student.
This past year was successful for WisABA. On May 11, 2010, Wisconsin Act 282 was enacted as state law, which allowed for the state licensure and inclusion of board certified behavior analysts as qualified providers of applied behavior analysis under the state autism insurance mandate. State licensure includes certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. This was a major achievement for behavior analysis in the state of Wisconsin and we wish to note and applaud the considerable efforts made by WisABA officers, members, concerned practitioners, students, and families to lobby for the passage of this important legislation. Our third annual conference was held in August 16–18, 2010, at the Memorial Union Terrace at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This 3-day conference was well attended with local and nationally recognized speakers presenting on a variety of behavior analytic topics. Workshops focusing on verbal behavior, functional behavior assessment, and picture exchange communication were also available. We wish to thank all those who presented and came.
This year presents some new challenges and opportunities for WisABA. This spring, we had a full day of behavior analytic presentations at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, hosted by Dr. Kevin Klatt. Students, professors, practitioners, and researchers traded ideas and established new collaborations and friendships. Our business meeting held in Denver at ABAI's annual convention provides WisABA members with the opportunity to review the past year's accomplishments and plan next year's major activities. Our fourth conference is scheduled for August 20–21, 2011, at the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Once again, we have an impressive line-up of presenters from around Wisconsin and the United States. All are welcome—we are looking forward to the exchange of ideas and data-based research. On the advocacy front, we continue to work toward efforts to support humane and ethical methods of education and treatment at local and state levels, provide information to consumers regarding qualified behavior analysis practitioners in Wisconsin, and lobbying for legislation that protects the right to effective education and treatment for those who benefit from the science and application of behavior analysis. Here's to a great year and we hope to celebrate our growth and accomplishments with you at the Waisman Center on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus during our next conference.