Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 3 | 2011 | Number 2 | Online ISSN: 2151-4704
Speech Pathology
By Tracie L. Lindblad
The mission of the Speech Pathology Applied Behavior Analysis (SPABA) SIG is to promote the dissemination of behaviourally oriented speech and language research and the application of evidence-based practices to speech and language professionals, as well as to foster active dialogue between behaviour analysts and speech-language pathologists studying issues in speech, language, and communication.
The SIG has been active during the past year conducting research; disseminating information regarding evidence-based practice; applying the principles of applied behaviour analysis (ABA) to the research and the treatment of speech, language, and communication disorders in children and adults; and teaching and/or mentoring students in both the fields of ABA and speech pathology. These activities have taken place in North America and internationally. The SPABA SIG would like to highlight some of our member activities from over the past year:
- Carol Afflerbaugh (Kaufman Children's Center) presented a session entitled, "Teaching Verbal Skills to Learners With Autism" at the 2010 National Autism Conference held in Pennsylvania last August.
- Amy Bergen presented "Beyond Discrete Trials: Effectively Using a Behavioral Approach for Autism" at Touro College's Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology.
- We extend congratulations to SIG member Dr. Jim Carr, on his move to Auburn University. Dr. Carr has given nine national and international speaking engagements within the field of ABA since the ABAI annual convention last year. He has also published one empirical article and five nonempirical articles/books/book chapters since June 2010. He was also extremely busy at the ABAI convention and was an author or participant/panel member at seven events during the convention in Denver, CO. Dr. Carr also found the time to contribute as a Planning Committee member for the CalABA-sponsored Task Force on Service Delivery Standards for ABA Treatment in Autism.
- Lynn (Dales) Carson completed her master's in speech pathology and presented her research project (which garnered her a Student Research Grant in 2010, presented by the SPABA SIG) at the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Conference in Montreal, Quebec in May 2011.
- Julie Diep, a bilingual Vietnamese speech language pathologist (SLP) who is pursuing her BCBA in order to raise the standard of care for autism in her local community, completed a four-part interview regarding speech pathology and autism on Little Saigon TV, which can be viewed on YouTube.
- Nikia Dower presented "The Importance of Manding: Early and Intermediate Learners" to Parents of Autistic Children-Northern Virginia (POAC-NOVA). Nikia is on the Board of Directors for Commonwealth Autism Services and an Advisory Board member for POAC-NOVA.
- Dr. Barb Esch has also continued to further the SIG mission by interspersing her SIG duties as co-chair and Student Task Force Committee leader by giving two presentations combining speech-language pathology and ABA. She conducted a 4-day training event for therapists, teachers, and parents involved with the intensive behaviour intervention program in Ontario, Canada, co-presented with SIG member Dr. John Esch.
- Tammy Frazer sat on a task force looking at regulation of BCBAs and BCaBAs in Ontario, Canada.
- Dr. Joanne Gerenser (Eden II Programs), will present a full-day workshop at the ABAI annual convention in Denver entitled, "Applied Behavior Analysis and Speech Language Pathology: An Integrated Approach to Promoting Language in Learners With Autism."
- Dr. Laura Grow presented "Identifying Best Practices for Teaching Receptive Language Skills to Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders" at a Research Colloquium at the University of British Columbia (UBC), BC, Canada. UBC's Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration in Autism (CIRCA) also announced that Laura would be joining the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education as an assistant professor (tenure track) in July 2011.
- Tamara Kasper also presented workshops this past year throughout the US, promoting the incorporation of ABA in order to develop functional communication. She has coauthored an empirical study published in June 2010.
- Tracy Lepper is currently dual-enrolled in the master's programs at Western Michigan University in ABA and at Texas Christian University in experimental psychology. Her Texas Christian University master's thesis entitled, "A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Discrimination Training and the Stimulus-Stimulus Pairing Procedure When Utilized to Increase Target Vocalizations of Children With Autism," received financial support from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis 2011 Master's Thesis Grant and the Speech and Language Association of Behavior Analysis 2010 Student Research Grant.
- Miriam Leuin is continuing her studies in speech-language pathology and is currently serving as the secretary and newsletter coordinator for the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (San Jose State University Chapter).
- Tracie Lindblad also continues to juggle co-chair of the SPABA SIG with participation in a number of initiatives in Ontario, Canada in order to further the dissemination of ABA research and practice for speech, language, and communication disorders. This past year, Tracie was the first speech-language pathologist to obtain her BCBA in Canada. She co-authored a poster presented at Ontario ABA's conference and ABAI's annual convention in Denver entitled, "A Direct Comparison of Selection-Based Versus Topography-Based Manding in Children With Autism."
- Dr. Julie Ray presented a poster called, "Speech-Language Pathologists' Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Applied Behaviour Analysis: A Survey," at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association sponsored Symposium on Autism Spectrum Disorders at the 28th World Congress of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics held in August 2010, at Athens, Greece.
- Sara Vank received the annual Outstanding Portland State University Graduate Student Award from the Oregon Speech-Language-Hearing Association in recognition of her enthusiastic willingness to help others and dedication to leadership.
Over the past year, the SIG has continued in their efforts to provide grants for student research awards. SPABA provides one annual Research Grant and one annual Application or Dissemination Grant to ABAI members who conduct empirical research or raise awareness about behaviour analysis among SLPs. Research projects should advance the evidence base for behaviour-analytic conceptualization or treatment of speech, language, communication, and feeding disorders. Application or Dissemination projects should involve effective application of the science-based principles of behaviour by SLPs or distribution of accurate information about the science-based field of behaviour analysis among SLPs. This year's grant recipients presented their research at the SIG's business meeting during ABAI's annual convention. Student members of ABAI may obtain updated information about submitting research proposals for the current year on our website, www.behavioralspeech.com.
SPABA also created a SIG Student Task Force consisting of graduate-level lab members from various university-based research labs in speech pathology and behaviour analysis across North America. These student volunteers are currently working on projects to further the dissemination of behavioural speech-language treatments. Several initial projects are in process. These include (1) participating in writing and managing a "Research Corner" on the SPABA website, (2) establishing a must-read list of relevant behavioural articles for students and new professionals in the field of speech pathology, and (3) working on the production of a document that identifies clinical issues encountered by SLPs and that provides references for behavioural solutions that may be relevant to those concerns.
The SIG also disseminated an online survey regarding SIG policies and practices in order to meet the needs of our membership. The survey results were presented at the ABAI annual convention in Denver and assisted in informing future activities and direction for the SIG.
Finally, the SIG is working on ways to encourage more of its members to pursue the BACB or BCaBA credential. Information about this process can be found at the website for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (www.bacb.com).
If you're interested in learning more about the Speech Pathology SIG, wish to volunteer to sit on a committee, or assist with a specific project, please visit us at www.behavioralspeech.com or e-mail us at SPABASIG@yahoo.com.