Newsletter
Volume 28 | 2005 | Number 2
Updates for ABA’s Affiliated Chapters
Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy
California Association for Behavior Analysis
Hawai’ian Association for Behavior Analysis
Kansas Association for Behavior Analysis
New Jersey Association for Behavior Analysis
Ontario Association for Behavior Analysis
Polish Association for Behavioral Therapy
Tennessee Association for Behavior Analysis
Texas Association for Behavior Analysis
Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy
Carla Schlesinger, Ph.D.
The Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT) operates as a non-profit society that promotes the scientific approach to understanding and modifying behavior in applied settings, and has done so for 28 years. The AACBT was developed for health professionals with an interest in the application of the principles of cognitive and behavioral psychology to help alleviate the difficulties experienced by individuals and groups in the community. With branches in most states of Australia (Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland), the national association maintains links with international associations with similar aims.
The aims of the AACBT are (i) to organise continuing education and training in the principles and practice of Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (CBT), (ii) to publish and disseminate information to members about developments in Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy in Australia and other countries, (iii) to educate the community in the principles and ethical practice of Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy, (iv) to liaise and consult with other persons or organisations in the teaching and practice of Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy, and (v) to promote the ethical practice of Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy by members.
In 2001 through 2002, AACBT reviewed its core business and engaged in strategic planning in a number of areas identified by internal working groups and the wider membership. Issues identified included a lack of unification between state branches, a lack of ‘adequate CBT training’ and minimum standards, biases towards CBT researchers as opposed to genuine clinical expertise when advancing knowledge in CBT, a bias towards psychologists over other health professionals, and a lack of representation in policy and mental health strategic planning.
Under the 2004-2005 national presidency of Sarah Egan (Western Australia), strategic initiatives continue to be implemented to achieve maximum benefit for the membership. In the last year, AACBT has continued to develop collaborative partnerships with a number of national organisations, including divisions of General Practice and the Australian Psychological Society (APS). We have also increased responsiveness to membership concerns, where communication channels have been opened to allow greater feedback opportunities from membership to state and national presidency.
Accreditation
In 2000, AACBT began to consider the option of accreditation to (i) increase national identity and unification, (ii) build the profile of CBT in Australia, and (iii) develop a set of evidence-based minimum standards for the training of health professionals in Australia. Based on evidence from similar associations, the AACBT began exploring accreditation models, and, at the 2000 AACBT conference, the national committee established an Accreditation Working Party (with representation from each state) to further investigate issues of accreditation and training.
After national polling in 2003, the AACBT modified its constitution to allow the opportunity to develop minimum standards and a process of certification of its members. With a process of inquiry now underway, the working party (Chair: Shirley Morrissey) are currently reviewing training, supervision, and competency models and developing draft minimum standards.
Dissemination of Evidenced-Based Practice
Australian clinical researchers continue to be influential in the development and evaluation of cognitive behavior therapies, nationally and internationally. This has been particularly evident in the areas of youth anxiety and depression, substance misuse, obsessive compulsive disorders, eating disorders, and couples therapy. With this recognition, we continue to provide regular forums through which this evidence base can be disseminated. The association’s journal Behaviour Change receives a number of national articles which furthers the evidence base for CBT. In 2003, the Association established a journal advisory subcommittee (Chair: Carla Schlesinger) which oversees the functioning of the journal. With the appointment of a new editor (Ross Menzies) and in consultation with Paul Salkovskis (in his role as editor of the BABCP’s journal), several new directions have emerged for the future of Behaviour Change. These changes include a change in structure of the editorial board, a re-structuring of the journal contents, and the appointment of associate editors to cover specific areas of psychopathology (mood disorders, psychosis, addictions, eating disorders, childhood problems, anxiety disorders, and health services research).
The AACBT’s annual national conference, which is rotated between states, offers another opportunity for national and international clinicians and researchers to disseminate their findings and network with other interested clinical researchers. Convened by Nicole Lee (and the Victorian State Branch), this year’s conference was held in Melbourne, 16-20 April. Keynote speakers included Prof. Mark J. Williams, Prof. Nick Tarrier, Prof. Mark Dadds, and Dr. Amanda Baker.
Receptiveness to the membership base has been the key to the AACBT’s success. Ongoing evaluations and monitoring of treatment trends, emerging client populations, and an understanding of membership demographics allow the Chapter to address and match our initiatives in a pro-active manner. The Australian Chapter welcomes our connection to the Association for Behavior Analysis and the other affiliated chapters, and invites correspondence to the details listed on the ABA Web site.
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The California Association for Behavior Analysis: History and Update
H. Keith Massel, Ph.D., BCBA
The California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA) is a growing affiliated chapter with 642 current members. This is an increase of 82 members since 2003 and 58 members since 2004. Two hundred twenty-three of our members are currently students.
Our most recent conference was held in February of this year at Dana Point, a beautiful town on the Southern California coast. The theme of the conference was “Changing the Future by Changing Behavior”. We were fortunate to have had 697 people attend the conference and they were treated to workshops and other presentations by such out-of-state behavioral luminaries as Ted Ayllon, Patricia Krantz, Rob Horner, Dick Malott, Lynn McClannahan, Ed Morris, John Nevin, Grayson Osborne, Ray Romanczyk, and Todd Risley, among others, as well as presentations by numerous highly regarded in-state behavioral analysts. Dr. Risley received the Outstanding Contributor to Behavior Analysis award.
A unique feature of all CalABA conferences is that all invited speakers make themselves available for extended conversations with conference participants. At our 2005 conference these individuals were available through a conversation hour with keynote and invited speakers, a two-hour poster session and social gathering, a dinner and awards ceremony, and more informal meetings during the conference.
Julie Vargas auctioned three items that belonged to B. F. Skinner at the dinner and awards ceremony at the conference, for the benefit of the B. F. Skinner Foundation. The items were two manuscript pages that were hand-edited by Skinner, a note pad with Skinner’s name and address imprinted upon it, and a nameplate from Skinner’s Harvard office. The auction was a high point of the conference and the three items raised almost $15,000 for the foundation! The nameplate alone went for $12,500!
CalABA was the first organization approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board to provide continuing education for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Board Certified Associate Behavior Analysts. Many workshops and other presentations at our conference were available for BACB continuing education credits. Additionally, psychologists, speech therapists, audiologists, marriage and family therapists, and social workers were able to receive continuing education credits.
The 2006 conference will be held at the San Francisco Airport Hyatt (with easy access to downtown San Francisco and other interesting areas) on February 16th-18th. Get further details at http://calaba.org and plan to attend. Remember, California is as close as your nearest airport.
CalABA remains actively involved in promoting and supporting legislation that promotes the field of behavior analysis. In this vein, the CalABA organization and individual CalABA members diligently worked to persuade the California legislature to pass a bill in July, 2004 that allows BCBAs to conduct behavioral assessments and provide behavioral intervention services for individuals with exceptional needs for any school district, Special Education Local Plan Area, or county office of education in the state. This bill should assist in standardizing the requirements for behavior intervention case managers (BICMs) in the state and it is hoped that the state will now require BICMs to receive some training in applied behavior analysis. Special thanks to Sacramento Advocacy for directing CalABA’s lobbying efforts on this bill.
Please visit CalABA’s Web site at http://calaba.org for information on employment opportunities in California, graduate training programs, continuing education providers, behavior analysis events, policies that affect behavior analysts, and CalABA membership.
Hawai’ian Association for Behavior Analysis
Justin N. Kyriannis, M.A., BCBA, Kimberly A. Smalley, Ph.D., BCBA, and Patricia I. Wright, M.A., BCBA
Aloha! The Hawai’ian Association for Behavior Analysis (HABA) has gained behavioral momentum disseminating behavioral technology and principles. Our organization and our membership are growing; while not yet a household name, we do receive requests for information regularly.
The HABA board member election transpired on February 22, 2005. Kimberly Smalley, Ph.D., BCBA maintained her role as President, while Justin N. Kyriannis, M.A., BCBA was elected Secretary, and Flavia Ploog, M.Ed., BCBA was elected Treasurer. Following the election, HABA received a new Web site URL along with an updated look: http://home.hawaii.rr.com/haba/. In addition, an on-line group forum was created so members and nonmembers alike can network and discuss behavior analysis in Hawaii, the Pacific Rim, and beyond: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HawaiiABA/.
A lot of recent effort has gone into promoting the Web site and increasing membership. HABA membership has increased to 38 members and we are committed to gaining statewide recognition. We hosted our first annual conference May 14th, 2005 and managed to exceed our expectations for attendance, assuredly in part due to our key note speaker Allison Moors. Conference speakers and attendees from the mainland, as well as neighbor islands in Hawaii, participated. The audience was a diverse collection of professionals working in the school and adult service systems, behavior analysts, behavior assistants, DOE personnel, and provider organization staff. Event feedback confirmed that our first conference was a success. HABA is currently working in partnership to present a large-scale autism conference locally, September 21-23, 2005. Preparation for next year’s annual conference is underway; be on the lookout for our call for papers if you would like an excuse to come to paradise! Check our Web site for up-to-date HABA happenings and please join our group forum.
We recently went on line with our first spring 2005 edition of our newsletter. You can find a copy by visiting our Web site. As described in one article in the newsletter, HABA promotes local attainment of Board Certification in Behavior Analysis. Currently, there are 11 individuals who are board certified in the state of Hawaii. We hope to support many more.
Another significant accomplishment this year occurred when HABA, in conjunction with provider organizations, worked with the Hawaii Board of Education (BOE) and the Department of Education (DOE) to ensure that the list of qualified professionals eligible to conduct behavioral assessments and behavior support plans included Board Certified Behavior Analysts. The amended language now reads that assessors must be “Master’s level classified, certified, or licensed behavior support and educational staff AND have a minimum of three (3) years of documented training and supervised experience in the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) and plan development within an educational setting.”
HABA will continue to advocate for the provision of quality behavior analytic services conducted by Board Certified Behavior Analysts while encouraging certification as a minimum standard.
HABA is now pursuing non-profit status and hope to become a CEU provider for our local BCBA’s. We expect that HABA will continue to develop and reach out to a broader and larger audience as the awareness of behavior analysis and demand for behavioral technology increases throughout the state of Hawaii.
Kansas Association for Behavior Analysis: 2004-2005
Edward K. Morris, Ph.D.
Over the course of the past year, the Kansas Association for Behavior Analysis (KansABA) held its second annual state conference, co-sponsored a national conference, and undertook a review of its purpose and purview.
On April 3, 2004, KansABA held its second conference in Lawrence, KS, on the theme of “Applied Behavior Analysis across the Lifespan.” Presentations were made by Wayne Sailor and Steve Lassen (Department of Special Education and the Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas) on positive behavioral support in an urban middle school; Barbara Terry, Nii Sai Doku, and Sung-Hee Park (Juniper Gardens Children’s Project, Kansas City, KS) on teaching early reading acquisition using class-wide peer tutoring, Jerry Shook (BACB®) on the credentialing of behavior analyst practitioners; Jennifer Zarcone and Rob Peyton (University of Kansas Medical Center) on applications of functional analysis; and Rob Zettle (Wichita State University) on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dennis D. Embry (PAXIS Institute, Tucson, AZ) was the keynote speaker. His talk was titled, “Behavioral Vaccines: A Lasting Legacy of Applied Behavior Analysis Inventions Like the Good Behavior Game.” The conference registration was 80.
Instead of holding a 2005 conference, KansABA co-sponsored an April 1-2 national conference in Lawrence on “Advancing Applied Behavior Analysis in Psychology: Solving Societal Problems through Integrative, Empirical Research in the 21st Century.” It addressed barriers to applied behavioral science; advances in basic and applied research and conceptual analysis relevant to overcoming those barriers; recent progress in bridge or translational research for deriving, implementing, and validating science-based applications; and research, training, and funding agendas for solving problems of societal importance in the coming century.
The presenters and the titles of their presentations were Gina Green (San Diego State University), “Childhood Psychopathology: Science and Practice in the Treatment of Autism”; Timothy R. Vollmer (University of Florida), “Community Psychology: A Large-Scale Application in Foster Care”; Stephen T. Higgins (University of Vermont), “Behavioral Pharmacology: Clinical Implications of Reinforcement as a Determinant of Substance Abuse Disorders”; Brian A. Iwata (University of Florida), “Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities: Assessment and Treatment of Severe Behavior Disorders”; M. Christopher Newland (Auburn University), “Behavioral Toxicology: Subtle Effects, Large Consequences, and Public Health”; Steven C. Hayes (University of Nevada, Reno), “Adult Psychotherapy: Building an Effective Relationship between Clinical Psychology and Basic Behavioral Science”; Nancy A. Neef (Ohio State University), “Educational Psychology: Basic, Use-Inspired, and Applied Research”; Raymond G. Miltenberger (North Dakota State University), “Child and Youth Safety: Teaching Safety Skills to Children: Issues in Training, Generalization, and Dissemination”; and Louis D. Burgio (University of Alabama), “Gerontology: Recent Advances and Current Challenges.” Todd R. Risley (University of Alaska) was the keynote banquet speaker. The title of his talk was “Discoveries, Inventions, Solutions, and Theory in Behavioral Science.” The conference registration was 120.
As for the projected changes in KansABA’s purpose and purview, they were occasioned by the failure of our 2003 and 2004 conferences to reach out far enough and substantially enough across the state. The reason, we suspect, is that the conference programs were too science-rich for a state with many, more immediate, practical needs. Thus, since January, 2005, the KansABA Executive Committee has met monthly to consider how we can better serve the citizens of Kansas, to rethink what we can in fact offer, and to take steps toward re-engineering and reorienting the Association. As for our science constituency, it is already well served by the academic programs at the University of Kansas (e.g., in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science). If this constituency desires an organizational structure and professional venue for its work, these can be met by the Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis and its annual October conferences. As for KansABA, it will begin holding more practically oriented conferences, initially, in the Kansas City, KS area, where the MR/DD population, the parents of MR/DD children, and local practitioners need applied expertise and services. Once our future conferences become established and are well attended, KansABA will again integrate an explicit science theme into the programs and expand its geographical territory. Even now, KansABA has extended its membership criteria to include the residents of the Kansas City, MO metropolitan area. Information on these changes and our future conferences will be available at our Web site www.KansABA.org.
A Message from New Jersey ABA
Marlene Cohen, Ed.D., BCBA, Sharon Reeve, Ph.D., BCBA, Patrick Progar, Ph.D., BCBA, and Jenna Miller, M.A., BCBA
We are embarking upon our first large venture, our annual conference. It is hard to believe that a year’s worth of planning is almost at an end. Our first conference will be held in the Bush Campus Student Center at Rutgers the State University of New Jersey. We are honored to have Dr. Sandra Harris as the keynote presenter. Sandra L. Harris is a Board of Governors Distinguished professor of clinical psychology and executive director of the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center, a university-based program for the treatment of children with autism. We cannot think of a better choice for the inauguration of our first conference. Dr. Harris will be speaking on the topic of services for children and adults with autism (past, present, and future).
The initial discussion of the conference planning committee included the desire for the conference to represent a broad span of topics in applied behavior analysis covering a variety of consumer populations. We have tracked our workshops to attract parents/teachers/ speech therapists/administrators, practicing psychologists, and Board Certified Behavior Analysts, and are offering BACB, APA, and Department of Education CEUs. It is our hope that this will attract a varied audience of attendees and that we will open up an opportunity for dialog among professionals and consumers utilizing the principles of applied behavior analysis.
Please look for our registration brochure for specifics by visiting our Web site at www.njaba.org. The incentive for becoming a member is reflected in our fee structure, so please consider joining us. There is much to do in the state of New Jersey with regard to the accurate dissemination of information about applied behavior analysis and increasing minimum standards for practice. We’ll have a louder voice and accomplish more with your help.
ONTABA Update
Rosemary A. Condillac, Ph.D. and Carobeth Zarzos
ONTABA is the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis, a non-profit corporation. We became an affiliated chapter of ABA in 1993. We have grown from a membership of less than 50 to more than 300 members at our peak. The majority of our members live and work in Ontario, though we have members from across Canada, and a few from within the United States.
ONTABA’s vision is, “Fostering a culture of excellence, integrity, and expertise for the advancement and promotion of the science of behaviour analysis.” Our mission is, “To demonstrate leadership, knowledge, and innovation in education, training, and research for the ethical and effective application of behaviour analysis.” In order to achieve these goals, we undertake a variety of different activities. We host an annual conference and annual general meeting each fall, typically in November. We have an elected board of directors, and standing committees who work on membership, recruitment, newsletters, elections, and ad hoc committees working on public policy, certification, and the development of awards and scholarships.
Ontario is a province of Canada with a population of 11.4 million people of over 90 nationalities. In Ontario, as in most countries, the demand for services provided by behaviour analysts has grown exponentially with the growing demand for ABA services for children with autism. In Ontario, the government has invested close to $200,000,000 into ABA-related services and post-secondary education for students to learn about autism and ABA. The services include early intensive behavioural intervention, as well as consultative support to school boards. There is a growing need for behaviour analysts in Ontario to service these programs, as well as to fill the voids in other services for individuals with developmental disabilities that have been created by staff migrating to autism-related services. Ontario is a great place to live and work, and we would encourage our fellow ABA members looking for work abroad to consider our communities.
Our recent efforts have been focused on developing a plan for certification of behaviour analysts that considers the educational background of our members. Surveying and documenting the local opportunities for ABA related post-secondary education, and using this information to assist in the development of graduate and undergraduate training opportunities. Improving our communication systems through development of our website (www.ontaba.org) and increased content in our newsletter. We are also trying to improve our functioning as an organization, and to scale up our policies and practices to meet the needs of a growing membership.
This year, our convention is being held on November 3rd and 4th at the Ramada Inn, downtown Toronto. Dr. Brian Iwata and Dr. Philip Hineline will be our keynote speakers. We have a host of local researchers and clinicians who will also be presenting their work. The deadline for our call for papers has passed, and our program is almost set, but we would be pleased to receive late poster submissions from members of other affiliates who might be interesting in visiting Toronto in the late fall. Please check our Web page at www.ontaba.org for information relating to our affiliated chapter.
Polish Association for Behavioral Therapy (Polskie Stowarzyszenie Terapii Behawioralnej)
Anna Budzinska, M.A. and Nela Grzegorczyk-Dluciak, M.A.
General Information
The Polish Association for Behavioral Therapy (Polskie Stowarzyszenie Terapii Behawioralnej), or PSTB was established in Poland on March 5, 2002 as a national non-profit organization for all individuals actively pursuing behavioral therapy. PSTB is headquartered in Kraków, at Osiedle Zielone 28, and currently has over 100 members from all over Poland. It is important to emphasize that there are PSTB members at each center in Poland that offers behavioral therapy.
In the most general terms, the mission of the Polish Association for Behavioral Therapy is to provide comprehensive, professional assistance to individuals with emotional, intellectual and social dysfunctions and to their families, as well as to serve as a forum for behavioral therapists within Poland by facilitating the exchange of ideas and upholding the highest standards of professional conduct. In order to realize its mission, the Association is carrying out the following statutorily defined objectives:
1. Initiation and implementation of various forms of assistance to individuals with emotional and intellectual dysfunctions and to their families with the overall goal of improving their health and social adaptation;
2. Spreading awareness of the concepts and principles of behavioral therapy through training courses, publications, seminars, and conferences;
3. Guidance and support for community-based initiatives designed to improve the quality of life for the disabled;
4. Professional supervision in the advisory capacity for therapists, teachers, parents, and other individuals providing care to the disabled.
Activities and Achievements
One of the most important initiatives and achievements of the Polish Association for Behavioral Therapy is the fact that since its inception, in active cooperation with and support from the Barbara Piasecka Johnson Foundation, PSTB has been consistently involved in creating therapy centers for children affected with autism in various cities in Poland. Furthermore, PSTB is providing internal training and supervision to teams of therapists at several educational facilities where behavioral techniques are used in working with autistic children in order to guarantee the highest qualifications among the cadres and to ensure the most effective intervention in individuals with emotional, intellectual and social dysfunctions. Currently, PSTB provides professional supervision to four facilities located in the cities of Czestochowa, Ruda Slaska, Sandomierz and Kielce, and supervision programs are conducted at centers in Kraków, Sandomierz, Kielce, Warsaw, Czestochowa, and Chorzów. In response to great interest expressed by numerous individuals and various organizations, PSTB has been coordinating and organizing an extended system of professional training both for therapists specializing in autism and related disabilities, and for other interested parties in order to increase overall awareness of the issue. To date, approximately 500 individuals have participated in 18 courses.
One of the milestones in the development of the Association came in June 2002 when PSTB became a co-organizer of the First International Conference on Behavioral Therapy of Individuals with Autism in Gdansk, Poland, together with the Association for the Assistance to Individuals with Autism of Gdansk and the Barbara Piasecka Johnson Foundation. In the following year, PSTB members had an opportunity to publish results of their research and various other articles in the first issue of Krok za krokiem (Step by Step), PSTB’s semiannual journal. Contributions from world-class scientists, such as Dr. Patricia Krantz and Dr. Lynn McClannahan, significantly increased the prestige of the publication. The journal has become a very popular forum and it is now an integral part of PSTB’s activities.
Every year, at least 20 articles written by PSTB members appear in professional and popular publications and about ten papers are presented at domestic and international conferences. In addition, three persons have begun Ph.D. programs in the field of behavioral therapy at the University of Gdansk, Jagiellonian University, and the School for Special Education in Kraków.
An important example of PSTB’s efforts to meet the needs of the families and behavioral therapists was the initiative of establishing a duty free quota for importation from the USA of items required for therapy of children with autism, such as language masters, electronic counters, electronic timers, etc. As a result of this initiative, the Parliament of Poland (Sejm), passed appropriate laws in December 2003.
In the fall of 2004, PSTB took over from the [Polish] National Autism Alliance in Kraków the function of conducting the Behavioral Therapy Clinic, which comprises therapy consultations as well as guidance and diagnostic services for children with autism and related disorders. The Clinic currently provides services to almost 80 disabled children and their families, primarily from southern Poland. Furthermore, PSTB is in the process of being granted an official status of an organization of public service.
Cooperation with Other Institutions
The Polish Association for Behavioral Therapy regularly works with many other organizations, such as the [Polish] National Autism Alliance, government institutions, educational facilities, etc. PSTB is also a member of the Polish umbrella organization Autism Poland (Autyzm Polska) whose main goal is to improve the situation of individuals with autism, their families, and professionals specializing in the disorder.
Thanks to major financial and administrative support extended by the Barbara Piasecka Johnson Foundation, an internship program at the Princeton Child Development Institute has been established for qualified behavioral therapists and PSTB is looking forward to its continuation and growth. The professional guidance and direction received from the Princeton Child Development Institute has been invaluable.
PSTB is also actively working together with universities where future professional therapists are being trained. University affiliated student training programs and master’s degree research programs are conducted at the PSTB supervised facilities.
Plans for the Future
PSTB is currently soliciting funds necessary to launch two large projects, i.e. Center of Therapy for Individuals with Autism and Related Disabilities for the Malopolska Region (Malopolskie Centrum Terapii Osób z Autyzmem i Zaburzeniami Pokrewnymi) as well as the PSTB Information and Training Data Base (Baza informacyjno-szkoleniowa PSTB) designed to serve as a Polish national center of educational, therapeutic, medical, and legal information that will be fully accessible to the general public. The primary sources of funding are grants from the government of Poland and programs available through the European Union.
In September 2003, the Association began the process of establishing in Kraków a Public Special Education School for Children with Autism and Related Disorders that would be operated exclusively by PSTB.
Last, but not least, we plan to obtain commitments of funds for a publishing program. To begin, we plan to take to print Polish translations of several principal books in the field of behavioral therapy of individuals with autism.
PSTB is extremely proud to have become affiliated with ABA and we are looking forward to working with you in the future.
Tennessee Association for Behavior Analysis (TABA): Standing up for Effective Treatment, Impacting the Regulation Behavioral Services
Timothy D. Cripps, M.S., BCBA
The Tennessee Association for Behavior Analysis (TABA) has come a long way in the last year. TABA had hit a lull in its activity over the last couple of years. Our organization’s committees were not functioning as they should and there was not a clear vision for the future. There was a decline in membership, and the members that we did have complained of a lack of communication. People began to scratch their heads and wonder exactly what the use was of being a member of TABA. It seemed, at the time, that the ultimate goal of TABA was to pull off a conference by the end of the year. Stalwarts of TABA kept the organization going, trying to gain more support for the organization, yet many in Tennessee had become apathetic to the political environment that fueled our existence.
Who could blame them? Nobody wants to get into politics. Most people pictured getting out of school and practicing picture-perfect behavioral assessments and behavior plans that would cure behavior problems left and right. Gosh, we might even change the current system as we know it. People will whisper and point at the person who stamped out behavior problems in the State of Tennessee. Then you get a job and you have to remind yourself that sometime during the week you’ll actually get to practice behavior analysis. It is a strong person who can go through red tape and still provide effective services. Some people fail to recognize that at a global level someone somewhere is regulating our behavior in how we provide services.
As is the case of many states, behavior analysts became more prominent in Tennessee as a result of litigation that provided language for our existence. Once a group of behavior analysts becomes integrated into a system, people see the utility of our services, but that does not mean that we get to make the rules. The rule-makers generally consist of State functionaries, lawyers, and insurance organizations. When this amalgam of interested parties regulates your field for you, it is likely that you will not enjoy the results. Therefore, you must find a way to influence the regulatory process if you are, in any way, to maintain the highest standards in service provision. This can not happen with only one voice.
It has been said that there are two groups that can get things done: 1) The majority, or 2) An organized and active minority. TABA may be small but we are focused on advocating for the right to effective treatment for the ones we serve. With that philosophy, TABA has had a revitalization, and we have rallied Tennessee’s behavior analysts for a call to action. This was accomplished by an extraordinarily active group of TABA members who set goals, and effectively planned and implemented strategies for achieving the goals.
In the last year, TABA has reached out to and made connections with more education, parenting, and advocacy groups for individuals with behavior problems than ever before. The purpose of these meetings is to educate them about the effectiveness of applied behavior analysis.
We have also made in-roads with the regulatory groups previously mentioned. Our efforts have helped to educate them on the essential features of quality behavior services. This allowed these entities to make more informed decisions.
The results of our approach have been tangible. Our Web site has improved tremendously, our membership is growing, we have raised more money than ever before, we are more organized, we have started a newsletter, we have study groups for the BCBA exam, we have more CEU opportunities than ever, student involvement has expanded, and more members are becoming active in spreading the word about applied behavior analysis.
Of course, there is always more to do in the future. We need to tweak things here and there to make us an even more “well-oiled machine” and somewhere down the line we would like to see licensure for behavior analysts.
Through our efforts we will change our minority status
to the majority. This will take time and hard work,
but I am confident that with our active and determined
members, TABA will become a beacon for those who seek
effective treatment for the ones that they love.
Texas Association for Behavior Analysis
William H. Edwards, M.S., BCBA
The Texas Association for Behavior Analysis (TxABA) is an ABA affiliated chapter with 453 total members and 64 voting members. The primary activities of TxABA include conducting the annual conference, which rotates its geographical location between Dallas and Houston. The average attendance of the conferences ranges from 250 to 450 persons, and is comprised of practitioners, academic professionals, students, community participants such as parents, and other professionals such as psychologists, educators, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and social workers. The annual conferences bring together behavior analysts from across the state of Texas and the surrounding states, and provide a valuable resource for all attendees to gain information on the latest basic and applied topics from around the country as well as internationally. Recent speakers have included such key figures as Dr. Jack Michael, Dr. Ray Miltenberger, Dr. Dorothea Lerman, Dr. Jeff Sigafoos, and Dr. Jerry Shook. Recent topics have included the current status of the Behavior Analysis Board Certification, preference, choice making, and self-determinism, training and generalization of safety skills to prevent gun play in children, further research on procedural refinements to and extensions of functional analysis methodologies, and Skinner’s molecular interpretation of behavior.
The Texas Association for Behavior Analysis is also becoming a more vibrant and visible organization in the public. TxABA has two Special Interest Groups (SIG’s), the Autism SIG, and the Student SIG. In addition to aiding in the planning and preparation for the annual conference, the Autism SIG provides educational opportunities to the community throughout the year, presenting information to the public regarding behavior analysis and its application to autism intervention. These instructional workshops are designed to give parents and educators alike first-hand exposure to behavioral principles and their usefulness in improving the quality of lives for individuals with autism. The Autism SIG also maintains a directory of service providers throughout the state of Texas who are members of TxABA. Recent efforts within the Autism SIG include developing an informational packet to submit to medical professionals describing Autism and ABA, as well as pooling resources to investigate funding streams for behavior analysts in Texas including state options as well as insurance options. As the level of student interest has grown, there is an increased opportunity to promote student involvement from individuals learning behavior analysis in various academic institutions throughout the state as well.
As TxABA looks to the future, it is confronted with many issues of relevance to the behavior analyst. Most notably is the impact that the certification process will have at the local, state, and national levels with respect to training, standards of practice, ethical behavior, and service evaluation. TxABA continues to be active in monitoring the activities of the Texas legislative groups, and stands poised to contribute when necessary. In addition, there are several local and statewide efforts in place to promote more active and accepted involvement from behavior analysts in the public school system, and the members of TxABA are doing everything possible to aid the growth of this movement and other types of efforts that would directly promote the advancement of behavior analysis within the state and region.