Newsletter
Volume 29 | 2006 | Number 2
Kansas ABA
By Dr. Edward K. Morris
As stated in Kansas ABA’s (KansABA) Bylaws (2006 rev.), the Association’s purpose is to provide a forum for (a) disseminating information about the science and practice of behavior analysis, and about education and training programs therein; (b) addressing issues relevant to the science, practice, and dissemination of behavior analysis; (c) maintaining disciplinary, professional, and ethical standards in the science and practice of behavior analysis; and (d) recruiting and enhancing interest in behavior analysis throughout the State of Kansas and the Kansas City metropolitan area (i.e., the Missouri counties of Clay, Jackson, and Platte).
Over the years, we sought to serve these purposes by holding or sponsoring one-day conferences in March or April. However, we came to see that we were not serving the State of Kansas as well as we would like. The KansABA conferences were replete with good papers on applied behavior analysis, but they were not reaching practitioners or parents. In fact, we were losing them, and speaking mainly to ourselves – the Association’s academic founders. This function is already served by a colloquium series in the Department of Applied Behavioral Science (ABS) at the University of Kansas and by current and proposed regional ABA affiliate organizations, the Midwest Association for Behavior Analysis and the Heartland Association for Behavior Analysis, respectively, and by the May meeting of the national organization.
This past year, the KansABA Executive Council met monthly to discuss how we could better serve Kansans, rethink what we could in fact offer, and take steps toward re-engineering and reorienting the Association. The Executive Council is composed of a president (Edward K. Morris), a full member representative (Linda Heitzman-Powell), an affiliate representative (Catherine Cote), and a student representative (Kim Bessette). The Association’s co-secretaries (Kim Bessette and Jessica Royer), treasurer (Linda Heitzman-Powell), Advisory Board Chair (Catherine Cote) and membership board chair (Carl Conklin) were also present at these meetings. Over the course of these meetings, we resolved to focus on a particular problem in a local context rather than hold more conferences. We will now sponsor talks, forums, and workshops on autism and developmental disabilities in Topeka, Lawrence, and the Kansas City metropolitan area. For this, we have established connections with the Johnson County Autism Society, the Missouri FEAT, and the new Kansas City Training Center (KcATC), all of which are strongly science oriented organizations.
We began our new programming this February by sponsoring an ABS colloquium by Ron Leaf (Seal Beach, CA), who spoke on “Applied Behavior Analysis Approaches in Autism: Convergence and Divergence.” About 60 people attended, including the Commissioner of the infamous Kansas State Board of Education. On May 6, we sponsored a three-hour workshop in Kansas City by Ron on “Behavior Management of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities.” BACB Continuing Education Units will be provided. We are hoping that this event will attract more KansABA members and generate funds to cover our annual expenses (e.g., maintaining www.KansABA.org and a post office box). Next fall, we plan to have additional presentations and forums. Among the latter will be a meeting with the Insurance Commissioner for the State of Kansas because the state provides little or no means of third-party reimbursement for recipients of applied behavior analysis. In sponsoring these events, KansABA should gain some “street credibility” and a larger membership, such that in a few years, we can again offer conferences, although ones that are built more around workshops. Over time, we plan again to include more applied research presentations and expand the topics across the lifespan.
Our other plans for the upcoming year include attaining 501(c)3 federal tax-exempt status, working with the state and local autism societies to pass legislation that would provide state payment for applied behavior analysis services, and developing a set of competency and training standards in applied behavior analysis for insurance companies. In order to accommodate our current activities, we revised our Bylaws, for example, by: extending KansABA’s membership to counties in the Kansas City, MO metropolitan area; removing the necessity of holding annual conferences; sponsoring stand-alone presentations, forums, and workshops; and revising the terms of appointment for the first members of the Executive Council to reflect the reality of not yet having held elections.