Newsletter
Volume 29 | 2006 | Number 2
Wisconsin ABA
By Dr. Corrine Donley
This year, several members of Wisconsin ABA (WABA) served either on the Governor’s Task Force on Autism or as advisors to the Wisconsin Autism Advisory Board. The Task Force issued a report containing strong recommendations favoring the use of scientifically proven methods for treating autism and the recommendation that the state adopt policies favoring the use of board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs or BCABAs) in autism treatment programs.
Following the publication of the Autism Task Force report, Governor Jim Doyle indicated an interest in the efficacy of the use of ABA-based treatment with individuals over eight years of age. WABA president Dr. Corrine Donley, who has considerable experience in the use of applied behavior analysis with the subject population, prepared and submitted a position paper describing the relevant research. Other accomplishments of the past year are described in the following paragraphs.
WABA had scheduled a general meeting at the 2006 Wisconsin State Special Education Conference; however, because a quorum of members was not present, WABA instead hosted a “meet and greet†gathering where special (and regular) education professionals were invited to learn more about the science of using applied behavior analysis. Dr. Donley presented “What Every Autism Provider Wants to Know about Qualifications for Using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): Consumer Guidelines.â€
In addition, WABA leadership was instrumental in the formation of partnerships with several education and disability groups, including Friends of Autism, Silver Lake College, and Concordia University. These partnerships resulted in, among other things, the underwriting of the cost to bring a nationally recognized ABA practitioner to present a three-day conference for over 400 Wisconsin teachers, parents, and providers and the development of a plan to start undergraduate ABA courses at two colleges that have not had such programs in the past.
WABA appointed Drs. Kevin Klatt and William Murray to the Professional Affairs Committee, whose purpose is to strengthen recognition of board certified behavior analysis in all states. Dr. Roger Bass is designing an easily identifiable logo for stationery and designed a poster for the ABA Expo in Atlanta. Drs. Bass, Klatt, and Matthew Andrzejewski presented the WABA poster.
As for future plans, the chapter has secured grant funding to underwrite the cost to host a statewide ABA conference in either September or October of this year. Additionally, WABA continues to place a high priority on increasing membership numbers; to that end, WABA has partnered with a non-profit fundraising organization to raise money to offer scholarships for college students interested in applied behavior analysis and WABA membership.