Newsletter
Volume 30 | 2007 | Number 2
Vermont ABA
By Dr. David L. Powsner
The Vermont Association for Behavior Analysis (herein after referred to as “VABA”) is organized as a chapter of the Association for Behavior Analysis International for professional, scientific, and education purposes.
The purpose of this association is:
- to promote the development of behavior analysis services within the state of Vermont;
- to support the development of professional credentialing for the practice of behavior analysis within the state of Vermont;
- to support the development of standards of practice for behavior analysis within the state of Vermont;
- to provide and promote educational opportunities regarding behavior analysis on both a professional and general information level to the membership of VABA and to the public at large; and
- to promote and support the conduct of behavior analytic research within the state of Vermont.
2006-07 has been a building year for VABA. Our membership has expanded. The board has also established several working committees. Our certification committee has produced draft legislation, has lined up legislative sponsorship, and is poised to have legislation establishing credentials for behavior analysts introduced at the onset of the 2007 fall session. We have a working conference committee actively planning a two day conference with a target date of October 2008. We have received BACB approval as ACE provider and are working on opportunities for behavior analysts in Vermont to receive credits for in vivo teaching/learning offerings without need to leave the state. We continue to fine tune our Website (www.vaba.info/) despite some cyber-setbacks.
One of our goals (as above) is to support the development of standards of practice. To this point, we received a request for support during the past year that resulted in a VABA position paper regarding least restrictive intervention. We are in process of releasing our position to the Vermont Department of Education, Developmental Services and Mental Health Services. Our position statement reads as follows:
VABA Position Statement on Least Restrictive Practice
Vermont Association for Behavior Analysis (VABA) takes this occasion to issue its position on the use of restrictive behavior change practices in Vermont schools, homes, and communities, and by extension, the responsibilities of practitioners and institutions in seeking informed and voluntary consent from clients. Our position is consistent with the ethical practice guidelines of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board, the International Association for Behavior Analysis and the American Psychological Association.
In the interest of human dignity and effective practice, we urge that those responsible for behavior change base their interventions upon the functional assessment of behavior and design plans and procedures that always recommend the least restrictive procedures likely to be effective in dealing with a behavior problem. There exists more than ample research support for the notion that the majority of behavior challenges can be alleviated with positive reinforcement based procedures that affirm client dignity and afford the client access to normalized environments.
In addition, we urge that, in pursuit of consent for assessment and treatment, practitioners and institutions fully inform clients and/or their surrogates how assessment will be conducted, how treatment will occur in practice, the potential risks involved, alternative treatments that may be available, and the voluntary nature of their participation. The description of alternative treatments should include a comprehensive range of less restrictive treatments. Furthermore, should it become necessary to modify a program, those modifications should be made on the basis of data, the practitioner should explain the proposed modifications and the reasons for the modifications to the client or client-surrogate and obtain consent to implement the modifications. As with an initial treatment proposal, any proposed modification of treatment should prioritize less restrictive options.