Newsletter
Volume 31 | 2008 | Number 2
Wisconsin ABA
By Dr. Roger Bass
The Wisconsin Association for Behavior Analysis (WisABA) began largely through the efforts of Dr. Corrine Donley, Professor Emeritus from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. Dr. Donley brought several behavior analysts together at a meeting in Oshkosh where she advanced the importance of a state organization for dealing with the specific problems facing behavior analysts there. Of special concern was the availability of and payment for BCBA-level consulting, the need for services that address increasing numbers of children with autism, and the recognition of behavior analysis’ contributions to Wisconsin’s education, social services, and higher education.
Those concerns raised questions regarding how to best bring behavior analysis to bear on those issues. After phone conferences with Drs. Thomas Critchfield and James Johnston, the membership agreed that holding a conference would be the best way to highlight behavior analysis’ contributions, establish WisABA as an important contributor to behavior analysis in Wisconsin, and serve an organizing function by bringing relevant parties together.
Planning and raising funds for that conference have consumed most of WisABA’s time and energy. This is not to say that other concerns have gone unnoticed. We have stayed abreast of issues involving state funding for autism, licensing requirements for those working with autistic children, and reimbursement issues for BCBAs, to name only a few. But the membership generally agrees that the best way for a small state organization to move forward is to deal effectively with these concerns issue-by-issue and use the conferences to cumulatively make changes.
The first conference primarily addressed autism and education. We received a generous grant from the Friends of Autism, a state parents group. This conference was held August 13th and 14th at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. Nationally recognized researchers and practitioners, several from Wisconsin, presented, gave workshops and presentations, or both. Principals responsible for starting and maintaining effective instructional programs described how to make schools work. A state legislator presented on the need for proven instructional methods; teachers and teachers-in-training had the opportunity to meet with those who are achieving more than many educators dream possible; and parents had a chance to acquire skills, learn about behavior analytic resources in the state, and discuss behavior analytic service availability and delivery from their vantage point.
Interactions between behavior analysts, teachers, and parents were encouraged by holding a WisABA Social following dinner on August 13th. In addition, “Town Hall” meetings will be held where open discussion will be encouraged between researchers, teachers, parents, and legislators. More on the conference is at http://WisABA.org (click on the “Conference” link). Speakers’ bios, agendas, and abstracts are available along with a conference registration form.
Those interested in becoming WisABA members will find a membership link at the http://WisABA.org Web site. Membership opens up a world of possibilities: WisABA is a young, growing organization eager to help its members choose the direction they wish to take when pursuing issues involving behavior analysis in Wisconsin. We have educators, experimentalists, social workers, students, speech therapists, parents, and others whose varying interests reflect the wide ranging importance of our field. There is a great deal to do and WisABA is a mechanism for helping us achieve those goals.