Report from the 1st annual Pennsylvania Association for Behavior Analysis conference.

Abstract

We just returned from an awesome conference (held March 16, 2000 in Harrisburg)--what a great service organization has begun to provide for state of Pennsylvania! We are one of 37 affiliate chapters to Association for Analysis (ABA), international organization for behavior analysts working in a wide range of domains (www.wmich.edu/aba). The current PennABA board was elected at ABA 2000 in Washington last year and will remain in place for two year terms. This first annual conference included five educational presentations, an awards ceremony, an open business meeting, and a panel discussion on Behavior Analysis in PA, for which 5 CEU's for behavior analyst credential were offered. This bulletin will highlight these events, let you know about PennABA upcoming goals for 2001-2, and provide contact information at conclusion. Please feel free to contact any of for further information! The first presenter was always entertaining and enlightening president of PennABA, Richard Foxx, PhD, BCBA. His humorous, yet provocative talk was entitled, familia: analysis in PA--opportunities and threats, friends and foes. Tenge familia meaning, the family sticks together, made use of cartoons, colorful metaphors and latin terms, historical references and current events, and actual state agency vituperatives against behavioral strategies, to explore issues such as language and cultural barriers to dissemination of behavior analysis, current state of research on efficacy and cost-effectiveness of behavioral interventions, and areas of hope. For example, he cautioned that are so used to being out of mainstream that we don't have a mainstream repertoire and gave examples of how we need to watch language and presentation. He also emphasized multiple reasons why parents of children with special needs are major allies, being outcome-oriented, educated and motivated. Ultimately, he concluded that our time has come. With publication of clear outcome data that support many of interventions, recent coverage of behavior analysis on major networks, and certification, this is a wonderful opportunity for us and thus we must work together and stick together to bring excellent services to families who need them. A special guest was not a behaviorist, but a lawyer, Edmond Tiryak, J.D. who followed up on some of themes raised by Richard Foxx with a focus on state and federal level organizations and regulations, how they influence practice, or not, of behavior analysis, as well as how behavior analysis can influence ways that policies are established. He pointed out that different divisions of child services housed in same building in PA hold completely disparate views of behavioral interventions and gave very specific examples of ways that institutional resistance to behaviorism leads to practices and policies that block use of behavior analytic interventions and experts. He told fascinating stories of class action law suits for which he was council, and specifically explained how behavior analytic emphasis on data and outcomes helps him win cases. Overall he encouraged us, stating that as an outsider he sees behavior analysis as a distinguished and effective method of solving problems. Given all of talk about dissemination, it is no wonder that Fran Warkomski, Ph.D., director of PA Bureau of Special Education, was given an award for her tremendous support of behavior analytic interventions on account of their efficacy. Anyone who has met her knows what a passionate advocate she is for parents and their children with special needs. …