The BACB typically holds its annual board of directors’ meeting immediately following the Association for Behavior Analysis, International convention in May. The annual directors meeting is the occasion on which information collected through the year is reviewed, new policy recommendations are considered, and decisions regarding policy are taken. This newsletter will highlight new BACB developments and policy initiatives that emanated from the May meeting.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS
As you know, the BACB held elections for positions on the board of directors earlier this year, and the results were announced on www.BACB.com in March. At the meeting, we welcomed back Drs. Joel Hundert, Haydee Toro and Jose Martinez-Diaz for second three-year terms. Dr. Martinez-Diaz was re-elected as Treasurer and Dr. Shook was re-elected as Secretary. We also welcomed Dr. Henry Roane, whose term began immediately following the meeting, and who joined the meeting as an observer. This was a bittersweet meeting, as it was our last under the direction of President Dr. James Johnston, whose board of directors term ended at the conclusion of the meeting. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Jim for his years of hard work and steadfast leadership. He has been instrumental in making the BACB what it is today and, for that, we are extremely grateful. Dr. Judy Favell was elected as the new President of the BACB board of directors.
|
|
SPECIALTIES
We mentioned in our last newsletter that the board of directors would review the outcomes from the panel convened in February of this year to determine the next course of action regarding potential specialty certification. The panel produced a list, similar to the current BACB Exam Content Task List, that represents the additional knowledge and skills that BCBAs who work with people with autism should possess. In developing this list, the panel found that the skills and knowledge required beyond the BACB were not fundamentally behavior analytic but, rather, information specific to autism. The list includes skills such as expertise in communicating the history and culture surrounding autism to others, extracting relevant information from data provided by other sources, explaining diagnostic procedures, educating others about non-behavior analytic interventions, and implementing safe emergency procedures, among others. Based upon all of the information collected regarding specialties, the BACB has decided not to continue development of a specialty certification at this time. The BACB has decided to release the Task List generated by the panel to the public. We believe this information can be of value to BCBAs working with people with autism, as well as to consumers and the general public. The list will be posted on www.BACB.com as soon as it is available. In the Discussion Articles section of this newsletter, Dr. James Johnston provides a summary of the process that was used to develop and determine the potential uses for the Task List for Board Certified Behavior Analysts Working with Persons with Autism.
|
