ACTION: White House Office of Science & Technology Asks For Public Input On Improving Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research

The U.S. Office of Science and Technology (OSTP) is the Federal Department that advises the U.S.President and those in the Federal Executive on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs.

The mission of OSTP as defined by Public Law 94-282 is to

"Serve as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans, and programs of the Federal Government.

P.L. 94-282 authorizes OSTP to:

• Advise the President and others within the Executive Office of the President on the impacts of science and technology on domestic and international affairs;
• Lead an interagency effort to develop and implement sound science and technology policies and budgets;Work with the private sector to ensure Federal investments in science and technology contribute to economic prosperity, environmental quality, and national security;
• Build strong partnerships among Federal, State, and local governments, other countries, and the scientific community;
• Evaluate the scale, quality, and effectiveness of the Federal effort in science and technology.
  

On December 9, 2009, OSEP, in partnership with the White House Open Government Initiative issued  an announcement on the OSEP blog requesting public input via an online "Public Access Policy Forum" on Federal science policy having to do with public access to federally-funded research results.

The three major areas of interest in the Forum, and the dates when discussion and input on each topic are solicited are,

1. Implementation (Dec. 10-20, 2009)
2. Features and Technology (Dec. 21-31, 2009)
3. Management (Jan.1-7, 2010)

At this time, area 1: Implementation, is the topic under discussion.

For full information, see the posts at the OSTP Blog,

• OSTP to Launch Public Forum to Discuss Options for Improving Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research
  Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
  

• Policy Forum on Public Access to Federally Funded Research: Implementation
  Thursday, December 10th, 2009
  

-----------

Website: Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG

-----------
Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG or SIG members and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website, http://www.abainternational.org

ACTION OPPORTUNITY: Online petition requests behavior analysis be included in health care reform

There is currently an online petition to include behavior analysis and Behavior Analysts in the health care legislation currently before Congress,

Senate bill: HR3590: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

House bill:  HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act

This petition is an individual grassroots initiative and not intended to represent the formal position of, or endorsement by any formal behavior analytic organization or nonprofit.

To date, 2,350 letters and emails have been sent to elected officials in Congress.

Deliberation on health care reform legislation is in progress now, so if you support the goals of the petition,
please visit without delay to view, and add your signature if you support this effort.

-------
Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
-----------
Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG or individual SIG member authors and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website,  

NEWS: Illinois Budget Woes Threaten SIU Autism Program

This newsstory just came in and it sounds like really bad news for children on the autism spectrum in Illinois, and for behavior analysts because of the potential loss of a training program. Alums of the SIU program may want to keep close tabs on what is happening and throw their support behind trying to get a fair budget passed and keeping programs such as the SIU Autism Center open.

Gov. Quinn to speak at university's endangered autism center
Center for Autistic Spectrum Disorders threatened by lack of income tax hike
Barton Lorimor
The Daily Egyptian
Published: Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Former students and coordinators of the university’s [Southern Illinois University] Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders plan to present their case for continued state funding to Gov. Patrick Quinn Thursday [June 18, 2009] during his campus visit.

Quinn will meet with the center’s staff and take a tour of the facility, which provides therapy to children with autism and trains students in effective ways to treat the disease, said Anthony Cuvo, the center’s director.

Cuvo said the center’s state funding, roughly $492,000 per fiscal year, would be cut off if Quinn approves a state budget without the proposed 50 percent income tax hike . Such a cut would mean the center, which has trained nearly 200 graduate students studying behavior analysis and therapy, would not have any money to operate on, he said

Legislators failed to pass Quinn’s income tax proposal, which would have increased the 3 percent tax on incomes of at least $60,000 a year to 4.5 percent, but did not replace it with another revenue source to pay for state programs and begin decreasing a roughly $12 billion deficit. Though legislative leaders say they expect to make revisions to the budget later, the plan on Quinn’s desk cuts the Department of Human Services by $2.2 billion.

The Autism Program, a branch of the Department of Human Services that funds the center along with 11 other autism treatment centers across the state, would no longer receive state dollars unless the tax hike were approved, Georgia Winson, chief of the program, said in a news release.

FULL ARTICLE

------------------------
Past newsstories about the SIU Autism Center

• Teachers learn new techniques from autism center
  Sep 22, 2006 ... The autism center's staff – professionals who focus on why behavior occurs in order to figure out how to change it –
  

• Autism center offers help, hope
  Feb 23, 2005 ... The center offers diagnostic, intervention and consultation services for children with autism spectrum disorders and their families, ...
  

---------
Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
-----------
Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG or individual SIG member authors and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed
to their website,

NEWS: Huffington Post article on the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act: U.S. S.819 & H.R. 2413

See also previous blogpost on the Resolutions,
May 31, 2009: ACTION Federal: The Autism Treatment Acceleration Act(s) of 2009

The Autism Treatment Acceleration Act and the Autism Sandbox
Shelley Hendrix Reynolds
Posted: May 31, 2009 06:40 PM
Huffington Post

Please read the full article, but I want to highlight some cogent clauses made by Ms. Reynolds,

"...Despite dutifully paying premiums to insure against the unthinkable that their child could be diagnosed with a disease or disorder, most parents of children with autism cannot get appropriate coverage to treat their child's medical conditions. Not because these parents didn't act responsibly and do their part but because insurance did not do their part...

Why should you care about their plight as an average tax paying citizen without a child with autism? It directly affects your own checking account...

No one would dream of treating a child with a life threatening illness at any less than what the doctor recommends. No one would ever expect that the public education system to be responsible for curing that disease and yet, insurance companies do just that...shirk their accountability to the education system instead of providing children with appropriate coverage when they are toddlers making them more likely to be mainstreamed into a regular education setting. Providing access to these treatments saves tax payer's dollars, creates new job markets and most importantly, gives these children an opportunity to become tax payers themselves one day with independent lives via a fiscally responsible solution to a growing societal issue..."

See the full article at the Huffington Post

and for more information and TO ACT on the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act(s), see Autismvotes.

----------
Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
-----------
Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG and SIG members and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website,

ACTION Federal: The Autism Treatment Acceleration Act(s) of 2009

Recently, Autismvotes put out a shout out for action on the U.S. Senate and House versions of the Autism Treatment Acceleration Acts of 2009 (See below for status of the Resolutions and the text), and this is a reminder to any interested that to progress this Congressional session, these (and any other bills of interest) need phone calls, emails, and, if it can be done, visits to state delegations either in D.C., or in the district offices. Both resolutions allow expansion of ERISA, allow for evidenced treatments for autism, including behavior analytic, and support grants and pilot programs for coordination and expansion of transition and adult services.

Some "how to kits" for advocacy, which can be used for any policy issue or legislative matter:

Legistlative Advocacy Handbook from the ABA-I Governmental Affairs Committee

Legistlative Advocacy PowerPoint from the ABA-I Governmental Affairs Committee

And a resource not produced by ABA-I, but another good general guide to advocating at the Federal level,
A Psychologists Guide to Participation in Federal Advocacy Process; Abridged version.
The original text for this guide was written by Barbara J. Calkins and revised by the APA Public Policy Office in 1995.
[This is a pretty general run-down on the legislative process and how to advocate, so much of the information can be applicable to anyone and not just Psychologists]

About the Resolutions, from thomas.gov

[111st] S.819 : A bill to provide for enhanced treatment, support, services, and research for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
Sponsor: Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] (introduced 4/2/2009) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 4/2/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

and

[111st] H.R.2413 : To provide for enhanced treatment, support, services, and research for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
Sponsor: Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] (introduced 5/14/2009) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Energy and Commerce; House Education and Labor; House Oversight and Government Reform; House Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 5/14/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Please see this page at Autismvotes to see summaries and bullet points on the legislation.

Thanks for taking action.

-----------
Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
-----------
Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG and SIG members and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website,

ABA-I NEWSFLASH & ACTION: From the GAC, "ABAI Legislative Agenda"

Received 5/5/09 on the behavioranalysisandpublicpolicy yahoogroup

To: ABAI State Affiliate Chapters Governmental Affairs Representatives
Members of the ABAI PIBA SIG
From: Michael F. Dorsey, Ph.D., BCBA, Chair, Governmental Affairs Committee
Re: ABAI Legislative Agenda

I am writing to inform you of the newly established process adopted by the ABAI Practice Board to prepare a comprehensive agenda of critical bills for ABAI. The process, as described below, begins with the submission of bills recommended to be considered by members of ABAI as well as key constituents, to the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Practice Board. While bills may be submitted to the GAC at the annual meeting, it is my hope that you will forward copies of any bills you wish to have considered to our email address at abaipracticeboardgac@gmail.com in advance of the meeting so that the members of the GAC will have time to review the bills prior to the meeting.

The GAC will be meeting in a joint meeting with the ABAI PIBA SIG on Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 7:30 PM in North 224A. Please join us for this open meeting.


Governmental Affairs Committee
ABAI Practice Board
Legislative Review Process

1. The Governmental Affairs Committee will review and adopt, on an annual basis, bills presented to the Committee by the members of ABAI for the establishment of a Legislative agenda for ABAI, based on the following model:

1. A three tiered system that includes one “Priority Bill,” three to five “Supported Bills,” and an undefined number of “Endorsed Bills.”

2. At an annual open meeting of the Governmental affairs Committee, held during the ABAI Conference, the members of the Governmental affairs Committee will meet to review and discuss bills submitted by members or stake holders that fall within the scope of the profession of Applied Behavior Analysis and, if enacted, may either enhance or detract from ability to practice;
3. The Governmental Affairs Committee will identify a slate of such bills critical for the support of the practice of Applied Behavior Analysis and make recommendations relative to their support or opposition to the Practice Board.

i. The Priority Bill will be the center piece of the ABAI Legislative agenda. The Governmental affairs committee will notify the sponsoring agencies/legislators of the action taken in identifying the legislation as the Priority Bill for ABAI for the year. This will allow the use of the name of ABAI to be used in all correspondence, etc. related to this bill. Additionally members of the committee will be available to testify at hearings, submit written statements related to the bills, make phone contacts with appropriate legislators, and activate the phone/email alert system to prompt ABAI members to contact their legislators indicating the position of ABAI on this particular bill, etc.

ii. Three to five Supported Bills will be treated in a similar manner to the Priority Bill, with the exception that committee members will not be available to testify on behalf of the bill(s).

iii. An undetermined number of Endorsed Bills will be identified which the committee believes are important to the practice of Applied Behavior Analysis, but do not rise to the level of importance which justifies the expenditure of the time or resources focused on the Priority of Supported Bills. The single level of support for bills identified in this category will be to notify the sponsoring agencies/legislator s of the action taken in identifying the legislation as an Endorsed Bill for ABAI for the year. This will allow the use of the name of ABAI to be used in all correspondence, etc. related to this bill.

-----------

Website: Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
-----------
Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG and SIG members and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website, http://www.abainternational.org

ACTION: Keep Behavioral Science on President Obama's Radar

Article from the FBPCS, Federation News, 4/30/09
"Putting the Sciences of Mind, Brain, and Behavior on the President’s Radar
Your Action Needed!"

Which outline a current letter writing campaign and encourages,

"researchers and research/practitioners, to write the President to emphasize the importance of the sciences of mind, brain, and behavior to the nation’s ability to adequately address the problem’s facing the nation, including those issues high on his agenda: health, education, economic recovery, and global warming, or any other issue facing this country that our research can inform."

The article includes tips for writing letters to the President.

The cc:'s are left up to the reader's discretion, although the President's Science Advisor is requested and contact information given in the link giving tips on writing to the President, and the FBPCS also requests a cc:, although for ABA-I members that may be optional.
Other relevant parties within ABA-I to cc: might be.
ABA-I Research Coordinator, Timothy Hackenberg,
ABA-I Governmental Affairs Committee Chair, Michael Dorsey,

-----------

Website: Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
-----------
Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG and SIG members and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website, http://www.abainternational.org

ACTION: May 13 deadline: Request for Public Comment on Scientific Integrity

Request for Public Comment. Deadline May 13, 2009

OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY
March 9, 2009 Presidential Memo on Scientific Integrity: Request for Public Comment

ACTION: Request for public comment on response to Presidential Memorandum.
DATES: There is a 21 day period for public comment from April 23, 2009 to May 13, 2009.

SUMMARY: On March 9, 2009, the President issued a memorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies on the subject of scientific integrity The memorandum requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to craft recommendations for Presidential action to ensure scientific integrity in the executive branch. This notice solicits public input to inform the drafting of those recommendations. The notice asks a series of questions to help guide the public in responding to this request..."

FULL DESCRIPTION
http://edocket. access.gpo. gov/2009/ E9-9307.htm

-----------

Website: Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
-----------
Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG and SIG members and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website, http://www.abainternational.org

ABA-I NEWSFLASH & ACTION: Shout-out for Legislative and Policy News from the ABA-I Governmental Affairs Committee

The Governmental Affairs Committee of the Practice Board of ABA International could use the help of all members in keeping up what's going on around the nation legislatively and relating to policy matters relevant to the interests of behavior analysts and the practice of behavior analysis.

From the inaugural newsletter Spring 2009, (pdf)

Submissions:
We are always interested to hear what is going on in your part of the world. Please submit legislative information and other topics of interest to us at the email address below. We look forward to hearing from you!

Contact Us! abaipracticeboardGAC@gmail.com

So please take a minute to drop them a line and let them know what's going on in your state or other legislative events of interest.

------------

More about the

Governmental Affairs Committee, ABA International Practice Board

Mission: To represent the interests of practicing applied behavior analysts in governmental matters at both the Federal and state level.

The Committee educates, advises, and advocates for the professional interests of ABAI members and protects the constituencies served by them with respect to legislative issues that directly affect members' professional practice.

Committee Members

CHAIR: Michael Dorsey, The Vinfen Corporation and Gordon College
Eric J. Billington, AmeriChoice
R. Wayne Fuqua, Western Michigan University
Megan Guidi, Vinfen Corporation
Amy L. Kenzer, Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc.
Jonathan Tarbox, Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc.
Thomas Zane, The Center for Applied Behavior Analysis at The Sage Colleges

-----------

Website: Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
-----------
Views and news expressed in this blog or by the PIBA SIG are those of the SIG and SIG members and do not represent official policy of ABA International or other official body. For official policy of the Association of Behavior Analysis International, the reader is directed to their website, http://www.abainternational.org