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.

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Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
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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,

ABAI NEWSFLASH: New Practice Resources at ABA International!

During the Annual Convention in Phoenix, there were many meetings on the question of practice, and related issues of advocacy, potential licensure, as well as presentations on the state of practice and relevant developments, such as the current spate of autism insurance reform bills.

One of the new developments is a slew of resources for practitioners, listed on the Practice Resources page at the ABA International website,
http://www.abainternational.org/BA/practice.asp

Although members are urged to review as much of the page as is possible, I want to highlight a few items of note,

"New Services for ABAI affiliated chapters and organizational members",
http://www.abainternational.org/BA/practice/Malott-Services.pdf

To clarify informally--formal questions should go to ABAI, the reference on page 3, "Training is complimentary", refers to the One Day Training for Chapters, with reduced fees for those Chapter reps who choose to stay over in Chicago for the Autism Conference itself.

Under the Licensing category, see

Raymond Fowler's Discussion on Licensure to ABAI Affiliated Chapter and SIG Leaders
http://www.abainternational.org/BA/practice/Fowler-Licensure.pdf

and some resources for advocacy,

Legistlative Advocacy Handbook

Legistlative Advocacy PowerPoint

As previously stated, take the time to get acquainted with the new resources and opportunities developed during the previous year and shared at the Convention!

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Website: Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
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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: 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.

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Website: Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
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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: Meeting change for the PIBA-SIG at ABA Conference, Phoenix

UPDATE: 5/5/09--See this post for the newest info on the content of the joint meeting of the GAC and the PIBA-SIG. The agenda will be discussion of legislative priorities, and members are requested to submit legislation and other policy priorities in advance of the meeting on May 23, 2009. The below info on the meeting place and time still applies.

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This afternoon the President of the PIBA-SIG, Mike Weinberg, Ph.D, BCBA-D, announced that there's a change from our original meeting place and format at the ABA International annual conference in Phoenix.

Those who are participants, or would like to be participants, in the PIBA-SIG are invited to attend the joint meeting of the SIG and the Governmental Affairs Committee of the new ABA International Practice Board

This joint meeting is scheduled for

Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 7:30 - 8:20p.m.
New meeting place: North 224A
(this is the venue under #103 Business Meeting, ABAI Governmental Affairs Committee).

Topics of discussion are common interests and how the PIBA-SIG and the Practice Board can work together to achieve our objectives and goals.

We will also be able to hold elections and vote on some other issues that are critical to the future of the field of applied behavior analysis.

This is an exciting opportunity that many are encouraged to attend. Please pass this information along to any who might be interested.

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Website: Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
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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,

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Website: Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
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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.

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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

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Website: Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG
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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