MEETING: International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR)

A scholarly meeting which may not be widely attended by those in behavior analysis, but may be of interest, especially to those who work in the area of autism treatment, is the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), which is the annual meeting for the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR). Many widely known experts in the field of autism research, such as Geraldine Dawson, Sally Rogers, Tristam Smith, Catherine Lord, Deborah Fein, and others present at IMFAR.

The 2010 meeting is being held in Philadelphia, PA.  The IMFAR website reports that registration for the 2010 conference is scheduled to open on February 19, 2010.

International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR)
May 20 - 22, 2010
Marriott Hotel
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

To give an idea of some of what one might be able to take in and the themes of some of the presentations, a limited selection of presentations, including some by behavior analytic researchers, from the 2009 IMFAR is given below. The work by a University of Connecticut research group studying the characteristics of "optimal outcome" children with ASDs was given wide press coverage, including the story (see below) by NBC's Today Show during IMFAR 2009.

• Cognitive and Behavioral Profiles of Children Who Recover From Autism
  D.Fein, M. Barton, I.M.Eigsti, L. Naigles, M. Rosenthal, K. Tyson, E. Troyb & M.Helt

• Executive Functioning in Children with ASDs Who Have Achieved Optimal Outcomes
  E.Troyb, M.Rosenthal, K.Tyson, M.Helt, I.M.Eigsti, L.Naigles, M. Barton & D. Fein

• Defining Category Abilities and Challenges in Adolescents with Autism VS. Those with Optimal Outcomes
  L.Naigles, M.Helt, M.Rosenthal, E.Troyb, K.Tyson, I.M. Eigsti & D.Fein

Video clip from Today (there may be an ad preceding the clip)

Other IMFAR 2009 presentations and posters

• Long Term Stability of the Effects of Intensive ABA Intervention in Young Children with ASD in Italy
  G.Doneddu, P. M. Peruzzi, G. Saba, L. Ferretti, S. Marras & R. Fadda
  

• Optimal EIBI Outcomes for Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Analysis of Learning Rate and Treatment Hours
  D. Granpeesheh, D.R. Dixon, J. Tarbox, A.M. Kaplan & A.E. Wilke

• Prediction of Outcome after One Year of Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention
  T. Smith, R. Klorman & D.W. Mruzek

• Using Virtual Reality Enhanced Behavioral Skills Training to Teach Street Crossing Skills to Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders
  T.R. Goldsmith & L.A. LeBlanc

• Agreement Between Self-Report and Observational Measurement of the Use of Evidence-Based Practices in Community Early Intervention Programs for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
  A. Stahmer,S. Reed & C. Vattuone
  

• Correlates of Elicited and Spontaneous Imitation in Young Children with Autism
  K. Meyer & B. Ingersoll
  

• Production of Wh-Questions in Young Children with Autism
  A. Goodwin, D. Fein, L. Naigles
  

• Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Hyperbaric Oxygenation Therapy
  D. Granpeesheh, J. Bradstreet, J. Tarbox, D.R. Dixon, S. Allen, A.E. Wilke

---------
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, 

ANNOUNCE: Dec. 11, Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee full committee meeting

Announcement below from the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) on the next full committee meeting, December 11, 2009, 9AM-1PM EST. The meeting will be phone & webinar only. Please see the details for registration and accommodations in the forwarded message. 

Background: The IACC coordinates all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Through its inclusion of both Federal and public members, the IACC helps to ensure that a wide range of ideas and perspectives are represented and discussed in a public forum.

The IACC mission is to:

• Provide advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding Federal activities related to autism spectrum disorder.
  
• Facilitate the exchange of information on and coordination of ASD activities among the member agencies and organizations.
  
• Increase public understanding of the member agencies' activities, programs, policies, and research by providing a public forum for discussions related to ASD research and services.

---------------------------------
MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) will be holding a Full Committee Meeting on Friday, December 11, 2009 from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET.  The meeting will be conducted via telephone conference call and webinar only.

 

The purpose of the IACC meeting is to continue discussing recommendations for the annual update of the IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorders Research.

 

The meeting will be conducted and available to the public via a telephone conference call phone number and a webinar conducted using a web presentation tool on the Internet.  Registration is not required.  Members of the public who participate using the conference call phone number will be able to listen to the meeting, but will not be heard. 

 

To access the conference call:

USA/Canada Phone Number: 888-455-2920
Access code: 9984461

 

To view the webinar:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/906979171    

 

Individuals who participate using this service and who need special assistance, such as captioning of the conference call or other reasonable accommodations, should submit a request to the contact person listed above at least seven days prior to the meeting.  If you experience any technical problems with the web presentation tool or conference call, please-mail IACCTechSupport@acclaroresearch.com.

 

The latest information about the meeting can be found at: http://www.iacc.hhs.gov/events/2009/full-committee-mtg-announcement-December11.shtml

 

 

The IACC also can now be found on Twitter (www.twitter.com/IACC_Autism).

 

Please note: This phone call may end before or after 1:00 PM ET, depending on the needs of the Committee.

---------------------
--------
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,  

ANNOUNCE: July 24, St. Charles, IL: Town Hall Meeting of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Services Subcommittee

A Town Hall meeting of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Services Subcommittee will take place on Friday, July 24, 2009 from 10:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CT at the 2009 Autism Society National Conference

Pheasant Run Resort and Spa
4051 East Main Street
St. Charles, IL 60174

The meeting will be open to the public, with attendance limited to space available in the main room and overflow room. The meeting will begin with a 30 minute presentation by members of the IACC, followed by an open microphone session in which comments may be shared on topics related to services for people with ASD.

Topics of particular interest include: Questions 5 and 6 of the
IACC Strategic Plan for ASD Research:

• "Where can I turn for services?" and
  
• "What does the future hold?"
  

Additional suggested topics:
Services for adults, community issues, family support, school services, provider services, infrastructure, evidence-based services and supports, health and safety, early diagnosis, transition to adulthood, therapies and treatments, and health and dental care.

The latest information about the meeting, including online registration and remote access can be found at:
http://iacc.hhs.gov/events/2009/services-subcommittee-town-hallmtg-announcementJuly24.shtml.

The meeting flyer can also be found on the IACC events web page.

Remote participation: Written comments on ASD services issues are welcome in advance, during and after the meeting until July 31, 2009 at: iaccservices@mail.nih.gov. Written comments received before or during the meeting may be shared with the audience by the moderators as time permits.

For more information about the IACC, please visit www.iacc.hhs.gov.

The IACC also can now be found on Twitter (www.twitter.com/IACC_Autism).

The Contact Person for this meeting is:
Ms. Lina Perez
Office of Autism Research Coordination
National Institute of Mental Health, NIH
6001 Executive Boulevard, NSC
Room 8200
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: 301-443-6040
IACCServices@mail.nih.gov

--------
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,

ANNOUNCEMENT: Upcoming Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Full Committee Meeting - July 15, 2009

July 15, 2009 Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Full Committee Meeting. Links for background added to the announcement.

The draft agenda of the meeting

The e-announcement:

"A meeting of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) full committee will take place on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET at: The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center/The Polaris Room (Overflow: The Oceanic Room)/1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW/ Washington, DC 20004. The meeting will be open to the public, with attendance limited to space available in the main room and overflow room. The agenda for this meeting includes a joint meeting of the IACC and the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) Vaccine Safety Working Group to discuss vaccine safety and autism in the morning. Other agenda items include presentations on the NIH Autism Centers of ExcellenceNational Database for Autism Research (NDAR), and discussion of services-related activities and analysis of the autism research portfolio. Time will be allotted for public comment.

The latest information about the meeting, including online registration, draft agenda, remote access to the meeting via conference call and videocast, and detailed instructions for signing up for public comment can be found at: http://iacc.hhs.gov/events/2009/full-committee-mtg-announcement-july15.shtml."

--------
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,

PIBA-SIG business & other mtgs at ABA Phoenix

Our business meeting and other meeting events of relevance and interest at the ABA International Conference, Phoenix AZ, May 22-26, 2009

Info also posted to our website
-----------------------
#104 Business Meeting
Saturday 5/23/2009
7:30 p.m. – 8:20 p.m.
North 226 C
Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis Special Interest Group
Chair: Michael Weinberg (Orlando Behavior Health Services, LLC)
Purpose: The purpose of this meeting is to discuss business and review actions, as well as future directions, of the Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG. The officers will discuss activities and progress made during the past year and make proposals for actions for the coming year as well as discuss need for re-electing officers.
-----------------------

All Events: in chronological order from the program

Saturday May 23
#7 Business Meeting
5/23/2009
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Estrella, Sheraton
Closed Meeting: Special Interest Group Leadership Training
Chair: William L. Heward (The Ohio State University)
Purpose: Representatives of ABAI’s Special Interest Groups will participate in training in support of legislative advocacy at the state level. This two-hour development seminar evolved at the request of SIG leadership. Topics to be addressed include building strong SIGs: Strategies for organizational development; engaging in legislative advocacy: How to support the field, practitioners, and consumers; licensing of behavior analysts: Issues at the (U.S.) state level and credentialing in countries other than the U.S.; and working
together: collaborative opportunities among SIGs and communication strategies for organizational improvement. This event is closed; attendance is by invitation only.

#103 Business Meeting
5/23/2009
7:30 p.m. – 8:20 p.m.
North 224 A
ABAI Governmental Affairs Committee
Chair: Michael F. Dorsey (The Vinfen Corporation and Endicott College)
Purpose: An open meeting of the Governmental Affairs Committee to update ABAI members on the legislative agenda for ABAI for the coming year.

#104 Business Meeting
5/23/2009
7:30 p.m. – 8:20 p.m.
North 226 C
Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis Special Interest Group
Chair: Michael Weinberg (Orlando Behavior Health Services, LLC)
Purpose: The purpose of this meeting is to discuss business and review actions, as well as future directions, of the Practitioner Issues in Behavior Analysis SIG. The officers will discuss activities and progress made during the past year and make proposals for actions for the coming year as well as discuss need for re-electing officers.

Sunday May 24
#327 Business Meeting
5/24/2009
7:00 p.m. - 7:50 p.m.
North 121 BC
Practice Board
Chair: Linda J. Parrott Hayes (University of Nevada, Reno)
Purpose: Open to members for discussion of Practice needs.

Monday May 25
#345 Special Event
5/25/2009
8:00 a.m. - 8:50 a.m.
North 122 BC
ABAI Business Meeting
Chair: William L. Heward (ABAI President)
Marc N. Branch (Publications Board Coordinator)
Timothy D. Hackenberg (Science Board Coordinator)
Linda J. Parrott Hayes (Practice Board Coordinator)
Philip N. Hineline (Membership Board Coordinator)
Ramona Houmanfar (Senior Program Co-Chair)
Maria E. Malott (Chief Exective Officer)
Charles Merbitz (Education Board Coordinator)
Raymond G. Miltenberger (Program Board Coordinator)
Pamela G. Osnes (Affiliated Chapters Board Coordinator)
Abstract: This event is the business meeting to the ABAI; where the President, Chief Executive Officer and Board Coordinators provide an update about current developments.

#482 Panel Discussion
5/25/2009
4:00 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.
North 120 D
OTH/CSE; Service Delivery
BACB CE Offered. CE Instructor: Michael Weinberg, Ph.D., BCBA
Licensing of Behavior Analysis: Protecting the Profession and the Public
Chair: Michael Weinberg (Orlando Behavior Health Services, LLC)
MICHAEL F. DORSEY (The Vinfen Corporation and Endicott College)
THOMAS L. ZANE (Sage Colleges)
MICHAEL WEINBERG (Orlando Behavior Health Services, LLC)
Abstract: Panelists in this presentation will discuss future directions for the field with regard to licensure of behavior analysts. The panel will discuss why the time has come in the evolution of the field to pursue licensure as the next step in the process. An examination and discussion of legal and ethical issues will be presented along with how to pursue proposing and passing licensure legislation, how licensure ensures protection of the public, and requirements and standards being proposed for becoming licensed as a behavior analyst. The presentation will include activities to date by the Practice Board to achieve licensure status, as well as discuss ways to achieve third party payment for behavior analysis services.

#497 Business Meeting
5/25/2009
7:30 p.m. - 8:20 p.m.
North 124 A
Behavior Analyst Certification Board: Status and New Developments
Chair: Gerald L. Shook (Behavior Analyst Certification Board)
Purpose: The meeting will address important developments within the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) relating to growth and changes in the BACB. Topics will include: continuing education and recertification ethics and professional requirements, disciplinary standards for BACB certificants, and online certification management. The presentation also will focus on future goals and actions of the BACB.

Tuesday May 26
#533 Panel Discussion
5/26/2009
10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
North 129 A
DDA/OTH; Service Delivery
BACB CE Offered. CE Instructor: Jim Johnston, Ph.D., BCBA
Association of Professional Behavior Analysts Update
Chair: James M. Johnston (Auburn University)
GERALD L. SHOOK (Behavior Analyst Certification Board)
RAYMOND G. ROMANCZYK (Institute for Child Development)
JOSE D. RIOS (BehaviorLogix, Inc.)

-----------

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