ANNOUNCE: Volume 5(1) of the Journal of Speech Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis (JSLP-ABA) now available

Volume 5(1), January 12, 2010 of the peer-reviewed open access journal, Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis (JSLP-ABA) is now available at the Behavior Analysis Online website.

Table of Contents of volume 5(1):

Pg.: 1: Generic Instruction versus Intensive Tact Instruction and the Emission of Spontaneous Speech
- R. Douglas Greer& Lin Du

Pg.: 20: Effects of Multiple Exemplar Instruction on the Transformation of Stimulus Function Across Written and Vocal Spelling Responses by Students with Autism
- Carly M. Eby, R. Douglas Greer, Lisa D. Tullo, Katherine A. Baker & Rebecca Pauly

Pg.: 32: .AAC Interventions: Case study of In-utero Stroke.
- Cindy Geise Arroyo, Robert Goldfarb, Danielle Cahill, & Janet Schoepflin

Pg.: 48: Implications of Skinner’s Verbal Behavior for Studying Dementia
- Jeffrey A. Buchanan, Daniel Houlihan, & Peter J.N. Linnerooth

Pg.: 59: Using Skinner’s Model of Verbal Behavior Analysis to study Aggression in Psychiatric Hospitals
- Michael Daffern & Matthew Tonkin

Pg.: 70: Evaluation of Two Communicative Response Modalities for a Child with Autism and Self-Injury
- Stacy E. Danov, Ellie Hartman, Jennifer J. McComas, & Frank J. Symons

Pg.: 80: Using DRO, Behavioral Momentum,and Self-Regulation to Reduce Scripting by an Adolescent with Autism
- Vanessa Ann Silla-Zaleski & Mary J. Vesloski

Archived open-access volumes of JSLP-ABA are also available at the Behavior Analyst Online website, as well as,

• Behavior Analyst Today
• Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Interventions (JEIBI)
• International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy (IJBCT)
• Journal of Behavior Analysis in Health, Sports, Fitness and Medicine (JBAHSFM)
• Journal of Behavior Analysis of Offender and Victim Treatment and Prevention (JOBA-OVTP)
• Behavioral Development Bulletin

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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 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, 

LEG. NEWS: Iowa - SF1 Autism Insurance bill and January 27, 2010 hearing

**Update 1/28/10: 12:30PM PST - Even though the notice below was posted at the committee page, a hearing WAS held in Iowa, and here is a link to the video from a newscast which includes broadcast of that meeting.. 

• Sioux City Family Fights For Autism
  KCAU-TV
  

There may be a commercial ad before the video plays. Apologies for the conflicting information.
**
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**Update 1/27/10, 4:30 PM PST - a notice at the Senate Commerce Commmittee page announced that the subcommittee hearing scheduled for today was cancelled. See announcements at Autism Votes for rescheduling of any committee events related to Iowa SF1.**

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Autism Votes has posted an announcement that the autism insurance reform bill which was carried over from the 2009 legislative session,

Iowa SF1:A bill for an act requiring certain group health insurance policies, contracts, or plans to provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders for certain persons, requiring certification of behavior specialists, and providing an applicability date.

is still active in the Iowa legislature and is scheduled for a hearing in the
Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Wednesday, January 27pm CST.
The stated business of the meeting, according to the Iowa legislative website is "discussion of SF1".

For more details on the meeting and other action items related to this legislation,
see the Iowa page at Autism Votes.

Of special interest to behavior analysts, 
"Applied behavior(al) analysis" is defined in the bill.

Applied behavior(al) analysis is placed within "Rehabilitative care" and defined to be "professional services treatment programs, including applied behavioral analysis, provided by an autism service provider to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior or to prevent loss of attained skill or function."

SF1 also defines the certification and competencies of "Behavior specialists", stating
that,

a "'Behavior specialist' means an individual, certified by the commissioner, who designs, implements, or evaluates a behavior modification intervention component of a treatment plan, including those based on applied behavioral analysis, to produce socially significant improvements in human behavior or to prevent loss of attained skill or function, through skill acquisition and the reduction of problematic behavior,

and that,

"The commissioner, in consultation with the board of medicine, shall adopt rules providing for the certification of behavior specialists..."

The full text of SF1 further specifies the application and conditions of certification as a "Behavior Specialist". Please consult that full text for the information.

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For more information
Autism Votes - Iowa

Iowa SF1

Iowa General Assembly

ABA Chapters for/in Iowa
Heartland Association for Behavior Analysis

Iowa Association for Behavior Analysis

Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis

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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 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, 

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

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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, 

LEG NEWS: West Virginia SB 145 & HB 2858 Autism Insurance Coverage

With the state legislative season started, new autism insurance mandate bills continue to come online, and
West Virginia also has two bills in the legislature related to insurance coverage and potentially coverage of applied behavior analytic services to children with ASD.

• Senate Bill No. 145: Requiring health insurers provide full autism coverage (By Senators Kessler, White, Jenkins and Laird)
  similar to HB 2858 (see below for HB 2858)
  Introduced January 13, 2010; referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and then to the Committee on Finance.
  

The language of SB 145 is broad and non-specific as to specific coverage, stating under,

"ARTICLE 16. GROUP ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE.
§33-16-18. Autism spectrum disorder full coverage.
     A group or blanket accident of health insurance policy or issuing a group or blanket policy for delivery in this state which provides coverage for hospital, surgical, or medical care coverage shall include full coverage for the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder, regardless of whether such prevention, early detection, diagnosis or treatment methods are research based or experimental. Each policy will also provide full (in-state or in-network) coverage for the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder even if the individual is unable to receive a service, or treatment, within the State of West Virginia and must receive this service, or treatment, from an out-of-state provider."

and,

• H. B. 2858 (Cameron and Dominic Law): Requiring insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorder
  (By Delegates Rodighiero, Reynolds, Hatfield, Eldridge, Moore, Barker, Miley, Sobonya, Guthrie and Caputo)
  Introduced January 13, 2010; referred to the Committee on Banking and Insurance then Finance.

This bill has more detail on the nature of the coverage (see bill text for the full detail), and states

"(3) Coverage for behavioral therapy may not exceed a $50,000 maximum benefit per child per year.",

although "behavioral therapy" is not specified as applied behavior analysis, per se, and no definition of applied behavior analysis nor "behavioral therapy" is given in HB 2858. Provider, or competencies of the provider of "behavioral therapy" are not stated in the bill as filed.

For further information

Autism Votes West Virginia
(FYI: currently there is no info on the bills or legislative tracking, but that could change).

West Virginia Legislature bill status function

West Virginia legislature bill personalized bill tracking

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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, 

LEG NEWS: Updated list of Virginia autism insurance bills - Virginia HB 34, HB 303, SB 464 , and SB 649

**1/31/10 - Update to original post of 1/21/2010 to add HB 34; 

Virginia autism insurance bills to date are HB 34, HB 303,  SB 464, SB 649.

• H.B. 34 Health insurance; mandated coverage for autism spectrum disorder.
  12/18/09  House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/10 10100553D
  12/18/09  House: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
  01/15/10  House: Assigned Committee on Commerce and Labor Subcommittee #1

Health insurance; mandated coverage for autism spectrum disorder.  Requires health insurers, health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder in individuals under age 21.


Esp. relevant to Behavior Analysts :
H.B. 34 [full text] defines "applied behavior analysis" and classifies applied behavior analysis for coverage under "Habilitative or rehabilitative care" meaning "professional, counseling, and guidance services and treatment programs, including applied behavior analysis, that are necessary to develop, maintain, and restore, to the maximum extent practicable, the functioning of an individual." Behavior analysts are not specified or identified as providers of applied behavior analysis nor are the competencies of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board specified.

Under "Treatment for autism spectrum disorder" as identified in a treatment plan and includes the
following care prescribed, provided, or ordered for an individual diagnosed with one of the autism spectrum disorders by a licensed physician, a licensed psychologist, or a licensed clinical social worker who determines the care to be medically necessary: (i) habilitative or rehabilitative care; (ii) pharmacy (iii) psychiatric care; (iv) psychological care; and (v) therapeutic care.  Other models of diagnosis, pharmacy, psychiatric,psychological, and therapeutic care, the providers are explicitly identified.

End of update #2**
**1/30/10 - Update to add an additional bill, which has multiple proposals, but also includes an insurance reform section:

• S.B. 649  Autism Tuition Assistance Grant Program; established.
  Offered January 20, 2010
  Referred to [Senate] Committee on Commerce and Labor

Autism Tuition Assistance Grant Program established; mandated health insurance for autism.  Establishes a tuition assistance grant program for students with autism. The program provides grants of no more than $20,000 a year per student to a Virginia nonsectarian private school of choice for students identified as autistic and for whom individual education plans have been written.

Esp. relevant to Behavior Analysts :  - under,
130 § 38.2-3418.16. Coverage for autism spectrum disorder [full text page 3-5]

SB 649 [full text] defines "applied behavior analysis" and classifies applied behavior analysis for coverage under "Habilitative or rehabilitative care" meaning "professional, counseling, and guidance services and treatment programs, including applied behavior analysis, that are necessary to develop, maintain, and restore, to the maximum extent practicable, the functioning of an individual." Behavior analysts are not specified or identified as providers of applied behavior analysis nor are the competencies of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board specified.

Under "Treatment for autism spectrum disorder" as identified in a treatment plan and includes the
following care prescribed, provided, or ordered for an individual diagnosed with one of the autism spectrum disorders by a licensed physician, a licensed psychologist, or a licensed clinical social worker who determines the care to be medically necessary: (i) habilitative or rehabilitative care; (ii) pharmacy (iii) psychiatric care; (iv) psychological care; and (v) therapeutic care.  Other models of diagnosis, pharmacy, psychiatric,psychological, and therapeutic care, the providers are explicitly identified.
End of Update**
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Two bills which would mandate insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorder have been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly,

• HB 303: Health insurance; mandated coverage for autism spectrum disorder.  
  Prefiled January 11, 2010, Offered January 13, 2010
  Referred to House Committee on Commerce and Labor,and referred then to
  House Commerce and Labor Sub-Committee: #1
  

and

• SB 464 Health insurance; mandated coverage for autism spectrum disorder.
  Prefiled January 13, 2010, Offered January 13, 2010
  Referred to [Senate] Committee on Commerce and Labor
  

Both bills describe that coverage, under certain types of policies, shall include diagnosis and treatment of ASD through the age of 9, although it does not preclude coverage over age of 10.

Esp. relevant to Behavior Analysts :
"Applied behavior analysis" is defined, and applied behavior analytic services are classified under the category of "habilitative or rehabilitative care".

Providers of applied behavior analysis are not defined nor are the competencies of the BACB certificants or similar included in the bills as filed.
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For further information

Autism Votes - Virginia

Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System

Virginia General Assembly

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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,

LEG NEWS: Massachusetts Behavior Analyst Licensure bills H. 181 & S.47

Massachusetts has two bills in progress in the legislature which would establish and define licensure of behavior analysts in that state.

The bills,

• House No. 181 (Scibak) History and Text of the bill [pdf]
• Senate No. 47 (Joyce) History and Text of the bill [pdf]

were introduced in January of 2009, and describe the composition of a new and independent Licensing Board, competencies and definitions of professional practice, titles,supervision, disciplinary standards, and inclusion of the profession of behavior analysis as a "Related Service Provider" relative to the provision of Special Education within the Commonwealth.

The bills were last listed in the legislative website's history as being reviewed by the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, and a public hearing was held September 23, 2009.

An organization that is a primary sponsor, and offered testimony on behalf of H.181/S. 47 is the Arc of Massachusetts, which is also tracking these bills' legislative progress on their website.

References and resources
General Court of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Massachusetts
State Update: State support for the practice of Applied Behavior Analysis
p. 6, PRACTICE BOARD: GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SPRING 2009

The Arc of Massachusetts Platform: 2009 Legislative Session (scroll to middle of the page)

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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 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

LEG NEWS: Vermont S.262 related to autism diagnosis and treatment introduced on January 5, 2010

**Update 1/26/10 - Autism Votes reports that S. 262 will be receiving a hearing in the Committee on Finance on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 and requests that those in support of the legislation contact their Vermont Senator and ask for support of the bill.

 Autism Votes - Vermont **
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A new bill was recently introduced in the Vermont state legislature,
S.0262: An act relating to insurance coverage for autism diagnosis and treatment
(Senators Carris and Campbell).

S.262 was introduced on January 5, 2010 in the Vermont Senate, read one time and referred to the Committee on Finance.

In the bill text as introduced [pdf],
"Applied behavior analysis" is defined, and applied behavior analytic services are classified under the category of habilitative or rehabilitative care.

Competencies of the providers of applied behavior analytic services are not specified explicitly, nor are BACB certificants  identified. There is statement of an "Autism services provider" to mean any person providing treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

This bill was endorsed by Autism Speaks on January 13, 2010.

For more information:

Autism Votes - Vermont

The State of Vermont Legislature

Report to the Legislature to Address Services for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
January 2008
Recommendation for specification of competencies of behavior analysis service providers referenced on page 23 , and insurance coverage referenced on pages 1,5,31, 32, 34 -34

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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