Newsletter
Volume 30 | 2007| Number 2
Kansas ABA
By Dr. Edward K. Morris
As stated in KansABA’s Bylaws (2006 rev.), the Association’s purpose is to provide a forum for (a) disseminating information about the science and practice of behavior analysis, and education and training programs therein; (b) addressing issues relevant to the science and practice of behavior analysis; (c) maintaining disciplinary, professional, and ethical standards in the science and practice of behavior analysis; and (d) recruiting and enhancing interest in behavior analysis throughout the State of Kansas and the Kansas City metropolitan area, the latter in Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties in Missouri. KansABA’s Executive Council consists of a president (Edward K. Morris), a full member representative (Linda Heitzman-Powell), an affiliate representative (Carl Conklin), and a student representative (Kim Bessette). We also have co-secretaries (Kim Bessette, Jessica Royer) and treasurer (Linda Heitzman-Powell).
Last year, the Executive Council resolved to cease holding conferences in the near future and, instead, to focus on a particular problem. We now sponsor talks, forums, and workshops on autism and developmental disabilities in the Topeka, Lawrence, and the Kansas City metropolitan areas. For this, we have established connections with the Johnson County Autism Society, the Missouri FEAT, and the new Kansas City Training Center (KcATC), all of which have a strong science orientation. We began last February by sponsoring a colloquium at the University of Kansas by Ron Leaf (Seal Beach, CA), who spoke on Applied Behavior Analysis Approaches in Autism: Convergence and Divergence. About 60 people attended, including the Commissioner of the infamous Kansas State Board of Education. On May 6, we sponsored a three-hour workshop in Kansas City by Mitch Taubman (Seal Beach, CA) on Behavior Management of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities, for which we offered Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB) continuing education units.
In last year’s annual report, we proposed several initiatives for 2006, among them attaining 501(c)3 federal tax-exempt status and working to pass legislation that would provide reimbursement for applied behavior analysis services. We made progress with both. First, the KansABA Executive Council voted to apply for 501(c)3 status, which will make us eligible for foundation, state, and federal funding to advance our mission - the dissemination of behavior analysis (e.g., through conferences, workshops, printed materials, our Web site). The paperwork has been completed, our documents are in order, and we are about to submit the application.
Second, KansABA helped provide information and testimony in two legislative efforts during the 2007 state house session. In one of them, State Representative Judy Morrison submitted a bill that would have licensed Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCABAs) through the Kansas State Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (BSRB). However, the Kansas Supreme Court had ruled earlier that no national board, in this case, the BACB, could have jurisdiction over the BSRB in professional licensure. The bill was thus pulled from consideration.
In the other effort, Representative Morrison submitted House Bill 2436 to classify BCBAs as a reimbursable expense in the State of Kansas school districts. One district had already made this request of the Kansas State School Board, but no action was taken. At the bill’s hearing, supporting testimony was provided by Jim Sherman (University of Kansas), Lisa Bingham (Blue Valley School District), and Kirsten Sneid and Mike Wasmer, Kansas City area parents of children with autism. Afterward the testimony, Dale Dennis, the interim head of the School Board, met with Representative Morrison to develop a means for making BCBAs a reimbursable expense by next fall without enacting legislation. Thus, this bill was also withdrawn; however, its goal of making BCBAs a reimbursable expense has seemingly been met.