An opinion interview piece was released by the American Psychological Association on the use of corporal punishment in parenting.
Alan E. Kazdin, Ph.D., former APA president, John M. Musser professor of psychology at Yale University and director of Yale's Parenting Center and Child Conduct Clinic, discussed the effectiveness of the use of some common parenting practices, such as spanking, in changing behavior in desired directions.
Dr. Kazdin suggested that while momentary suppression might occur, that the effects do not have permanence, do not teach desirable behavior, and can be responsible for developing collateral behaviors.
He suggested alternative methods and in the interview explicitly credited the research field of applied behavior analysis in identifying these more effective methods,
"...Dr. Kazdin. Positive reinforcement for alternative behaviors is extremely effective. This is not just rewards or points but the use of antecedents (what comes before behavior), behavior (shaping and gradually developing, repeated practice), and consequences (e.g., specially delivered praise).There is a whole area of research (applied behavior analysis) devoted to this and some parenting books, too..."
AIM Michigan and Autism Votes announce that there will be a legislative task force meeting on autism insurance reform hosted by Michigan Senators Randy Richardville and Tupac Hunter. Although Michigan's House in June 2009 passed two autism insurance bills,
that proposed to cover ABA and other evidenced treatments, the bills have subsequently stalled in the Senate's Economic Development and Regulatory Reform Committee. Autism Votes states that these meetings represent the Michigan Senate's effort to determine what would best meet the needs of Michigan's families and children impacted by autism spectrum disorder.
An article in the Volume 22, No. 1, Spring 2010 issue of Behavior Analysis Digest International describes a service delivery model in which the hiring of Board Certified Behavior Analysts® as full-time employees of school districts, rather than on a contract basis for the equivalent services, resulted in substantial cost savings. The article is reprinted in its entirety, and any changes are purely for typesetting purposes.
" School districts Hire Behavior Analysts, Save Money - Lots of Money.
Eric Burkholder, Dublin Unified School District; Chelsea J. Wilhite, University of Nevada, Reno; Rebecca Peck, Livermore Unified School District; Carla A. Epps, and Julia H. Fiebig, San Ramon Valley Unified School District; Lorien Quirk and Joel Vidovic, Mount Diablo Unified School District.
San Francisco - In the current financial climate, states are cutting funding to public school districts. Districts are investigating service delivery models in attempts to determine cost-effective ways to provide services to students, including those eligible for special education. School districts' critical examination of costs extends to services historically provided by behaviorally-oriented, non-public agencies. Now some California districts have hired board certified behavior analysts to provide behavior analytic services as full-time district employees, rather than contracting the same service, and money is being saved.
The addition of a full-time behavior analyst as a school district employee can have many impacts on the service delivery system within a school district. The impact of having an in-house behavior analyst may increase staff ability to manage students' behaviors, increase capacity to serve students with autism and other disorders and allow better service delivery of services using scientifically validated techniques and it saves cash. Three school districts in California have found that the addition of full-time behavior analysts is a cost effective approach to delivering these services.
The three suburban school districts are located in California's San Francisco Bay Area. Dublin United States School District, Mount Diablo Unified School District and San Ramon Valley Unified School District. All three, prior to hiring behavior analysts, had significant expenditures for behavioral consultants and behavioral non-public agencies that serve special education students. The services took several forms, including individualized consultation services written into students' IEPs, class-wide consultation as part of ongoing service delivery, individual educational evaluations and staff training. As part of cost control and quality control all three schools decided to hire board certified behavior analysts (BCBA's) full-time.
All three school districts reported an average reduction in costs compared to when they had contracted behavioral services: $244,108 per behavior analyst hired! "
The most tightly controlled study to date on the gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) diet found that application of the diet resulted in no significant change in autistic behavior or improvement in symptoms.
"...The researchers undertook a randomized, double-blinded (meaning neither the participants nor the researchers knew which treatment anyone received), placebo-controlled study.
Fourteen children who were put on the diet for at least four weeks were then given snacks containing gluten, casein, both or neither. The researchers evaluated the children for changes in attention, sleep, stool patterns and characteristic autistic behavior. The study did not show significant changes in any of these symptoms for any of the groups..."
"Dr. Leonard Rappaport, chief of the Division of Developmental Medicine at Children's Hospital in Boston, called the findings 'disappointing.'
'Even though I did not believe it really made a difference, I was hoping I was wrong,' Rappaport said. "
...
" 'Actually, I don't think that many parents will be disappointed," Amaral [David Amaral, president of the International Society for Autism Research and professor at the University of California at Davis] said. 'On the contrary, it is very difficult to maintain children on the [GFCF] diet. Some parents who may have failed in maintaining the diet may feel relieved to hear that it might not be a benefit to their child even if they had persisted.' "
...
"[From Dr. Stefani Hines, a development-behavioral pediatrician at William Beaumont children's hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan] 'So far the research that has been the most promising has been aimed at applied behavioral analysis,' she said. 'We still have much to learn regarding best treatment practices for children with autism.' "
HealthReform.gov, managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, is online to answer consumer and stakeholder questions about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - H.R. 3590, signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010; now Public Law No: 111-148 (text of P.L. not yet posted at the Government Printing Office).
There is also a weekly live web chat to answer questions and address various aspects of the law. Past chats are also archived for any unable to make the live chat.
"This Thursday, May 20, 2010 1PM EDT, the web chat topic is how the Affordable Care Act will benefit Americans with disabilities. Submit questions for the chat to healthreform@hhs.gov. You can watch the web chat live at: http://www.hhs.gov/live.
Do you have a disability or have someone close to you who does? Do you wonder if and how the Affordable Care Act can really help you? We'll be taking your questions about how the Affordable Care Act will benefit people with disabilities, or those with loved ones affected by a disability. Join our WebChat this upcoming Thursday, May 20, at 1:00 P.M EDT at www.hhs.gov/live.
Henry Claypool, the Director of the Office of Disability at HHS, Jeffrey Crowley, Senior Advisor on Disability Policy at the White House and Meena Seshamani, Deputy Director in the Office of Health Reform at HHS will discuss and answer YOUR questions about how the Affordable Care Act will help those who have a disability.
Send your questions to healthreform@hhs.gov and we'll answer as many as possible during Chat. We will also take questions live from twitter using our handle @HHSGOV.
This week's show is the eighth in the Affordable Care Act WebChat series. Tune in each week as we continue to talk about different aspects of the new health reform bill so that you, your family and friends can stay informed. You can find previous WebChats on healthreform.gov and browse the site to find all the latest information available from HHS on the new law. Thanks for participating, and stay tuned to get your questions answered."
Mudford, O., Blampied, N., Phillips, K., Harper, D., Foster, M., Church, J., Hunt, M., Prochnow, J., Rose, D., Arnold-Saritepe, A., Peters, H., Lie, C., Jeffrey, K., Messick, E., Sumpter, C., McEwan, J., & Wilczynski, S. (2009). Technical review of published research on applied behaviour analysis interventions for people with autism spectrum disorders: Auckland Uniservices Ltd. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Education.
Those interested in the report are directed to the Executive Summary page, where that summary and the full 126 page report can be directly accessed, respecting the note,
"Reports from Auckland UniServices Limited should only be used for the purposes for which
they were commissioned. If it is proposed to use a report prepared by Auckland UniServices
Limited for a different purpose or in a different context from that intended at the time of
commissioning the work, then UniServices should be consulted to verify whether the report is
being correctly interpreted. In particular it is requested that, where quoted, conclusions given
in UniServices reports should be stated in full."
For further information "Technical Review of Published Research on Applied Behaviour Analysis Interventions for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder"
Executive Summary and links to full report
Education Counts Author: Mudford, O., Blampied, N., Phillips, K., Harper, D., Foster, M., Church, J., Hunt, M., Prochnow, J., Rose, D., Arnold-Saritepe, A., Peters, H., Lie, C., Jeffrey, K., Messick, E., Sumpter, C., McEwan, J., & Wilczynski, S. (2009).
Date Published: 15 January 2009 - Revised 16 January 2009
Released on Education Counts: April 2010
"The new members will bring additional points of view and expertise to the IACC...'By adding new voices to the IACC and expanding the number of organizations represented on the committee, we hope to broaden our perspectives and increase coordination efforts,' said Dr. Thomas Insel, IACC Chairman and director of the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)."
New Members of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee:
Dr. Dawson is the Chief Science Officer for Autism Speaks, working with the scientific community and stakeholders to shape and expand the foundation's scientific vision. She also is a licensed clinical psychologist with a research focus on early detection and intervention, early patterns of brain dysfunction and the identification of biological markers for autism genetic studies. Dr. Dawson also serves as Research Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University and Professor Emeritus of Psychology at University of Washington.
Dr. Fischbach is the Scientific Director for the Simons Foundation, where he oversees the Autism Research Initiative. He has spent his career as a neuroscientist studying the formation and maintenance of synapses, the junctions between nerve cells which allow signals to be transmitted. Before joining the Simons Foundation, Dr. Fischbach served as the Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) from 1998 to 2001 and as the Executive Vice President of Columbia University Medical Center and Dean of the faculties of medicine from 2001 to 2006.
Mr. Ari Ne'eman is the Founding President of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, where he works to increase the representation of autistic people in public policy discussions. He is an adult on the autism spectrum and a leading advocate in the neurodiversity movement. Mr. Ne'eman has served on the New Jersey Adults with Autism Task Force and the New Jersey Special Education Review Commission, where he authored a minority report advocating legislative action against the use of aversives, restraint and seclusion. He is a board member of TASH, an advocacy group for people with disabilities, and is involved with the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education.
SB 204, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS COVERAGE.
currently in the Senate Finance Committee. SB 204 defines applied behavior analysis, includes it for coverage under the "habilitative or rehabilitative care" category, and includes among those denoted as an "Autism services provider", "practitioners with the national certification of board-certified behavioral analyst",or any person, entity, or group meeting the standards set by the Department of Health and Social Services.
Meeting information:
Date: Friday, May 21, 2010
Time: 1:00pm - 6:00pm (hourly sessions)
Location: Autism Delaware Newark Office
Street: 924 Old Harmony Road, Suite 201
City/Town: Newark, DE View Map
RSVP at Facebook and/or to Kim Siegel, kim.siegel@delautism.org
Attendees will able to learn more about the latest information on SB 204 and write letters to legislators. Talking points, contact information, sample letters, paper, envelopes, and refreshments will be provided.
Every hour there will be a review of the legislation and what it will (and will not) accomplish and answer questions before beginning letter writing. The first hourly session starts at 1:00pm, sessions will continue through the afternoon, with the last session beginning at 5:00pm and ending at 6:00pm.
Again, please RSVP at Facebook and/or to Kim Siegel, kim.siegel@delautism.org to sign up for a time slot so that organizers can ensure that there will be enough volunteers, supplies, and snacks during the session.
Summary of some state and Federal legislation and statute
May 16, 2010
Note: While this is a best effort to track and report legislation for the purposes of education and reference, no claim is made of comprehensiveness, completeness or accuracy, and posting does not constitute legal advice.
Readers are urged to consult noted references and relevant governmental sources to obtain exact legislative and statutory language.
Red dots = states with passed licensing law (7) Yellow=states with passed autism insurance law Green = states with autism insurance legislation in progress Gray= states with autism insurance legislation that failed to pass in 2010.
Licensing legislation - passed (red dots)
(BACB)=BACB certification alone is competency for license
(BACB+) = BACB and additional requirements
(other) = other requirements
Arizona (2008)/January 1, 2011 - Note: this is year delay, via HB 2207 (2009) which specified certain deposits and accounting changes to enact Laws 2008, Chapter 288. (other). State Board of Psychologist Examiners
Missouri (2010)/ HB 1311 - (BACB). Behavior Analyst Advisory Board under the State Committee of Psychologists [blogpost] 5/16/10 awaiting signature of Governor Jay Nixon.
Nevada (2009)/May 29, 2009 for purpose of establishing licensing and certification requirements. July 1, 2011 for all other purposes. Language of AB 162 as enrolled. Ch. 331. (BACB). Board of Psychological Examiners, adding 2 more members, one of whom is a licensed behavior analyst. Also certifies autism behavior specialists.
Oklahoma (2009)/November 1, 2009 - license and training program. Licensing Act language at the BACB. (BACB). Licensed by the Developmental Disabilities Services Division of the Department of Human Services.
Pennsylvania (2008)/ 1 year from effective date of regulations promulgated or July 1, 2012 - license is for "Behavior Specialist". Licensing requirements as outlined in Act 62 from PA DPW (other). State Board of Medicine
Wisconsin (2010)/30 days after publication date; Publication date May 25, 2010. SB 667/2009 Wisconsin Act 282 - (BACB). Department of Regulation and Licensing; an advisory committee may be appointed to advise on regulation. [blogpost]
Licensing legislation - in progress (open red dot)
Autism insurance legislation - passed (yellowon map) - red below indicates also a license in that state.
NB- legislation does not affect ERISA self-insured plans or may have other state specific coverages, restrictions or exclusions depending on state's statute and regulation.
Kansas (2010)/upon publication in the Kansas Statute Book. SS for HB 2160. Limited pilot program under Kansas State Employees Health Care Commission for evaluation for future possible expansion. (BACB + additional conditions) See Autism Votes Kansas [blogpost]
Missouri(2010)/January 1, 2011 or after, when new plan issued.HB 1311Behavior Analyst Advisory Board to Board of Psychologist Examiners.(BACB). 5/16/10 awaiting signature of Governor Jay Nixon.
See Autism Votes Missouri, [blogpost]
New Hampshire HB 569-FN (2010)/January 1, 2011 - . Bill is clarification of existing statute. 5/16/10 awaiting signature of Governor John Lynch.
See Autism Votes New Hampshire [blogpost]
Vermont S. 262. (2010)/July 1, 2011 but no later than July 1, 2012. Limited to children age 18 mos. to 6 yrs. Law includes feasibility study for expansion to older minors, other programs and coverage of BCBAs. 5/16/10 awaiting signature of Governor Jim Douglas.
See Autism Votes Vermont [blogpost]
District of Columbia B18-0528 Introduced on November 19, 2009. Last hearing on March 24, 2010. May be inactive, but status is unclear. Autism Votes District of Columbia
North Carolina (subject to change by conference committee) HB 589 = S 375 - specifies "behavioral therapy, including but not limited to ABA. Service provider not specified. Legislative session commenced May 12, 2010 runs through mid July, dependent on adjournment resolution. Autism Society of North Carolina, Autism Votes North Carolina. [blogpost]
Ohio HB 8. ABA included under habilitative or rehabilitative care. Provider not specified. Passed House on 12/8/09; in Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor Committee since 12/9/09. Autism Society of Ohio, Autism Votes Ohio
Rhode Island HB 7260. Covers ABA. Bill being held for further study; Rhode Island legislature adjourns late June. S.2422. Does not cover ABA. Instructs higher ed to evaluate increasing preparation programs for PT, OT, nursing program and financial and scholarship incentives. Autism Votes Rhode Island [blogpost];
Autism insurance legislation - failed to pass or modified (M) from original purpose in 2010 (gray on map)
Alaska HB 187; (May be on hold pending task force review) Did not specify competencies of "autism service provider". Legislature adjourned 4/18/10. [blogpost]
(M) Georgia SB 161 - Insurance; require certain coverage for autism spectrum disorders; provide definitions. Modified by House Committee on Insurance to appoint a task force for study of education and services. Legislature adjourned.
Maryland HB 1091 & SB 1028; Legislature adjourned before significant action taken [blogpost]
Minnesota HF 359; language transferred to House HHS Omnibus Health Care bill; excised in Conference Committee [blogpost]
Mississippi SB 2055, SB 2129, SB 2175, SB 2363, SB 2607, HB 1496. All "Died" in House and Senate Insurance Committees.
Missouri SS/SB 618. Similar bill HB 1311&1341 passed in 2010 legislature. [blogpost]
Virginia SB 464; reduced amount and age of coverage. Tabled by House Commerce and Labor committee. [blogpost]
Washington HB 1210 & SB 5203; Carried over from 2009. No significant action taken in special session. [blogpost]
California SB 1282 Applied behavior analysis services: California Behavioral Certification Organization. [blogpost]
Massachusetts S. 45 Level IV Treatment Interventions & S. 46 Special Commission on Behavior Modification. [blogpost]
Massachusetts S 2293, formerly S. 223 "An Act to improve augmentative and alternative communication opportunities for children with disabilities" Bill History. Problematic reference is inclusion of "facilitated communication" as communication modality.
New York S.03676 Provides an exemption for individuals performing behavior analysis. [blogpost]
Other significant legislation on hold or "failed".
Alaska HB 425 (On hold pending task force study). Would have created intervention system for ABA and provided supervised experience towards BACB certification. Legislature adjourned 4/18/10. [blogpost]
Mississippi SB 2457 ("Died" in Education; Appropriations Committees). would have phased in training of personnel and routine school use of "applied behavior science" for the state's students with ASD.
Missouri SB 1030 Creation of Behavior Analyst Advisory Board and licensure. Language rolled into autism insurance bills SS/S. 618 and passed HB 1311&1341. [blogpost]
*Federal legislation in progress
Restraint and seclusion legislation
S. 2860 "A bill to protect students from inappropriate seclusion and physical restraint, and for other purposes". [blogpost]
Note: Many states are currently in the process of reviewing regulation or creating legislation issue of restraint and seclusion under the urging of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and prompting of this Federal legislation. Please refer to your state legislature or Department of Education for the status of such actions.
Thomas.gov (Search engine of the Library of Congress)
Federal Register: Tuesday, February 2, 2010 Part IV:
Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, 26 CFR Part 54
Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, 29 CFR Part 2590
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 45 CFR Part 146
Interim Final Rules Under the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008; Final Rule http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-2167.pdf