The Conference Committee for the 14th Annual BC Association for Behaviour Analysis (BC-ABA) Conference invites proposals for conference presentations on all behaviour analytic-related topics. All proposals must be received by January 9th, 2022 in order to be considered. Submission of a proposal is considered to be a commitment to register for the conference. Authors will be notified by January 17th, 2022, whether their proposal has been accepted or rejected. Accepted presentations will need to submit a pre-recorded version of their presentation no later than March 1st, 2022.

The 14th Annual BC Association for Behaviour Analysis (BC-ABA) Conference will be held online in the month of April 2022 (April 1st – May 15th). Keynote presentation(s) will be presented live Friday, April 8th, 2022 (TBD) and all paper submissions will be pre-recorded and available to view by those registered for the conference from April 1st -May 15th, 2022. Recording guidelines will be provided to those accepted to the conference.

The Conference Committee is especially interested in receiving proposals from individuals who have not presented at BC-ABA in the past.

All presenters must be current BC-ABA members.

General Information

The Conference Committee will be guided in the selection of proposals by the criteria of quality, content area, significance, and program balance. The program must not be used by individuals to take orders for or sell programs, products, or materials. All presenters are expected to follow accepted ethical procedures to protect human subjects.

Please note that this conference DOES NOT focus solely on autism spectrum disorders; thus, proposals are encouraged across a wide range of behaviour analytic topics that affect individuals across the age range, both with and without disabilities.

Students and support workers (e.g., behaviour interventionists, tutors, junior therapists, group home staff) are encouraged to participate by collaborating with supervisors/ senior therapists on traditional papers, symposiums mini seminars.

Presentation Formats

Authors should select the session format most appropriate to the type and extent of information they wish to offer. The Conference will include the following five formats:

Symposium: Organized by a chairperson who moderates the session. Three twenty-five (25) minute presentations and a discussant (15 minutes) focused on empirical, conceptual, historical, or methodological research. The symposium should be organized on a central theme and all presentations must be submitted together in one submission form by the chairperson.

Traditional paper: Forty (40) minute presentations of original research, the nature of which can be case study-based, experimental (data-based), clinical, or topic review/synthesis. Traditional papers will be organized by topic in session blocks of 90 minutes, with two presentations per session, and a 10-minute question and answer period.

Mini seminar: Ninety (90) minute presentations providing a more thorough treatment of a topic than allowed by a traditional paper. It must be clear from the abstract that the topic warrants a longer time period.

Panel Discussion: Organized by a chairperson who moderates the session. A ninety (90) minute presentation consisting of at least three panellists and a chairperson. Panellists respond to specific questions on a central topic with allotted time for audience participation.

Domain Definitions

To improve the appropriate pairing of traditional papers and the overall scheduling of submissions, BC-ABA is adopting domain definitions as stated in ABAI’s call for papers. Please refer to the definitions below when deciding the domain of your submission:

Basic Research: research that primarily contributes to knowledge about fundamental principles of behaviour; target behaviour is selected based on scientific goals rather than social significance (can include verbal behaviour in humans); any species; theoretically driven; data-based; premium placed on experimental control; activity carried out under auspices of research protocol

Applied Research: research that primarily contributes to knowledge about how/why interventions, service delivery systems, or their components achieve desired behaviour change; target behaviour selected on basis of its social significance; human emphasis; intervention designed to improve performance or adaptive functioning of individuals or behavioural systems; data-based; development of new technology for behaviour change; activity carried out under auspices of research protocol.

Service Delivery: intervention driven activity to produce desired behaviour change rather than to identify how/why interventions, service delivery systems, or their components achieve those goals; extension of existing technology to new setting or population; also may include public policy, regulatory, ethical, and related service-delivery issues.

Theory: theoretical; conceptual; integrative statements about organizations of facts; interpretations; mathematical models/quantitative analyses; also can include historical and philosophical analyses or reviews

Presentation Level

The levels will assist audience members in choosing appropriate presentations to view. Please refer to the definitions below to determine the level of your submission.

Introductory: the information provides an introduction to the topic, is basic in nature, and requires no or minimal prerequisite knowledge of the topic.

Intermediate: the information is suitable for audience members who have completed at least some course work in behaviour analysis (i.e. at a beginning master’s-program level or at the BCaBA level)

Advanced: the information is suitable for audience members at the post-master’s level, who have completed their BCBA certification

CEU Eligibility

Presentations must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for consideration as a CE event:
At least one presenter in a multi-presenter event must meet ACE instructor criteria (please refer to BACB ACE Provider Handbook);
The qualified ACE instructor must actively supervise the instruction delivered by the co-presenters;
Information presented must be at a level of difficulty that is appropriate for post-certification attendees.
Information on setting up your presentation for online CEU’s will be provided to those accepted to the conference.

Guidelines for Submitting Proposals

A formal proposal is required for all session formats. All submissions must be in English. Proposals that are incomplete or that do not follow the format prescribed in the guidelines will be returned to the author. If resubmission occurs after the deadline date, the proposal will not be considered.

Link for proposal form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UjXzibABnHhWN3iPc-Bk5MoP153EiOw8/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113300074680509192121&rtpof=true&sd=true

The Conference Committee retains the right to assign a proposed presentation to another session format unless authors state specifically that reassignment is not acceptable.

Submit proposals by January 9th, 2022 to conference@bc-aba.org

Note:

You MUST submit one COMPLETE submission for each session you propose. If more than one session is submitted, please indicate the order of preference if all proposals cannot be accepted due to space and time constraints.

We, as a board and members of this community, are dedicated to continuing to learn about how we can support all members of our community. This list is a representation of the resources that were shared in one of our recent workshops.

We hope you find these links as helpful as we did.

Petition on TRC Recommendation #57: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegNs4wRqFOsXHgLZLCw9IxL9i6Ihf1dMUD6N5ccTcOm3xUCQ/viewform

Link to all TRC Calls to Action http://www.trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf

Searching Residential School Grounds Petitions: https://www.change.org/p/justin-trudeau-residential-school-grounds-and-surrounding-areas-searched-for-children?source_location=topic_page

https://www.change.org/p/government-of-canada-search-all-properties-of-previous-residential-schools?source_location=topic_page

Book called First Nations 101 http://www.firstnations101.com/

TedX Video Anti-Racism Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1EDbbse2BM&list=PL4Tyf55NlLHMFpZxxgyoUI5g4UqO7_GZ6&index=2&t=16s

DEI resources on BC-ABA page https://bc-aba.org/bc-aba-statement-on-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/

A resource to hear from Survivors https://legacyofhope.ca/

Sustaining Personal Activism: Behavior Analysts as Antiracist Accomplices https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40617-021-00580-w

The British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis (BC-ABA) stands in solidarity with the Black community, Indigenous peoples, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, women, all people of colour and individuals with minority status against all forms of racism, hatred, bigotry and discrimination. Those affected by systemic racism in our communities deal with prejudice, discrimination, and hatred every day of their lives. Silence is not an option. We must take a stand and speak up.

We value diversity, equality, compassion and inclusion for all. Therefore, we must make efforts to support all of our membership, clients, and community members. We must make efforts to speak against anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, and all forms of systemic racism in our communities, in our province, in our country and in the world. We must make efforts to listen and learn from those who are oppressed by systemic racism.

We acknowledge that a statement is not enough, and it is only a starting point. Our hope is that taking these initial steps will prompt discussion, reflection, education, and taking actions that align with our values. We will be discussing these issues and how we can work to address them at future board meetings.

As a starting point, BC-ABA is committing to the following action steps:

1. Developing website and social media resources that educate on the importance of and promote inclusion and diversity.
2. Creating accessible CEU opportunities focused on inclusion and diversity.
3. Creating a committee focused on inclusion and diversity.

We are also taking this time to reflect on our own privilege and prepare to take effective action. We encourage our membership and those in our community to do the same. Please consider learning about and supporting the following organizations:

• Black Lives Matter Vancouver / Toronto / US
• Black Visions Collective
• Hogan’s Alley Society
• The anti-racist small business pledge

If you are a person of privilege, please take this time to listen and reflect. Below are some resources to start:

• Anti-Racism Resources
• Ally Resource Guide
• Resources for Accountability and Action for Black Lives
• NY Times Anti-Racist reading list
• Anti-Racism Resources Compiled By Behaviour Analysts

We have chosen to include the resources above due to the urgency of the Black Lives Matter movement in current political events, but we want to acknowledge that here in Canada, many minority communities face daily injustices as well. We do not wish to negate their experience or support one cause over another. What is clear is that we have not been doing enough and that we can contribute in more meaningful ways to the current discussions and actions. This is a start, and we are making a commitment to do more as an organization to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and take collective action against racial injustices.

We would like your feedback on how we can do more. Please take a few moments to fill out the following survey and share your thoughts and ideas:

Take the Survey

BC-ABA has submitted a formal response by the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis (BC-ABA) to the MCFD Guidelines for Virtual Care Providers dated April 8th, 2020. You may view the response below or download it as a PDF.

Attn:
Honourable Katrine Conroy
Ministry of Children and Family Development

April 22, 2020

To Whom it May Concern:

This document is a formal response by the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis (BC-ABA) to the MCFD Guidelines for Virtual Care Providers dated April 8th, 2020¹. The MCFD Guidelines for Virtual Care Providers outline regulations for the use of Autism Funding by families and service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic and specify which services may be eligible for virtual care. Virtual care is taken to refer to intervention services provided via distance through telecommunication technology (for the remainder of this document, referred to as ‘telehealth services’).

BC-ABA would like to address two policies in MCFD Guidelines document that are not consistent with current research on telehealth service delivery (MCFD Guidelines for Virtual Care Providers, p. 3):

Q7: What are MCFD’s guidelines for Virtual Care for providers?

A7: Service providers are expected to comply with the standards set by their regulatory colleges related to Virtual Care and all other service practices. To bill Autism Funding Branch the following is required:

• Child/youth must be present for the session
• Child/youth must have already been assessed by the practitioner in a face to face
  meeting

Response to Point 1: Guideline that child/youth must be present for the session

The requirement to have a child present during all direct services is not consistent with current research and best practice in autism service provision, regardless of whether services are delivered in person or via telehealth. While caregiver support at times involves live coaching during interactions with their child, there are a number of situations in which would be harmful and clinically contraindicated to require a child to be present during all service provision, as it may limit the information a caregiver is able to share with a service provider and limit access to crucial services during an already stressful time.

Response to Point 2: Child/youth must have already been assessed by the practitioner in a face to face meeting

Research evidence supports the use of telehealth as an effective service delivery option, without the need for face to face meetings at any point during assessment or intervention (e.g., see systematic review by Fergusen, Craig, & Dounavi, 2019; Lindgren et al., 2016). Furthermore, families living in remote communities, families with new diagnoses, and families in the process of accessing services that have not yet been started would be unable to receive services indefinitely. Including effective telehealth services as an eligible expense for AFU funding would allow families to access much needed services during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond, especially since MCFD has stated they will not be expending funding terms during this time. It is inappropriate and harmful to families to require in person services when research has demonstrated the effectiveness of telehealth services without this component.

Limiting the conditions under which families can access services during a public health crisis will be severely detrimental to children with ASD in our province and their families.

We appreciate your prompt action in remediating these potentially harmful policies.

Sincerely,

The British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis

¹ “Common Questions and Answers for Service Providers Supporting Families Accessing Autism Funding” Access from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/family-and-social-supports/covid-19/qa_autism_funding_apr7_spapprovedcontent.pdf on April 16th, 2020

References

Fergusen, J., Craig, E. A., Dounavi, K. (2019). Telehealth as a Model for Providing Behaviour Analytic Interventions to Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49, 582-616. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-018-3724-5

Lindgren, S., Wacker, D., Suess, A., Scheitz, K., Pelzel, K., Kopelman, T., Lee, J., Romani, P., Waldon, D. (2016). Telehealth and Autism: Treating Challenging Behavior at Lower Cost, Pediatrics, 137 (2), S167-S175. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4727312/