Lone Star ABA

By Gerald Harris

LSABA has been in existence for 14 years now. We have accomplished a lot in that time, but the Covid-19 pandemic temporarily interrupted our activities. The Lone Star Applied Behavior Analysts (LSABA) chapter was established in 2009 to provide community support for professionals and students in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. Houston area members include practitioners as well as educators, and those who work in either the public or private sectors or both. While a majority of the members are involved in the application of ABA to children with autism, LSABA recognizes and supports those professionals who demonstrate the utility of ABA in application to a variety of populations and needs.

The past year was a difficult year, but also saw the recovery of our group. The regular LSABA monthly meetings which inform practitioners of ABA related news, events, and issues and provide research discussion continuing education credits were temporarily discontinued due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but resumed in the latter part of the year. We are now able to resume offering conferences to area ABA practitioners. One of the most exciting activities of LSABA previously was the conducting conferences focusing on important aspects of ABA. However, one conference that was planned and ready to go (people had already registered) had to be cancelled due to the pandemic and another was aborted. We now have a conference scheduled for June which should be well received.LSABA is resuming our previous activities this year and continues to be very appreciative of support and recognition from the state chapter, TxABA. There remains a good system of information exchange in place with TxABA, and LSABA and its members individually participate in and assist with TxABA activities and events, such as the annual TxABA convention.

At the national and international level, LSABA has certainly been well supported and encouraged by ABAI and continues to express gratitude for all the assistance by that organization. As an Affiliate of APBA, LSABA has also received welcome support and encouragement from that organization. Overall, for a now maturing organization of 14 years LSABA appears to have a strong foundation and a good track record of accomplishments. LSABA is certainly blessed with having dedicated and caring members, and excellent support from the ABA professional establishment. We will continue to act to survive current difficulties and carry forward.