AARBA Association for the Advancement of Radical Behavior Analysis

By Carla Lasagna Del Val

Throughout 2023–24 AARBA has been actively involved in various initiatives, specifically regarding the BA community and the growth and strengthening of our discipline in the educational, political, research and organizational fields. We are glad to share what we have done to date, hoping to inspire other Chapters and to accomplish even more satisfactory results in the future.

DISSEMINATION & BA COMMUNITY:
As tradition, even for this year we will be holding the 20th edition of our Scientific European Congress on Applied Behavior Analysis. As every year the event will be formed by two different parallel sessions: one focusing on the implementation of the science in the field of autism and clinical field and the second one in BBS and PM projects. The exact day of the event still has not be officially presented, since we are still evaluating the availability of the international speakers that will be presenting at the event and the possibility of organizing a lecture directed to the Italian Heath Ministry, with the aim of presenting the specific guidelines on the application of ABA, mainly connected to the clinical application.

During the month of October (11th–12th), we renewed our commitment to Ambiente-Lavoro, the biggest Italian fair about environment and safety at work. Even for such an event we had the opportunity to participate in person, by holding two presentations. The first presentation was held by one of the AARBA researchers, focusing on the importance of the role of a supervisor in the context of working environments, mainly explaining how the new Italian law follows the principles of the science of behavior analysis. More specifically, the Italian new law has declared that all supervisors have the role and obligation to support their own collogues through the measurement of behavior and when necessary, even applying specific techniques to modify them. Being able to finally present all the work that the AARBA organization, specifically the President, has been doing for more than 20 years on spreading the knowledge and importance of the science, connected to the Italian law is immensely rewarding. Through this specific presentation we have been able to not only show and explain the effectiveness of behavior analysis, more into details when talking about the results of behavior based safety protocols, the tool that the government is finally asking for. The second presentation was conducted by our President, aiming to explain how observations and measurements based on behaviors are what makes a process in terms of security succeed. Having the opportunity to participate in person this year helped us with the continued promotion and divulgation of the science of behavior analysis, specifically in Italy. We prepared a stand where people had the possibility to find information (articles, research, fliers of the courses we provide and data to provide real life examples) regarding the science of behavior analysis and specifically its application in the field of BBS.

The President of the association, for various years, has been collaborating with dentists in the application and creation of seminars and protocols focusing on the implementation of behavior analysis strategies in the dentistry field. Through the creation of presentations and specific courses, that focus on various arguments, such as the patience compliance, motivation of the team, motivation to improve the quality of the treatment given to the patient, clinical risk reduction, support for people with specific diagnosis, developing a behavioral system analysis and more. All of them have been created through the use and adoption of evidence proven systems that allows individuals to measure theirs and others’ behaviors.

One of the most recent activities that has been done in relation to the dissemination and continued spreading of the BA community is the renovation of the Autism SIG of AARBA, by determining a new president and new scientific committee formed by five professionals, all of them directly involved in the field of behavior analysis. The special interest group is composed of members who share interest in a particular field, in this case, in the field of behavior analysis in relation to individuals diagnosed with autism or developmental disabilities. Its component members are professionals in the field, behavior technicians, students, family members, caregivers or stakeholders.

The mission of the SIG is:

To promote evidence-based practices regarding the treatment of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
To promote best practices in relation to procedures/interventions based on the principles of applied
behavior analysis in relation to individuals diagnosed with autism.
To help individuals diagnosed with autism, their families identify components of evidence-based practices, quality behavioral interventions, and effective treatments.
Help protect individuals diagnosed with autism and their families from ineffective, non-evidence-based and / or potentially harmful treatments.
Serve as a scientific and professional reference and networking group for its members.
Activities.
Promote the sharing of research worldwide and have contacts with the most accredited professionals in the field.

HIGHER EDUCATION:

During the pasts years one of the most important aims of the association is to continue with the dissemination of the science of behavior analysis, specifically providing the adequate education and training for professionals in the field. For this reason, the AARBA team has been working on the development of the third edition of the educational course on behavior analysis, following the requirements and standards that ABAI has determined with the Tiered Model of Education. The course represents valuable training for all inspiring future behavior analysts in its various fields of application (autism, OBM, CBA, etc.). In addition to current and future professionals in the BA field, the course is also intended and available for all individuals who simply want to learn more about the principles of the science by following a highly structed course. The main goal is to offer quality training to future behavior analysts in accordance with international standards. By the end of the program participants will be able to:

Recognize and implement on a practical side, the theoretical concepts learned during the training, following and being aware of the possible ethical and professional implications.
Implement objective and thorough preliminary assessments to accurately determine the user’s real needs.
Design intervention schemes aimed at meeting the user’s needs in a sustainable and lasting manner.
Build from scratch and adapt pre-existing tools needed for behavioral interventions.
Structure reliable and replicable measurement systems suitable for accounting for the effectiveness of its interventions.
Monitor and support the progress of interventions run by others under one’s own leadership and responsibility.
Recognize the philosophical references underlying one’s discipline.

In addition, based on previous feedback provided by students in the last courses, an additional module focusing entirely on the practical side of the learning has been adopted. This module focuses on the “laboratories.” Ninety-six hours from the entire course are entirely dedicated to the laboratories, divided between four professors, all of them focusing on different topics, but connected between each other. Students will be conducting various practical exercises, both in group and individually, through the supervision and feedback of the professor.

With this continued education we really hope to continue to bring a change in our country, Italy, not only in terms of the knowledge of ABA, but most importantly, on the correct and specific implementation that needs to be adopted, in all the field, from the one related to BBS process to the ABA in schools and home environments. The project of developing specific courses in behavior analysis is something AARBA is willing to continue working on, not only to support the people that need a behavior analysis base treatment, but even for the behavior analysts themselves.

As every year, we continued with the specific 80-hours B-BS post-graduate course, with the launch of the 50th edition. The course focuses not only on the theoretical background of behavior analysis and its implementation on the OBM field, but even on the practical aspects (creating a checklist, presentation of data analysis, conducting safety meetings, etc.) of a process. With the start of 2023 the course, that was initially conducted entirely online, it now includes two practical sessions entirely in person, therefore giving people the possibility to know each other and therefore make contacts.

During the last years, safety has started to become always a more important and discussed argument in Italy. There is still a big misconception and lack of knowledge on the importance of behavior in relation to safety culture. AIAS (Associazione Italiana Ambiente e Sicurezza) and Assolombarda are two important organizations in Italy. AIAS represents safety related issues in the working environment and Assolombarda is the association of companies (7.078 Associated companies) operating in the Metropolitan City of Milan and in the provinces of Lodi, Monza and Brianza, Pavia. In 2023 a collaboration between AARBA and these two entities has been established, with the main objective of organizing specific training courses, both theory and practice, on the application of behavior analysis through BBS protocols. Through these courses, the objective is to spread the knowledge on the importance of behavior and the effectiveness of BBS, specifically for small and medium organizations, where little support is being provided.

COMPANIES CONSULTING:
As far as major Italian and multinational companies support, we followed up our commitment in the territory and even in outside, such as in Spain, Germany, France, and Holand with interventions based on training and OBM principles. Through the years the President of the association has been invited to participate at Safety Day events, organized by organizations that are willing to implement and adopt a BBS protocol, or expand the knowledge to all levels.
As you can see, we are working hard on several fronts to promote applied behavior analysis knowledge and technologies in public and private institutions, with the hope of achieving further and greater results.
See you next year!