British Columbia ABA – 2025 Annual Report

By Hayley Neimy

Over the past year, the British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis (BC-ABA) has remained actively engaged in a wide range of initiatives, solidifying our role as a leading voice for behaviour analysis in the province. Our board, which commenced its term in April 2024, consists of 14 elected members who meet regularly throughout the year to drive strategic priorities. In addition to our core leadership meetings, various committees and working groups—including the Conference Committee, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Student Alliance, Membership Committee, Communications Committee, and Licensure Working Group—convene monthly to advance targeted initiatives. With 218 members across British Columbia, BC-ABA represents a dynamic community of practitioners working in diverse capacities. Over the past year, our primary areas of focus have centered on sustainability, relationship-building, and advocacy.

To enhance sustainability, we have prioritized formalizing operational processes to streamline and standardize strategic planning efforts. By ensuring alignment with our mission, vision, and values, we have refined the monitoring of short- and long-term goals while also delineating core operating procedures. Recognizing the need for administrative efficiency, we have expanded our infrastructure by hiring an Administrative Assistant and continuing collaboration with a web developer to optimize our website. These efforts reduce the volunteer demands on our Members at Large (MALs) and improve accessibility to member resources. Additionally, we have strengthened governance by implementing annual Board Governance and Strategic Planning Training, refining onboarding protocols to enhance inter-committee integration, and developing ongoing mechanisms to track progress toward organizational objectives.

Fostering strong relationships has been another key priority. This year, we partnered with Autism Community Training (ACT) and the Autism Support Network (ASN) to co-sponsor three CEU-eligible events on critical topics, including feeding and food selectivity, assessment and treatment of sleep disorders, and neurodiversity-affirming practices for elementary educators. Strengthening connections within our membership remains a central focus, and we have taken deliberate steps to increase transparency around board activities. Initiatives such as the Quarterly President’s Update, membership surveys to assess resource and training needs, and targeted engagement efforts with our Student Alliance members have helped ensure that our members’ voices are heard. Additionally, we have deepened relationships with other Canadian ABAI chapters through quarterly meetings, facilitating a shared network of advocacy, professional development, and knowledge exchange. These collaborative efforts will allow us to present a unified voice to various national initiatives, including an upcoming response to the National Autism Strategy, and various provincial service model changes. Looking ahead, we are exploring the formalization of a Canadian ABA organization to strengthen our collective impact.

A significant area of focus has been our advocacy efforts, particularly in the realm of professional regulation. BC-ABA continues to collaborate with key advocacy groups, including our participation as part of the founder members of the BC Disability Collaborative, where we participated in a two-day summit alongside almost 50 non-profit organizations to present recommendations to the provincial government on equitable funding and service models for children with disabilities. Our Licensure Working Group, which has expanded in both scope and membership, has played a critical role in these advocacy efforts. With the recent formalization of British Columbia’s regulatory colleges following a seven-year modernization process, our efforts have centered on engaging with registrars, ministers, and key decision-makers to position behaviour analysts within the province’s new regulatory framework. Specifically, we are working to secure inclusion within the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC), which governs allied health professionals such as speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and psychologists.

Building on the success of last year’s hybrid event, BC-ABA is excited to host our 17th Annual Conference on March 7th (virtual) and March 8th (hybrid in-person and virtual) at the University of British Columbia. This year marks a milestone in sponsorship engagement, with significant support from local, national, and international organizations. We are thrilled to offer a diverse lineup of topics and speakers, reflecting the breadth of applied behaviour analysis in research and practice. In addition to professional development, this year’s event will feature our first-ever formalized social gathering, providing an opportunity for members to connect beyond the conference sessions. We look forward to another year of growth, collaboration, and meaningful progress for our field here in British Columbia!