Public Policy Committee

I am honored to serve as a Director on the COABA Executive Board. Since arriving in Colorado in 2001, when I was the third BCBA in the entire State, I have pressed for access to funding, representation, protection, and recognition of Behavior Analysts within the State. I will strive to give us a voice in the State that will provide for more opportunities as Behavior Analysts, and support for mechanisms that allow us to provide quality services.

I would like to share an overview of relevant experiences: masters in 1995 (Dr. Jon Bailey, FSU) and doctorate in 1998 (Dr. Ed Craighead, CU-Boulder); BCBA-D (2000) and Psychology license in Colorado (2001); charter member of the BACB, 4Corners, and COABA; only service provider on the Autism Commission for the State of Colorado in 2008; leadership for passage of Health Insurance Mandate for Autism Treatment Law (HIMAT), which codified BCBAs as insurance providers within the State; Lead implementor for State of Colorado on HIMAT; Autism Society of Colorado Outstanding Autism Service Provider Award in 2011; past President of the Colorado Coalition for Autism Professionals; invited Content Expert for the BACB; and, author of multiple articles, chapters and presentations on ABA.

As the Chair of the Public Policy Committee, I will serve COABA members diligently; as the past liaison for 4Corners to APBA, ABAI, and the BACB, I sought to facilitate cooperation and coordination between bodies with diverse agendas, focusing on the commonalities inherent within behavior analysis. I have watched the field grow tremendously over the last two decades. I have also watched us miss opportunities for impact due to inaction, in-fighting, and poor ‘marketing’ of our services and skills. With your support, I will work with the Executive Board to pursue opportunities for market access, trade recognition and consumer protection.