Advocacy

Public Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

As we continue to move forward in shaping the future of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), AzABA remains steadfast in our commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all. We believe that fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is not just a goal but a continuous practice that guides our actions, enhances our work, and strengthens the very foundation of our community.

AzABA drafted the following guiding statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in 2022. This year, one of our strategic planning goals is to increase communications to members and stakeholders with transparency in aspects of EDI and board work. Given that goal, and in light of the executive orders that will impact individuals we support, we want to reiterate that as an organization, we remain committed to this standard and will continue to uplift marginalized communities.

The Arizona Association for Behavior Analysis acknowledges the existence of systemic racism and implicit bias, as well as other forms of discrimination and exclusion in our society including, but not limited to sexism, ableism, religious discrimination, and discrimination towards the LGBTQIA+ communities. Within the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and its applications, systemic racism and implicit bias impact interactions between supervisors and employees, service providers and caregivers, and practitioners and clients/recipients of services. AzABA also recognizes societal barriers to seeking graduate training in ABA, leading to lack of diversity in our certificants. AzABA acknowledges the impact of systemic discrimination in who has access to behavior analytic services and who does not.

AzABA recognizes the importance of committed action within the mission of the organization and is committed to using a behavior analytic lens to dismantle social injustice, systemic oppression, and racial inequities by specifically targeting training and education for membership, increasing diversity in membership population and leadership, improving access to services in equitable ways, and impacting and informing policy and legislation. The association works to increase awareness and understanding, discover and remove barriers to access services and training, to ultimately enrich our AzABA community by diversifying membership and raising the quality of services we provide.

Since this guiding statement was issued, AzABA has made a dedicated commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion discussions and strategic objectives, informed by feedback and requests from our membership, including the addition of a new value to our mission and values statement. Integrity of Action through the lens of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We have done this through:

• Internal Board Work:
• Trainings with DEI subject matter experts
• Regular DEI assessments of the board and organization to identify areas of improvement
• Bylaws revision through the lens of DEI: A part of the process of our 2024 bylaws revision was to have the AzABA EDI Committee review the bylaws to identify potential biases and ensure use of inclusive language.
• Free EDI CEU events for members and non-members: All CEU events hosted by the EDI Committee are free to both AzABA members and non-members. The committee has made efforts to invite speakers that amplify the voices of historically marginalized groups.
• Evaluation of Content: AzABA has and will continue to adhere to its stringent process for development and review of events and commits to finding further ways to discuss these important topics while disseminating the science and enhancing the ability to practice behavior analysis in the State of Arizona.

Please note, we are aware of the recent decision by the BACB to remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from its CEU requirements. We recognize the impact this will have on our community and while that did not prompt this statement, it did encourage us to expedite the release of this statement that was already in progress.

We recognize that achieving EDI requires a long-term commitment, and we are dedicated to continue integrating EDI principles into our current and future policies and practices within our association. We will maintain CEU offerings on equity-centered practice, anti-oppression frameworks, and intersectional approaches to care. We encourage our members and partners to actively seek training beyond the minimum and hold ourselves accountable to standards that reflect our shared humanity. We will continue to hold ourselves accountable for creating an inclusive and equitable environment for our members, community, and those we serve. We strive to be transparent to membership and the public about EDI efforts moving forward.

Signed by AzABA Board of Directors

Regulatory board for behavior Analysts

Current AzABA efforts are being supported by the following organizations. 

Position Statement: Reproductive Rights

AzABA supports and agrees with the following statement by the Arizona Psychological Association regarding reproductive rights. 

The Arizona Psychological Association (AzPA) joins our national colleagues, the American Psychological Association (APA), in expressing our deep concern over the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Our association recognizes that views regarding abortion vary in our society, and that for many these views are a reflection of their personal and/or religious beliefs. As representatives of a profession grounded in science, our concern is not an indication of agreement or disagreement with any particular personal or religious viewpoint, but primarily a reflection of scientific evidence that informs the work we do. This was illustrated in a statement by the American Psychological Association president Frank C. Worrell, PhD, “This ruling ignores not only precedent but science, and will exacerbate the mental health crisis America is already experiencing.”

Position Statement on the Use of Electric Shock in Treatment ofIndividuals with Disabilities