JUNE 2019 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 17
POINT OF VIEW
BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS URGE NYS:
FIX TREATMENT ACCESS LAW
By ELIZABETH DRAGO
and SALLY IZQUIERDO
Individuals living in New York State
who do not have a diagnosis of autism
cannot easily access the expertise of
a licensed behavior analyst (LBA)
unless state lawmakers correct an
error in the law.
In 2014, New York State enacted a law
to license behavior analysts in such
a way that LBAs are only allowed to
treat individuals who have a diagnosis
of autism spectrum disorder.
The professional practice of applied
behavior analysis, long-standing
for more than 50 years, has made
countless improvements in the
lives of individuals. Some of
these improvements have been
in areas including, but not limited
to, educational applications and
learning, behavioral challenges,
substance abuse, brain injury,
Alzheimer's, ADHD, behavioral
medicine, and Down syndrome. LBAs
design, implement, and evaluate
environmental changes to produce
socially significant improvement in
behavior.
Of the 30 states that have recognized
the profession of behavior analysis
through licensure, New York is the
only state that restricts the scope
of practice to individuals with a
particular diagnosis. Behavior analysis
is the only profession within the
state that is defined by and restricted
in its practice to individuals with a
particular diagnosis. The current
licensure law severely limits access
to effective treatment for individuals
without a diagnosis of autism.
The restriction is also seriously
impeding training opportunities for
students of behavior analysis. Data
suggest that prospective students
of behavior analysis may choose to
train in other states, or leave New
York State when they graduate. Some
supervisors of behavior analysis in
NY report that they are discouraging
young professionals interested in
behavior analysis from working and
studying in the state.
Many board certified behavior analysts
report that they are leaving or
choosing not to come to New York to
work because of the practice limits.
The number of new LBAs in New
York is decreasing and at the current
rate, will eventually lead to a shortage
of well-trained professionals to serve
the autism community.
We urge the New York State Legislature
to end this discriminatory practice
and pass bill S4967 sponsored by
state Sen. James Skoufis and A6389
sponsored by state Assemb. Crystal
Peoples-Stokes. Go to nysaba.org for
more information.
Elizabeth Drago is a New York State
Association for Behavior Analysis
(NYSABA) representative at large
and Sally Izquierdo is NYSABA’s
Legislative Chairperson.
“The current licensure law severely limits
access to effective treatment."
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