Dear Ms. Behm,
We are writing in response to your article, “Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ) Launches its New Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Accreditation Program” and we are thankful for your coverage of this important topic. The Applied Behavior Analysis field continues to grow as research supports the effectiveness of this approach for improving the lives of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities, and this ACQ launch aims to support that growth by providing a standardized review process that will optimize business, operational, and clinical outcomes for organizations that choose to participate.
As the demand for services and the field grow, there is an increasing number of practitioners providing ABA services, and a standard of practice and credentialing are needed to ensure that those providing behavior analytic services are skilled and knowledgeable. The new ABA accreditation program could be a viable option to ensure that programs providing services to people with autism are high quality. However, there are some potential drawbacks to this program worthy of consideration. The first is that it is expensive to become accredited, and not all programs may be able to afford it. Second, the program is voluntary, so not all programs may elect to participate. These points taken together could lead to a lack of consistency in the quality of services provided across programs, and may not lead to equitable outcomes for program, practitioners, and ultimately recipients of service. Finally, the program is relatively new and has not been fully evaluated yet. So, it is unclear how effective the processes and feedback loops will be in remediating areas cited for growth and ensuring high quality services.
Since the Association for Science in Autism Treatment was established in 1998, it has been our goal to work towards adopting higher standards of accountability for the care, education, and treatment of all individuals with autism. Certainly, this ACQ accreditation process is in line with that goal. We look forward to monitoring its progress and outcomes over time and appreciate your reporting of this promising new process.
Sincerely,
Aboli Jadhav B.E.
Liz Callahan, MA, BCBA
Association for Science in Autism Treatment
