The WABA Educational Webinar Series present 

The Dangers of Anti-ABA Rhetoric - A Parent's Perspective 

When: Tuesday, May 9th

7:00 PM – 8:30 PM PST

Where: Online 

Cost: FREE to attend 

Register Here

About the talk: There has been a growing amount of anti-ABA sentiment on social media, blogs, and other published literature. This session aims to better understand this phenomenon. Although this is a complex issue, the field of Behavior Analysis, and its community- including individuals diagnosed with autism, co-advocates and direct care providers, need to evaluate the origins and respond in an intentional and thoughtful manner. As a co-advocate and ABA consumer, I'm grateful to you for participating in this session as I attempt to better spotlight this issue and offer solutions.

About the speaker(s): 

Arzu Forough is the founder and CEO at Washington Autism Alliance (WAA). WAA is the nation’s only legal advocate for people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities that pairs individual/family navigation with legal services regardless of ability to pay. Ms. Forough brings over 23 years of experience in training and development to her position, including leadership development, government relations and nonprofit management. In 2007 she founded Washington Autism Alliance and developed the “Autism IEP supplement: Best Practice Guidelines for educating students with autism”. Her IEP supplement as well as guidelines for training teachers was legally adopted by the Washington State legislature in 2008 and became the requirement for all teachers working with learners with Autism Spectrum Disorders statewide. Arzu introduced Shayan’s Law, Autism Insurance Parity to the Washington State legislature, petitioned the state Health technology Assessment of evidence based treatment of autism and ignited multiple legal actions that have clarified state and federal laws mandating insurance benefits for those with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Vanessa Tucker received her dual certification to teach from Western Washington University in 1995.  She began her career working with children with Emotional and Behavior Disorders and moved into classrooms serving students with high support needs.  She got her M.Ed. from the University of Washington, Seattle in Low Incidence Disabilities in 2003 followed by her a Ph.D. in Low Incidence Disabilities and Applied Behavior Analysis from UW in 2009.  She moved from the classroom into a specialist position in 2004 and coordinated the autism programs in Tacoma Public Schools for 7 years.  She left in 2010 to join the University of Washington, Tacoma as a full time lecturer where she coordinated the Teacher Certification Program.  She joined PLU in 2012 as an assistant professor.  When she isn’t working, she is busy chasing after three children and working in the garden.