In
West Virginia,
WHTC reports:
Although the state has seen an increase in registered ABA specialists since legislation passed that helps pay for children’s treatment, across the state there is a shortage.
According to Bright Future’s records there are only 14 practicing applied behavioral analysts in the state. The number of children diagnosed in West Virginia and across the country is rising.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about one in 88 children are diagnosed to be on the autism spectrum, ten times the amount from forty years ago.
In
Massachusetts, Governor Deval Patrick recently signed legislation on
licensure.
The Lowell Sun reports:
LICENSE AND REGULATE BEHAVIOR ANALYSTS (S 2379): Establishes a state board to test, license and regulate the state's growing number of mental-health professionals known as behavior analysts. The measure also sets educational requirements that an applicant must fulfill to qualify for a license. Behavior analysis ranges from treatment of individuals with autism and developmental disabilities to behavioral coaching and behavioral psychotherapy.
According to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, behavior analysts "help build the skills and achievements of children in school settings; enhance the development, abilities and choices of children and adults with different kinds of disabilities; and augment the performance and satisfaction of employees in organizations and businesses."
