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ACT's 2007 Report on the RASP
An excerpt from ACT's 2007 Annual Report
In 2007 the impact of the new standards for the RASP that MCFD implemented in August 2006 was fully realized. The increased expectations for behavior consultants has had an impact on the raw numbers added to the RASP by the end of 2007 – only a 6% net increase over 2006 – although 14 new BC’s were added.
The new behavior consultants applying to the RASP are of a generally higher standard and it is clear that many behavior consultants now recognize the need to update their qualifications if they wish to work with children with ASD. This is demonstrated by the fact that there were 17 Board Certified Behavior Analysts on the RASP by December 31, 2007 – there were none in BC in 2004 and only a handful in 2005.
It is also the impression of ACT’s staff that that the clearer guidelines from MCFD around qualifying for the RASP, in particular the requirement for active supervision of Category B behavior consultants from Category A supervisors, has helped lessen the seriousness of complaints from families in 2007 compared to 2006. It would appear that the development of a formal complaints resolution process during 2007, supported by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, has also signaled the requirement for accountability on the part of professionals, if they wish to remain on the RASP.
All these factors together have clearly improved services to families but the overall shortage of RASP professionals remains a serious concern. The contributions made by the University of British Columbia in training BCBA’s has been extremely significant as BCBA’s with training in autism are able to supervise other behavior consultants. The role of ACT Advisory Council Member, Professor Pat Mirenda, in leading this initiative has been of great importance. Also significant has been the developments at Douglas College which will allow for the teaching of BA level courses in Applied Behavior Analysis in the near future.
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Dec. 31, 2004* |
Dec. 31, 2005 |
Dec. 31, 2006 |
Dec. 31, 2007 |
Removed in 2007 |
2006 increase over 2005 |
2007 increase over 2006 |
| Behaviour Consultants |
|
91 |
115 |
122 |
11 |
21% |
6% |
Speech Language Pathologists |
|
89 |
116 |
115 |
22 |
30% |
-1% |
Occupational Therapists |
|
52 |
72 |
80 |
14 |
38% |
9% |
Physical Therapists |
|
2 |
11 |
12 |
1 |
450% |
11% |
Behavior Consultants & Speech Pathologists |
|
7 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
0% |
0 |
Occupational & Physical Therapists |
|
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
-.5 |
-.5 |
Total |
183* |
242 |
314 |
337 |
49 |
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*Of the 183 professionals that ACT inherited in 2004, 83 either retired or were removed for not providing CRC (Criminal Record Check) information or because they could not be contacted.
A technical advance in 2007 has been the development of the RASP so that it is searchable by the professional’s community, name and professional status. Parents report that this is an improvement over a listing for each region.
ACT continues to maintain the grandfathered list for those ACT inherited in 2005 who did not qualify to be placed on the main RASP, either because they have insufficient qualifications or have not provided us with their qualifications. The new format for the RASP on the website that was implemented in 2007 means that they are not included on the main searchable list. It is a positive indication that the grandfathered list is dwindling.
ACT does encourage community professionals supporting families to look closely at the qualifications of professionals and not to encourage parents only to consider grandfathered professionals simply because they are the only people in their local community. Parents can be encouraged to pool their resources and bring in a professional from another region.
Grandfathered List |
Dec. 31, 2005 |
Dec. 31 2006 |
Dec. 31, 2007 |
Behavior Consultants |
22 |
16 |
13 |
In the spring of 2007 ACT suspended the RASP Profiles because of a lack of funding to add new profiles of behavior consultants. However, these were recognized by families as an important tool and in 2007 ACT maintained our commitment to reactivating the process by searching for new funding. At the end of 2007 there were 37 profiles of behavior consultants on the website. They are a frequently visited area of the website and many parents have found the format helpful in asking questions of BC’s who do not have profiles posted.
ACT established the RASP Advisory Panel in 2007 as a forum to discuss issues related to the RASP with representatives of parents, professionals and the Ministry for Children and Family Development. ACT would like to thank the members of the RASP Panel, especially those parents and professionals who have volunteered their time in order to improve the RASP.
- Chelsea Ganam – MCFD Representative
- Susan Perkin – MCFD Representative
- Deborah Pugh – ACT Representative
- Miriam Elfert, BCBA – EIBI Representative
- Nicholas Watkins, BCBA – Douglas College
- Pat Mirenda, BCBA – UBC
- Carol Ywan – Parent Representative – ESL Perspective
- Sue Henke – Parent Representative – Interior Perspective
- Shannon Muir – SLP – Member of CASLPA
- Mary-Ann Fulks – OT – Member of COTBC
- Dr. Gerry Kysela, Family Centred Practices
- Dr. David Batstone, VIHA - Diagnostician
- David Collyer – Victoria Parent of a school-age child with ASD
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