NASQN’s New Special Interest Groups: Building Communities for the Future of ABA Quality
- Bryant Silbaugh
- Jan 27
- 4 min read
Expanding the network....
At NASQN, our mission is to empower behavior analysts to deliver high-quality services through scientific management and robust quality assurance. We are building a future where every ABA provider is a champion of quality, and every individual receiving services experiences optimal outcomes.
Guided by our core values—opportunity, momentum, moonshots, accountability, and quality—we are excited to announce the launch of five transformative Special Interest Groups (SIGs).
These SIGs are designed to bring NASQN members together to tackle the biggest challenges in ABA, harness the power of collaboration, and drive progress toward our shared vision of becoming America’s leading safeguard for quality in the ABA service industry.
Here’s how each group contributes to this mission—and how you can get involved!
1. Practitioner Preparation SIG
Equipping the Next Generation of ABA Professionals
This SIG is dedicated to transforming how future behavior analysts are trained and prepared for their roles. It focuses on:
Advocating for Competency-Based Supervision: Ensuring practitioner certification, licensure, and credential renewal reflect real-world skills, not just test-taking ability.
Embedding Quality Management in Curricula: Introducing quality assurance as foundational knowledge in ABA undergraduate and graduate programs.
Reinforcing the “Analysis” in ABA: Advocating for certification standards requiring fluency in single-subject design and functional control over behavior.
Why it matters: By joining this SIG, you’ll help ensure future practitioners are prepared to deliver high-quality services, directly advancing NASQN’s mission to promote excellence in the field.
2. Strengthening Workforce SIG
Creating a Thriving, Sustainable ABA Workforce
This SIG could tackling some of the most pressing issues facing ABA professionals today, including:
Reducing Burnout and Turnover: Researching factors impacting workforce sustainability and advocating for industry-wide solutions.
Fostering Leadership: Supporting the growth of “quality” roles in ABA organizations to ensure that every provider has champions for service excellence.
Advocating for Fair Caseloads and Compensation: Fighting for increased reimbursement rates, lower caseloads, and better salaries to support practitioners’ well-being.
Why it matters: The sustainability of our workforce is critical to the future of ABA. Your participation in this SIG will help build momentum toward a stronger, more resilient field.
3. ABA Quality Research SIG
Advancing Data-Driven Improvements in Service Quality
This SIG is for members who are passionate about research and its role in improving ABA services. It focuses on:
Prioritizing Service Quality Research: Identifying key variables that impact service quality and promoting studies that inform evidence-based practices.
Sharing Knowledge: Publishing findings through journals, conferences, and professional development opportunities to disseminate best practices.
Why it matters: Quality research is the foundation of progress. Joining this SIG will allow you to contribute directly to the empirical advancements that will shape the future of ABA.
4. ABA for All Americans SIG
Breaking Down Barriers to Care
This SIG could help make ABA services accessible to everyone, regardless of diagnosis or location. Key initiatives include:
Expanding Access: Advocating for the removal of autism diagnosis requirements for ABA service coverage.
Increasing Representation: Supporting behavior analysts in securing roles in government to drive policy changes.
Fighting Insurance Restrictions: Combatting inappropriate treatment limits imposed by payors to ensure clients receive the care they need.
Why it matters: Accessibility is at the heart of NASQN’s vision. Your involvement will help create a future where ABA services are available to everyone who can benefit from them.
5. Empowering Small Businesses SIG
Leveling the Playing Field for Independent Providers
This SIG is committed to supporting small ABA providers by addressing systemic challenges such as:
Alternative Reimbursement Models: Advocating for payment structures that reward quality over quantity.
Reducing Administrative Burdens: Simplifying billing codes and expanding billable activities to let providers focus on client care.
Diminishing Private Equity Influence: Working to reduce the dominance of profit-driven ownership models in favor of long-term clinical quality.
Why it matters: Small businesses are the backbone of the ABA industry. This SIG empowers them to thrive while delivering the exceptional services our field demands.
Advancing NASQN’s Mission and Vision through SIGs
Our Special Interest Groups are more than just spaces for discussion—they are engines of action, innovation, and change. By actively participating in a SIG, you contribute directly to NASQN’s mission of empowering ABA professionals and advancing quality assurance. Your collaboration will help create opportunities, build momentum, and achieve the “moonshots” that will transform the ABA field.
Together, we can hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards of quality and ensure that NASQN continues to be a leading force for positive change.
Get Involved Today!
Whether you’re passionate about practitioner preparation, workforce sustainability, research, accessibility, or supporting small businesses, there’s a SIG for you!
Want to Join?
It’s easy -> SIGN UP FOR A 30 DAY FREE TRIAL SIG PASS.
Let’s work together to shape the future of ABA—one groundbreaking initiative at a time. 🚀
GET INVOLVED
Got Questions About ABA Service Quality? -> Submit your quality question to the ABA Quality Help Desk today!
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