Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Acceptance

Modeled after APBA’s Commitment to Diversity Equity and Social Justice (2020)

Approved by the Board of Directors on July 20, 2023

In light of recent events and discussions in our field and the larger society, the Florida Association for Behavior Analysts (FABA) reiterates its commitment to creating a culture that promotes behaviors that are consistent with the highest standards of our profession and the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (2020) Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts. We condemn all acts of discrimination, violence, hate, and oppression based on race, ethnicity, place of origin, language, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, political persuasion, culture, age, disability, or socioeconomic status.

As practitioners of behavior analysis, we are committed to creating environments that arrange positive reinforcement contingencies to enable all individuals to have safe, fulfilling, and productive lives. As an organization, we are committed to helping our field improve its efforts to include and support individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests, and to continue working together to bring about the systemic changes that are necessary to ensure safety and wellbeing for all. In keeping with our mission of advocating for public policies and supporting and protecting practitioners and consumers, FABA will work to operationalize those commitments by:

• Encouraging our members to acknowledge systemic bigotry in all forms and educate themselves about how it affects their own behavior, the behavior of others, and societal systems and practices;
• Advocating for public policies to enhance educational and professional opportunities in behavior analysis for members of diverse communities;
• Continuing to advocate for public policies that ensure equitable access to ABA services by consumers from diverse communities;
• Encouraging respectful, considerate discussion and debate grounded in an appreciation for diversity as well as healthy skepticism, facts, and scientific and ethical principles;
• Advocating for public policies to protect and support the practice of ABA with behavior analysts in the state of Florida;
• Increasing opportunities for education, professional development, and discussion on relevant topics at our annual conference, in webinars, and in other forums;
• Encouraging behavior analysts with diverse racial, gender, sexual, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds to run for open seats on the FABA Board of Directors and to serve on committees and workgroups;
• Continuing to advocate for safe and inclusive work environments for all behavior analysts, and;
• Continuing to foster the work of our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Acceptance (DEIA) Committee.