Rethink Autism Provides Distance BCBA Supervision to Candidates Seeking Certification in Behavior Analysis

NEW YORK, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1 in 110 children have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). That is a prevalence of about 1% or approximately 730,000 children aged birth to 21 who will be diagnosed with autism in the U.S.

Leading researchers and autism treatment providers agree that children with autism need increased access to evidence-based interventions, including applied behavior analysis (ABA). Endorsed by the US Surgeon General and the American Academy of Pediatrics, ABA is the only treatment for autism that has been consistently validated by independent scientific research.

However, there is a huge gap between the number of children with autism and the availability of evidence-based autism treatment. Gina Green, Ph.D., executive director of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, estimates that there are only approximately 4,900 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (who must be supervised by BCBAs) "worldwide" who work with individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

To help address the shortage of BCBAs, Rethink Autism (http://www.rethinkautism.com) is offering distance BCBA supervision to national and international candidates seeking certification in behavior analysis with the Board Analyst Certification Board (BACB).

Easy-to-use technology allows for distance supervision anywhere in the world through video conferencing, email, and video review. Many candidates seeking certification may not have a BCBA at their workplace, need a more affordable option, or live in a remote geographic area without access to supervised independent fieldwork that meets BACB standards and documentation.

"As the prevalence rates of autism are now estimated to be 1 in 110, we must identify innovative ways to address this national health crisis so that children with autism will receive the intervention they so desperately need," said Dr. Bridget Taylor, Senior Clinical Advisor and Board Chair of the Rethink Autism Scientific Advisory Board.

About Rethink Autism (http://www.rethinkautism.com)

Rethink Autism, Inc. seeks to ensure that every child on the autism spectrum has access to effective and affordable evidence-based treatment options by providing professionals, parents, and family members with the tools and information necessary to teach children with autism in a way that is easy to understand and apply. Rethink Autism was founded in 2007 and has its headquarters at 19 West 21st Street in New York City.

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SOURCE Rethink Autism, Inc.