Eden Autism’s assistant director of Clinical Services was appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy to the initial State Board of Applied Behavior Analyst (ABA) Examiners.
The board is composed of six professionals who will be responsible for writing the regulations and issuing licenses in accordance with the Applied Behavior Analyst Licensing Act, which was signed into law in January 2020, according to information provided by Eden Autism in Princeton.
“The importance of the State Board of Applied Behavior Analyst Examiners cannot be understated. Gov. Murphy’s recognition of the contributions Lisa (Toole) will make to ensuring the well-being of individuals and families who receive ABA services is a source of pride for Eden,” Eden Autism President and CEO Michael Decker said in the statement.
In collaboration with the state Division of Consumer of Affairs, the board will regulate the practice of applied behavior analysis, take action against the improper, unauthorized, or unqualified practice of applied behavior analysis, and guard against unprofessional conduct by the licensed individuals who practice applied behavior analysis, according to the statement.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve the profession and to help move this forward for all practitioners in the state,” Toole said in the statement. “This is a really important step in terms of protection for our families and consumers of ABA services, and for organizations that offer them. With the licensure law, you can make sure that the practitioners across the state have the appropriate training and meet certain standards to be able to practice ABA.”
Toole has over 20 years’ experience in evidence-based behavioral and functional analysis/intervention, and programming for individuals with developmental disabilities and autism. Before joining Eden in 2020, Toole was a behavior analyst for Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center Outreach and held several positions within the Department of Behavioral Psychology at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, according to the statement.
In addition, she is certified in the administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Maryland Association for Behavior Analysis, and the New Jersey Association for Behavior Analysis.
Toole has authored or co-authored nine professional publications in peer-reviewed journals, one book chapter, and 65 professional presentations at national and international conferences.
