The Virginia Association for Behavior Analysis Public Policy Committee suggests that the definition of Applied Behavior Analysis be added to these definitions of the Early Intervention regulations 12VAC35-225-20:

 

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) - The design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental modifications using the principles and methods of behavior analysis to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior, including the use of direct observation, measurement, and functional analysis of the relationship between environment and behavior.  This service is tiered in that unlicensed persons typically deliver the intervention under the supervision of a licensed assistant behavior analyst and/or licensed behavior analyst. 

 

While Licensed Behavior Analysts can currently provide some services under the umbrella of early intervention in Virginia, allowing the full practice of ABA for children with developmental disabilities under the age of three.  There is a large body of research showing the efficacy and ultimately money-saving (over the lifetime) effects of ABA when used in early intervention for children with autism and other developmental disabilities.