Dr. Teresa Mulhern:

On regulation, there is currently quite a major issue because the term "applied behaviour analysis" is not regulated. Any of the members could leave this room right now and say they are an "applied behaviour analyst". This is not a protected term. I have seen in practice quite a few people claiming to be applied behaviour analysts but without the appropriate accreditation. The damage they have done with minimal knowledge of the behavioural principles has been extreme. Currently, two-day weekend courses are being provided that claim to teach everything people should know for applied behaviour analysis. Unfortunately, it is not that easy. Many people have taken important and difficult principles and applied them without understanding all the ethical undertones accompanying those principles. It is not possible to just go and intervene in people's behaviours without having thought of different hierarchies. In this sense, then, regulation is a massive issue for us now.