Solidarity Statement
The Asian and Pacific Islander Association for Behavior Analysis (APIABA) stands in solidarity with the Black Applied Behavior Analysts (BABA) organization and other advocacy groups in strongly opposing the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) decision to remove Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) requirements from both certification coursework and continuing education.
Cultural responsiveness is not optional—it is an ethical imperative. Many of the communities we serve, including those of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, face systemic barriers in healthcare, education, and behavior analytic services. Our field must equip behavior analysts with the necessary skills to provide effective, culturally competent care. Removing DEI requirements from both certification coursework and CEUs undermines this responsibility and signals a disregard for the lived experiences of historically marginalized populations.
This decision reflects a broader pattern in which institutions deprioritize equity when it becomes inconvenient. API communities have long experienced exclusion—from restrictive immigration laws to the erasure of our voices in critical policy decisions. We cannot allow this erasure to extend into the practice of behavior analysis.
Embedding cultural and contextual responsiveness within the ethics category, without increasing CEU or coursework requirements, dilutes the importance of these topics. Furthermore, restricting DEI-related content to behavior-analytic literature limits interdisciplinary dialogue, innovation, and perspectives that could strengthen our field.
APIABA calls on the BACB to reinstate a dedicated DEI requirement in both certification coursework and continuing education, affirming its commitment to an inclusive, equitable future for behavior analysis. We will continue to advocate for practices that prioritize cultural humility and ethical responsibility, ensuring that all communities receive the quality care they deserve.
Please read Black Applied Behavior Analysts (BABA) Response to the removal of DEI requirements below.
