Vivian Ibañez

Professional Biography

I am a behavior analyst with 18 years of experience in severe behavior disorders, 12 of them as a BCBA and 7 practicing here in Florida. I currently serve as Clinical Director of a pediatric feeding program, overseeing short-term ABA services for children who need specialized care for their feeding difficulties. In this role, my work includes administrative oversight of operations, clinical supervision of RBTs and BCBAs, family guidance support, multidisciplinary collaboration, and supervision of student fieldwork hours. Although I practice in a specialized area, my postdoctoral training put me in direct contact with BCBAs statewide. I traveled throughout Florida conducting peer review of center-based ABA services, giving me firsthand knowledge of the needs practitioners and families face across our state. I have also consulted with many ABA providers over the years to assist with complex cases. These experiences led me to ongoing public policy work, such as engaging with legislators, attending AHCA public meetings, educating payor representatives on medically necessary services, and serving on professional boards with strong advocacy records. Working directly with payors as an ABA provider has shaped my understanding of how families and providers navigate that system. Finally, wearing my other professional hat as UF faculty, I have strengthened my communication skills and secured grant funding for research examining how stakeholders, including parents and healthcare providers, want to receive information about ABA. Collectively, these experiences position me to represent the full range of FABA's membership, navigate recent and coming changes in Florida's ABA landscape, and advocate for practice standards that protect both providers and the families who depend on us.

I have served FABA as Member at Large for the past three years and contributed to several of its committees, including Public Policy and Conference Planning. I also took part in FABA's strategic planning in 2024, which gave me perspective on FABA's mission development. Through the Membership Committee, I assisted with updates to the Constitution and Bylaws to clarify membership categories and broaden Board representation for RBTs and Service Advocates. As current chair of the Membership Committee, my focus is establishing a community forum where members can communicate with each other and with the Board about their needs and priorities. Beyond FABA, I serve on APBA's Board of Directors, collaborating on event planning and development of practitioner resources. I also serve as President of ABAI's Pediatric Feeding Disorders Special Interest Group, another form of commitment to supporting practitioners seeking guidance and community in specialized applications of behavior analysis.

I am seeking the role of President-Elect as a next step in my commitment to FABA and its membership. My time on the Board, combined with my work as a service provider, has made me acutely aware of the shifts reshaping our care systems in Florida. The institutional knowledge I have gained helps me understand how FABA operates, while my provider perspective keeps me attentive to the changes we need. I have a track record of communicating across audiences, from legislators and payors to practitioners and families, which positions me to represent FABA's membership in diverse contexts. Working as a practitioner while growing a clinic has shown me the multiple roles our members balance. Overseeing complex cases and consulting across the state keep me mindful of how member needs may differ along a continuum of variables and across regions of Florida. I know what it feels like to work through every step of supporting families in service access and how complex that process can be. My goals center on communication and Florida families' access to care, especially amid changes in ABA coverage policies at the state level and following the proposed Adaptive Behavior Services CPT code updates. I want to strengthen how we communicate with our membership and with those positioned to influence desirable change. I will also work to expand how FABA engages our membership throughout the year, building on current offerings (e.g., town hall meetings) and growing other formats (e.g., practitioner resources). Finally, my perspective as a Latina practitioner strengthens my commitment to improving access for different communities in FL. As a Spanish speaker, I can contribute directly to expanding our Spanish-language resources, while working toward materials in other languages as regional needs indicate.