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Safety & Attendee Experience

APBA STATEMENT ON SAFETY AND COMMUNITY AT THE APBA 2025 CONVENTION

The Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) is committed to fostering a community where all attendees feel safe, valued, and respected. As we prepare for our 2025 Convention in Dallas, we recognize that some members of our community may have concerns about travel and personal safety given the current social and political climate. Specifically, we want to make it clear that our trans colleagues and colleagues of diverse and varied nationalities, citizenships, and immigration statuses are an integral part of our profession. We see you. We see your contributions. We appreciate you. We are here for you.

Our goal is to ensure that the convention remains a welcoming and inclusive space for all behavior analysts, regardless of background, identity, or perspective. Let us know if it is unsafe for you to travel to attend in person because you are a valued part of our community, and we are here to support you as best we can. We offer a virtual registration option for those unable to attend in person, and we are committed to providing meaningful opportunities for virtual attendees to engage with conference content and connect with colleagues.

Additionally, we are actively working with the venue, local organizations, and our team to prioritize safety, provide resources, and uphold our values of professionalism and respect.

We encourage open dialogue and mutual support within our professional community and remain dedicated to making this event a positive experience for everyone. We have gathered resources to learn more about ways to respond to ICE encounters and for supporting trans individuals. Please consider spending some time reviewing these valuable resources so that we can all positively contribute to the safety of our community. If you have specific concerns or need assistance, please feel free to reach out to us at info@apbahome.net.

We look forward to gathering— in person and virtually—to advance our profession and strengthen our community connections.

 

With Respect and Support,

Tyra, Kiel, Events Committee, & APBA Board

 

Note – these resources are not exhaustive and do not represent endorsement by APBA. The resources and considerations are provided for informational purposes; individuals must use their judgment to navigate situations in which they find themselves. Note: the websites listed below provide resources in Spanish.

1. National Immigration Law Center (NILC)

2. ACLU – Know Your Rights: What to Do If You’re Stopped by ICE

3. United We Dream – Deportation Defense

4. Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)

5. RAICES (Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services)

6. National Immigration Project – Emergency Resources

  • Website: https://nipnlg.org
  • Provides legal training and advocacy for immigrant rights and deportation defense.

Note – these resources are not exhaustive, are provided for informational purposes, and do not represent endorsement by APBA.

1. National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE)

  • Website: https://transequality.org
  • Provides resources on legal rights, healthcare, workplace protections, and advocacy for transgender individuals.

2. Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF)

3. GLAAD

  • Website: https://glaad.org/transgender
  • Provides media guides and advocacy tools to support trans inclusivity and representation.

4. The Trevor Project (for Trans and LGBTQ+ Youth)

5. Trans Lifeline (Peer Support & Emergency Funds)

  • Website: https://www.translifeline.org
  • Phone: 877-565-8860 (U.S. and Canada)
  • Provides peer support and emergency financial aid for trans individuals in crisis.

6. Lambda Legal

  • Website: https://www.lambdalegal.org
  • Offers legal resources and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, including transgender-specific legal protections.

      Convention Behavior Expectations and Opportunities 

      • All presenters, attendees, exhibitors, and guests/companions are expected to follow APBA’s Code of Conduct. APBA is committed to creating welcoming and supportive spaces. If you experience a safety concern while at the convention, please find an APBA staff, Board Director, or volunteer as soon as possible to access support and complete Convention Safety Concern Report using the simple linked form. 

      • You should have an opportunity to ensure your name and pronouns are correctly displayed at check in, before you print your registration badge. If you have any issues at all, please chat with an APBA staff or volunteer, or a BehaviorLive staff. You can find them at the registration and information desks. 

      • When interacting with fellow attendees, presenters, and exhibitors, please demonstrate respect by using individuals’ proper names and pronouns, and by honoring boundaries related to social interactions. Some individuals need to set strict boundaries (e.g., wearing masks, maintaining social distance, minimizing or avoiding physical contact) for a variety of reasons and they deserve to be treated with love and respect. 

      • Quiet Room — Looking for a space to catch your breath, quietly watch a presentation using your headphones, engage in spiritual or religious practice during the convention? Head over to the Quiet Room. Please observe the following behavior expectations while in the Quiet Room: 

        • Keep your voice down 

        • Please do not use this room to make phone calls, unless it is an emergency 

        • If watching a video or listening to music or other audio content, you must wear headphones 

        • Do not take any photos or make any video or audio recordings while inside this room

      • Restrooms — We are proud that the restrooms in the hallway on the Atrium level where the breakout rooms are primarily located are all inclusive. You will notice that the restrooms on the main convention floor are gender-specific, as APBA must share this space.  

      • Service Assistance Animals — The Hyatt Regency Dallas happily welcomes services animals in all hotel areas, provided they are well trained and behaved. You may see some attendees with a service assistance animal or service animal in training. Please be respectful and control the urge to show your excitement and love for animals. Defer to the human companion to determine if it is all right for you to interact with the service assistance animal.

      Transportation 

      Shopping, Dining, and Fun 

      • Everywhere is Queer: Check out their interactive map or download their app to find queer-owned businesses 

      Safety - For medical or safety emergencies, call 911

      Report a Convention Safety Concern: Use the Convention Safety Concern Report form to file a report of a safety concern that is or did occur at the APBA convention. An APBA staff will follow up with you as quickly as they can. Please note that the form is not anonymous so that APBA staff can follow up with you directly to ensure that you get the support you need. 

      Additional Resources

      • Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center: Sexual Assault Hotline 24-hour phone support for crises, information, and emotional assistance, call (972) 641-7273 

      • For the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call or text 988 (Spanish and English) 

        • Deaf or HoH: You can reach out to 988 Videophone by calling 988 with a VP number or connecting through their web portal. 

      • Dallas Police Department