What Families Can Expect During ABA Services: Rights, Questions, and Best Practices

Here’s a comprehensive guide for families receiving ABA services, covering what to expect, questions to ask, rights to know, and best practices for maximizing your child’s progress.

What to Expect During ABA Sessions

Initial Sessions and Assessment

Relationship Building Phase: The first few ABA sessions focus heavily on “pairing” - establishing a positive therapeutic relationship between your child and the therapist. Therapists engage in free-form play without giving instructions, allowing your child to become comfortable and build trust.

Comprehensive Assessment Process: Before treatment begins, a detailed assessment identifies your child’s strengths, challenges, and specific areas needing improvement. This may include:

• Direct observation of play and interaction

• Skill assessments across developmental areas

• Parent interviews about home routines and concerns

• Standardized assessments like VB-MAPP or ABLLS-R

Typical Session Structure

Session Components: Each ABA session is specifically designed by your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and implemented by Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). Sessions typically include:

• Warm-up activities to help your child feel comfortable and engaged

• Structured learning activities targeting specific goals from the treatment plan

• Play-based learning using positive reinforcement techniques

• Physical activity bursts for regulation and engagement

• Data collection throughout all activities to track progress

Individualized Approach: Every session looks different based on your child’s individualized treatment plan, and therapists go at your child’s pace. The majority of the session centers around activities your child enjoys while working on specific skills.

Family Rights During ABA Services

Six Basic Client Rights in ABA Therapy

1. Right to Effective Treatment: Your child deserves evidence-based interventions that lead to meaningful improvements in their daily life.

2. Right to Dignity and Respect: Your child should be treated with respect, recognizing their individual worth and unique needs at all times.

3. Right to Privacy and Confidentiality: All information about your child and family must be kept confidential according to HIPAA regulations.

4. Right to Informed Consent: You must fully understand the nature, objectives, procedures, potential risks, and benefits of treatment before agreeing to services. You can withdraw consent at any time.

5. Right to Be Informed of Risks: You have the right to know about any potential short-term and long-term risks or side effects of therapy.

6. Right to Choose Treatment: You have the right to participate in decisions about treatment, select therapeutic interventions, choose therapists, and determine the setting for therapy.

Data Access and Transparency Rights

Progress Data Access: You have the right to regular updates on your child’s progress, including access to data collected during sessions. ABA therapy relies on systematic data collection, and this information should be shared transparently with families.

Treatment Plan Involvement: You should be actively involved in developing and modifying your child’s treatment goals and intervention strategies. Your insights about your child’s preferences, strengths, and challenges are essential for creating effective programs.

Essential Questions to Ask Your ABA Provider

About Qualifications and Staffing

Therapist Credentials:

• Is therapy overseen by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)?

• What qualifications and experience do Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) have?

• How often will the BCBA be directly involved in sessions?

• What is the staff-to-client ratio?

Training and Supervision:

• How do you train your staff?

• What level of education and certification do staff members hold?

• How is ongoing supervision provided?

About Treatment and Progress

Assessment and Goal Setting:

• What assessment tools will you use to evaluate my child?

• How are treatment goals developed and who is involved in this process?

• How often are goals reviewed and updated?

• Can I participate in goal-setting meetings?

Progress Measurement:

• How is my child’s progress measured and monitored?

• What data collection methods do you use?

• How often will I receive progress reports?

• Can I access session data regularly?

About Family Involvement

Parent Training and Support:

• Do you offer parent training programs?

• How can I implement ABA strategies at home?

• Will I receive coaching on specific techniques?

• How do you support families in generalizing skills across settings?

Communication and Collaboration:

• How often will we have meetings to discuss progress?

• What is your process for addressing concerns or questions?

• How do you coordinate with schools and other providers?

Best Practices for Families

Active Family Participation

Consistency Across Settings: The most effective ABA programs involve families implementing learned strategies at home and in community settings. This consistency helps children generalize skills beyond therapy sessions.

Regular Communication: Establish clear, open communication with your child’s BCBA and RBTs. Discuss concerns, ask questions, and actively participate in treatment planning discussions.

Home Implementation: Learn and practice ABA techniques at home, including positive reinforcement strategies, prompting procedures, and behavior management approaches.

Data Collection and Monitoring

Home Data Tracking: Some programs may ask parents to collect simple data at home to track skill generalization. This might include:

• Frequency of specific behaviors

• Success with daily routines

• Communication attempts

• Social interactions

Progress Reviews: Attend regular collaboration meetings to discuss progress, address challenges, and adjust treatment plans as needed.

Quality Indicators to Monitor

Session Documentation: Quality ABA providers maintain detailed session notes documenting interventions used, your child’s responses, data collected, and progress toward goals.

Safety Protocols: Ensure your provider has appropriate safety measures in place, including protocols for behavior management without physical restraint and safe environment arrangements.

Accreditation: Look for providers with BHCOE (Behavioral Health Center of Excellence) accreditation or similar quality certifications.

What Good ABA Services Look Like

Evidence-Based Practices

Positive Reinforcement Focus: Quality ABA prioritizes positive reinforcement over punitive methods, using naturalistic learning approaches and skill generalization across settings.

Data-Driven Decisions: All interventions should be supported by data, with regular analysis to guide treatment modifications.

Individualized Programming: Treatment plans should be based on comprehensive assessments and tailored to your child’s unique needs, preferences, and family values.

Family-Centered Approach

Collaborative Goal Setting: Quality providers involve families from the start, seeking consent, respecting child assent, and incorporating family priorities into treatment planning.

Cultural Responsiveness: Services should respect your family’s cultural background, values, and preferences.

Empowerment Focus: Good ABA services empower families with knowledge, skills, and confidence to support their child’s development beyond therapy sessions.

Red Flags to Watch For

Lack of Family Involvement: Be cautious of providers who don’t actively involve families or seem resistant to questions and feedback.

No Progress Data: Quality ABA services provide regular, objective data on your child’s progress. Lack of data sharing is a significant concern.

Rigid Approaches: Avoid providers who use one-size-fits-all approaches or refuse to modify interventions based on your child’s individual needs.

Poor Communication: Quality providers maintain open, regular communication with families and respond promptly to concerns.

The key to successful ABA services is a true partnership between families and providers, with shared decision-making, transparent communication, and a focus on meaningful outcomes that improve your child’s daily life and future independence.