4 Must-Read Resources for ABA “Newbies”

Are you new to the world of ABA? Maybe you have just started seeing an ABA clinician or you have a loved one who is receiving ABA services. Or, maybe you’ve started doing some research on available services and are interested in learning more about ABA. Here, we’ve come up with 4 must-read resources that cover everything from understanding ABA to your rights as a client and caregiver to help you to navigate your ABA services journey.

1) Understanding ABA: A Quick Reference Guide on Applied Behaviour Analysis for Families

So you’ve heard about ABA, or you might have even started services. But what is Applied Behaviour Analysis exactly? This family-friendly resource offers a great overview of ABA as a science that focuses on “how environments can be adapted to promote the best possible outcomes for individuals, families, and communities”. Learn about the title of Behaviour Analyst, what they do, where they work, and who they work with. Wondering how ABA works? Learn about how Applied Behaviour Analysis is an evidence-based practice and what that means for yourself or your loved one. Learn about myths and facts about ABA, as well as the “Top 5 Features of an Effective ABA Program” (numbers 1 & 2 are all about collaborating with you!) 

2) Privacy: Do You Know Your Rights?

Privacy is an important aspect in all of our daily lives, and ABA services are no exception. Your clinician will need to know some information about yourself or your family to provide effective services, and there are clear guidelines on how they can use this information as well as who they can share it with. Keep yourself informed about your rights, including the right to privacy, the right to confidentiality, the right to decide, and the right to know the limits to confidentiality. Want to learn more? Take a look at this website  to learn about the Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.

3) Clinical Records: Access, Corrections, and Disputes

Any and all information about the behavioural services you or your family receive will be contained in what’s called a clinical record. This clinical record is the property of your ABA service provider, but you can access it too. Did you know that you can request access to your clinical records to see what it includes? Did you also know that once this request is made in writing, your clinician must respond within 30 days? Keep yourself informed so that you can access, correct, or dispute your clinical record the right way. 

4) Ethical Billing and Business Practices in Applied Behaviour Analysis

There are many resources that behaviour analysts can draw from to make sure they are engaging in ethical billing and business practices. The Behaviour Analyst Certification Board (BACB) has a Professional and Ethical Compliance Code that outlines how behaviour analysts and clinicians should set up their business practices in an ethical manner. This resource outlines the “Dos and Don’ts” of ethical billing and business practices that you should keep in mind when receiving ABA services. For example, behaviour analysts should always obtain informed written consent on billing and invoicing practices before starting services, provide invoices within a specific timeframe, and bill accurately and in a way that is easy for you and your family to understand. Be on the lookout for any clinician who tries to make retroactive changes to fees for services you have already received, invoices for services you never had, or invoices for hours of service that were never delivered.

All of the resources discussed here were created and made available by the Ontario Association of Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA). Want to learn more? Check out www.training.ontaba.org for more great ABA info!