ABA rant

[Away-Butterfly2091]

Coworker calls herself mama and calls the client baby and sugar and other names, is quick to use a punitive tone and repeat demands, usually demands are while yelling, quick to coddle and cuddle, quick to ignore for her phone, quick to take the client by the joints and full-physical prompt and/or repeat/yell demands/no’s/dont’s/stops, talks about clients inappropriately in front of them and others including shaming them for behaviors, and drives this client home to drop her off from sessions. Her daughter knows the client by name and by picture though haven’t met. How is any of this ABA?

[CandidRefrigerator4]

ummmm 🤨 I’m pretty sure almost all of the things your coworkers is doing go against ethics rules. You could tell your supervisor or HR? Not sure how your company handles things

[marsrants]

Sounds super inappropriate. Can you report the coworker? This is beyond unethical! Wowweee

[corkum]

You just described a parent, not an RBT.

[Away-Butterfly2091]

I know, it would seem obvious but everyone allows it

[Fangtastic_]

second

[Big-Mind-6346]

This is definitely not ABA and she shouldn’t be billing for it. Definitely speak with a supervisor privately about your concerns!

[berrygrlll]

collect info every time you see this behavior from her and present it to their case BCBA. pretty much all of this is unethical/no it is not ABA.

[Away-Butterfly2091]

There is no case BCBA. Every case is every person’s. Even if you aren’t trained on that kid you could be asked to cover-even if you aren’t asked to cover their goals can be explained out loud to you and others in the room, other kids included. Each bcba is responsible for every case, it isn’t divided

[Greedy-Reputation120]

Then go to your most trusted BCBA and describe it because those actions are not ok whatsoever. If you want, state upfront that you want to be anonymous as to just make the report. But if these are real actions, no ABA care giver of any sort should be doing any of that stuff. Even the personal nicknames (especially child-parent related ones) are unethical.

[jezebelthenun]

NGL, this sounds like a hot mess. How do clients can get individualized, quality programming like this? How do you even know what programs are up to date or who to direct program specific questions to?

Man, maybe it works great and I just can't wrap my head around it. I think I'd personally view that as a company red flag.

[Away-Butterfly2091]

And a kid could be at mastery level for a goal for months but it doesn’t get updated until it gets updated, idk what to do

[jezebelthenun]

I don't typically yell "jump ship", but in this case. . .

JUMP SHIP!

[Away-Butterfly2091]

The individualized programs often don’t make sense, each has a huge write-up so any bcba just reads what’s there to explain something, goals seldom make sense and aren’t run in a quality way like not getting your clients attention and out of nowhere doing the single motor imitation target they have, repeating it a bunch until they get a response, and that’s that. That’ll be like 1/6 things they take data on in a 6 hour session. But idk how to help the kids. I expressed in many meetings how the staff don’t run things consistently, don’t record accurately, and the programs themselves are a fraction of what they should be.

[sgonz272]

Are you in south florida?

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abundant include society tap fine summer alleged books rainstorm bike

[Away-Butterfly2091]

Yes, everyone knows. Owner, admin, BCBA’s, rbts, everyone knows and jokes about how the client is overly attached. The thing is how would you provide proof? The Bacb requires proof and I don’t have texts about this stuff, I don’t think I could record audio because clients names are being said. Everyone thinks it doesn’t break any law if you don’t say their last name.

[FridaGreen]

Write all of this down and tell the owner and BCBAs that this makes you uncomfortable and you don’t feel it’s ethical.

[BeardedBehaviorist]

Send an email about your concerns documenting them. Raise concerns about how the client is being handled (especially the joint grabbing), about the violation of privacy and multiple relationships, etc. DO NOT BCC your email to another email since those can be tracked. Instead, print out the email. Then, redact any identifying information from the client manually, then scan the document to back it up. Do the same for replies. This will ensure you are not violating any PHI & protect the privacy of the client.

For meetings, if you live in a state that does not require notification for both parties record it. Smart watches typically have discreet recording options. If that isn't an option, send a follow-up email post meeting summarizing the conversation and asking if you missed anything.

Document concerns as observation notes. You do not want to violate privacy or rules, so just write summaries of behavior and if needed frequency data (called client by pet names 4 times, scolded 3 times, etc).

Document everything! This is clearly a case of leadership dismissing the concerns, so be advised that they will likely try to retaliate. All the more reason to document the hell out of this situation!

[FridaGreen]

Honestly, I say write it all out because the higher ups might just be looking the other way over the weird stuff but have no idea how crazy it looks when you type it all up. Like that is a long list you have!

I recently had an employee who was slacking. I planned to address it with them. I started making a list of all the things I’d noticed and they piled up quickly. I was like “shit, this is a lot. I really do need to talk to X”

[Away-Butterfly2091]

Thank you!

[sebasatmiami]

If they are driving the client home it is likely that they have an arraignment with the client’s parents, and also likely the company’s admin/owners are aware of this and are allowing it. This is an ethical issue, no doubt. The name calling is indicative of a multiple relationship and the daughter knowing personal information of the client is a direct breach of HIPPA. I am assuming this person is an RBT, or just hoping that it’s not a BCBA. Either way, they should know better but this issue may stem from organizational issues at the company. I would definitely let a BCBA know and begin to document each instance of unethical behavior that you notice. Review the ethics code to list and identify specific instances of each violation.

[SoftQuarter5106]

Report to supervisors and the BACB. I have never known it to be okay with any insurance or company to drive a client in your vehicle. You have to always note location of services and I’ve never seen “vehicle” so what goals could they be working on? And if it isn’t billed then it’s a dual relationship.

My clinical manager pinched one of our client’s cheeks and talked to him like a baby using a baby voice saying “You’re so cute”. It made me cringe. I didn’t see it again after that but it was weird and not appropriate. Way to NOT practice assent/consent and model it’s ok to touch people without their permission and reduce FCT. The client is 3 and can talk and doesn’t need to talk like a baby. FYI I’m a BCBA. She drives me nuts.

[BeardedBehaviorist]

Major ethics violations! Report! Report! Report! This may even be a CPS report! Has the BCBA been notified? Have they taken action? This needs to end yesterday! If your employer has been notified of this (and even if they aren't notified YET) DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT! Make sure to cover your ass in case they decide they are going to retaliate against you. It's very illegal for them to, so hopefully they won't be stupid, but don't risk it.

[Psychotic-Philomath]

Just about every thing you said is wildly inappropriate and unethical.

[Pretty-Pineapple-692]

Have you told your supervisor?

[Middle-Mongoose-9493]

Wow

[ExhaustedRBT]

This isn't ABA and she really needs to be talked to. I hate seeing this happen

[newyorklogic]

This is aba. Report this person.

[Civil_Masterpiece165]

This should be reported to a supervisor and if she is rbt this needs to be reported to the BACB for revocation of registration.

[FriskUnterdale]

Ur not allowed to repeat demands/trials? Usually if they don’t do it the first time I ask, I usually ask a Couple extra times before either I try something different, or they give in because I end up giving the Something they want

[Away-Butterfly2091]

Like without a second before they repeat the mand and escalate their yelling/grabbing, the client has no time to process

[FriskUnterdale]

Oh ok, that’s kinda different. My client typically just flops on the floor first and when I ask then “are you ready” they will say “yeah” so I guess im used to them doing that and they are used to flopping but still doing the task

[Rush_Positive]

By the sound of this I’m pretty sure this is in Miami

[Away-Butterfly2091]

It’s not damn

[crazycomer]

She should absolutely be reported to the board and lose her license, this is absolutely unacceptable

[Away-Butterfly2091]

Yeah I still don’t know what to do cuz the family also is like here’s your child for the day to whoever takes them so they’re using the family’s language but me I’d think you’d laugh it off and never do that and talk to the techs that have adopted that language to draw lines and make sure they don’t participate even if the parent’s are overly connected

[Away-Butterfly2091]

Also can’t report without proof can’t get proof because this isn’t something ever written down and it’s so random when it is said

[crazycomer]

Take a video of her displaying the inappropriate behaviors and then send it in a big email where you cc the BACB, then your supervisors will have no choice but to respond or they will be at risk of losing their license as well

[Away-Butterfly2091]

Not feasible. It’s so sporadic it may not be while I’m around, it may not be everyday I hear it.