How To Interview Your ABA Provider

Finding the qualified ABA provider that best meets your individual and family needs

ABA therapy is an important and often crucial investment into your child’s future. Like any educational investment, it is important that you consider the risks and benefits when making a decision. When it comes to ABA, there are many choices to be made – how much therapy, how often, what skills to focus on, what location? These decisions are difficult because the outcome is unknown. However, it is certain that you as a parent/caregiver ultimately want to make the best decision that will lead to the best outcome for your child. With that being said, your decisions start with choosing the right ABA provider for your family. 

There are many reputable ABA professionals/organizations out there, and it’s essential to be able to identify what makes them qualified because this directly correlates with the quality of care your child deserves. However, each individual family/client has needs, and the decision is not to find the best qualified ABA provider, but finding the qualified ABA provider that best meets your individual and family needs. 

Questions to ask your potential ABA provider

Below is a checklist of questions to ask your potential ABA provider.

Qualifications:

1. What are the qualifications of your supervisors? How many supervisors do you have?

2. How often do the supervisors supervise? What does this look like? 

3. What are the qualifications of your front line staff? 

4. Do staff receive internal training in ABA? If so, what type of training and support? 

5. Does your organization have an ethical code of conduct? 

6. Do you have a document outlining your ethics and staff expectations? 

Therapy:

1. What does a typical session look like for my child? 

2. How many people will work with my child?

3. What types of assessments do you use? Are these assessments standardized? 

4. How do you report progress? Can I see the reporting of progress (e.g. the data)?

5. What is your transition/discharge policy? 

6. Do you have a document outlining your policies related to therapy?

7. Does your organization provide SLP/OT/Psychological/Etc. services to help support my child? If not, are you able to refer us to third-part professionals, if needed.

Parent Involvement:

1. Will I be part of the behaviour plan development?

2. Who do I communicate with if I have questions? 

3. Am I able to observe my child in session? 

4. How do you communicate with parents about daily updates? 

5. Do you offer parent coaching or training? If so, what does this look like? 

6. Do you have a document outlining your policies related to parent involvement?

Safety:

1. What training does your staff have for emergency situations (e.g First Aid, At Risk Intervention Training)

2. How do you communicate if there is an emergency or injury? 

3. Does your organization have safety protocols in place for emergency type situation (e.g. Fire, Emergency Evacuation)

4. What is your client illness policy? 

5. Do you have a document outlining your health and safety policies? 

Billing:

1. What are your current prices for services?

2. What is your current billing system?

3. How do you accept payments? 

4. How do you deal with late payments? 

5. Are you an approved provider for funding (e.g OAP approved provider)

6. Do you accept insurance?

7. Do you have a document outlining your billing policies?

Scheduling:

1. What are your hours of operation?

2. What environments do you provide support in? 

3. Do you have a minimum number of hours per session? A minimum number of hours per week? 

4. Do you require a contract/long term commitment? 

5. What is your cancellation policy? 

6. Do you have a document outlining your scheduling policies?

ABA Provider Red Flags

Its important to be alert when an ABA provide makes claims about your child’s progress.

1. Communication is extremely delayed or even worse, ignored. 

2. Communication is vague or unclear, with no clarification provided when asked. 

3. Policies and procedures are inconsistent or not communicated 

4. Supervisors do not provide support to front line staff. 

5. Supervisors make promises to work on skills and do not follow through

6. Supervisors ignore client values/family values and make major treatment decisions without consultation 

7. Progress is not tracked or shared.

The relationship isn’t meant to last a lifetime 

It’s also important to remember that your ABA provider is not meant to be in a relationship with you forever.  “No one organization has the ability to bring about and sustain the support needed to significantly improve the quality of life of individuals with ASD and their families” (ONTABA, 2017). It is important for parents/caregivers to understand that your child’s therapy is a process and journey. The support systems you have in place for your child will change over time, just as your child’s needs and your family needs will change. 

Here are questions to consider when evaluating your current ABA provider: 

1. Has your child met their therapeutic goals and/or made progress towards the goals outlined in your treatment plan? Is the progress socially significant to your child and your family?

2. What are your current family values and goals for your child? Have these recently been addressed with your provider and does your current treatment plan reflect them? 

3. Are there specific goals your family/your child has that cannot be targeted with your current provider due to barriers (e.g. location, training)?

4. Are you on the same page as your provider?

• Do you agree on the same goals? 
• Do you agree with the policies in place?
• Are you able to work together collaboratively and respectfully?

Always Connected is here to help support this process! Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions on how to best navigate this process. 

Want to learn more? Book a free consultation with one of our directors by emailing info@alwaysconnectedtn.ca.