Adherence to and/or Violations of Section 5: Responsibility in Public Statements

In this unit, you learned about the importance of making accurate public statements about ABA. It is also critical to consider confidentiality in public statements when using testimonials. You must consider social media channels and websites to be sure to only advertise behavior analytic services. Unit 8 also emphasizes the importance of protecting the rights of clients, stakeholders, supervisees, and trainees in all public statements.
Scenario
Jeremy is developing his own behavior analytic company, the only one within a radius of 100 miles. He believes his new company will take off due to the high demand of the local population for applied behavior analysis (ABA) services and the distance to other behavior analytic companies.
He has already hired one Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and five Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). The BCBA will conduct the Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and design the behavior intervention plans (BIPs) based upon the function of the target behaviors identified through the FBA. Of course, since business is sure to be good, the RBTs may have to assume some responsibility for conducting the FBAs. He can provide them with bonuses based upon the additional duties.
Advertising is essential to any new company, and Jeremy wants to get the word out in a big way. He decides to place an ad in all the hometown newspapers listing the services his company will provide. Of course, Jeremy will list acquisition and reduction programs, Functional Communication Training (FCT), and since floor time and facilitated communication are so popular now, he will list these as well. He can learn about those therapy approaches as the clients request them. After all, the primary purpose of advertising is to get noticed. He has a colleague who is not a BCBA that suggests advertising that his clinic can significantly minimize autism and possibly cure symptoms.
To ensure the revenue is adequate for the start-up, he will require the BCBA to request a minimum of 10 direct service hours per client per week, providing a healthy beginning.
Discussion
Assess Jeremy’s behavior for adherence to and/or violations of Section 5: Responsibility in Public Statements. Discuss the codes to which he is adhering and those that he is violating. Explain the behaviors he is engaging with that support your assessment. How might Jeremy correct any violations to return to compliance with the Code?
References
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2020). Ethics code for behavior analysts.
Bailey, J.S., &Burch, M(2022).Ethics for behavior analysts(4th ed).