You are not a passive recipient of your child's care — you are an active, essential participant with specific rights throughout the entire treatment relationship. Here's what you're entitled to.
Your Rights, Explicitly
| Right | What It Means in Practice |
|---|---|
| Access to your child's data | You can request and review actual progress data, not just verbal summaries |
| Involvement in goal-setting | Treatment goals should reflect your family's priorities, not be imposed unilaterally |
| Informed consent | You must be informed of and consent to the treatment plan and any significant changes |
| To ask questions at any time | You can ask about credentials, methods, or approach at any point, not just at intake |
| To decline or modify services | You are not locked into a plan you disagree with |
| Privacy protection | Your family's information is protected under HIPAA — see our HIPAA page |
| To request a second opinion | You can seek outside clinical input at any time without it disrupting current care |
| To end services | You can discontinue services at any point, with a reasonable transition process |
Your Right to Understand the "Why"
You're entitled to a clear explanation — not just of what your child is working on, but why. If a goal, strategy, or approach isn't clearly explained in a way you understand, you have the right to ask for that explanation, as many times as needed.
Your Right to Disagree
If you disagree with a specific goal, strategy, or aspect of your child's treatment plan, that disagreement should be taken seriously and discussed directly with your BCBA — not dismissed or treated as something to simply comply with. This is your child, and your perspective on what matters for their life carries real weight.
Your Right to See Real Progress Data
As covered in our Clinical Standards page, you should never have to rely on vague reassurance in place of actual data. You can ask to see the graphs, records, and specific metrics behind any claim of progress at any time.
Your Right to Consistent Communication
You're entitled to know how and how often you'll hear from your child's team, and to have that communication actually happen as described — not left to chance or dependent on you repeatedly following up.
Your Right to Transition or Discontinue Care
If you decide to switch providers or discontinue ABA services entirely, you're entitled to a reasonable transition — including access to your child's records and a professional handoff process, not obstruction or pressure to continue against your wishes.
How to Exercise These Rights
Every right on this page is something you can act on simply by asking directly — there's no formal request process required for most of these. If you ever feel a right on this page isn't being honored, we want to know directly and immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request a copy of my child's treatment plan and data?
Yes. This information belongs to your family, and you're entitled to review it.
What if I want a second opinion on my child's treatment plan?
You're free to seek this at any time. A confident provider should not discourage or resist this — it's a normal, reasonable part of managing your child's care.
Can I be present during sessions?
Yes, particularly for in-home ABA — your presence and involvement is a natural, expected part of the model, not something you need special permission for.
What happens to my child's records if we switch providers?
You're entitled to a professional transfer of relevant records, consistent with HIPAA requirements, to support continuity of care with a new provider.
References
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) — patient rights to access and control of health information
- Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) — Ethics Code provisions on informed consent and client rights