This comparison draws in part from “The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, Staff and Families” by Brittney Farley, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA (BehaviorLive), and extends it with peer-reviewed research from our library of 27,900+ ABA research articles. The decision framework, BACB ethics code references, and cross-links below are synthesized by Behaviorist Book Club.
View the original presentation →One of the most consequential decisions a behavior analyst makes is not just what intervention to use, but how to approach the clinical question in the first place. For the use of telehealth in supporting culturally diverse clients, staff and families, the difference between an evidence-based, individualized approach and a traditional, protocol-driven one can significantly impact outcomes.
This guide lays out the key factors side by side to support your clinical decision-making.
| Factor | Evidence-Based Approach | Traditional Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Observation quality | For The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, structured telehealth sessions with direct observation and caregiver coaching keeps decision-making tied to what the BCBA can actually observe during the remote session. | For The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, remote service delivery driven mostly by convenience and verbal summary leaves the clinician relying too heavily on retrospective description and partial context. |
| Caregiver role | In The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, caregivers know what to set up, what to do in session, and what to practice afterward, so remote coaching has a clear job to perform. | In The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, caregiver participation is vague, which makes the session feel busy without changing what happens between appointments. |
| Session fit | For The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, the telehealth format is matched to targets that can be coached, observed, and reviewed at a distance. | For The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, the same remote format is used whether or not the target actually fits distance-based service delivery. |
| Clinical boundaries | With The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, the BCBA can define what requires direct observation, what can be coached remotely, and when in-person or interdisciplinary support is more appropriate. | With The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, remote convenience blurs the line between what telehealth can support well and what requires a different service arrangement. |
| Privacy and consent | For The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, consent, setting privacy, and technology expectations are explicit enough that remote services stay clinically and ethically reviewable. | For The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, privacy and consent are assumed rather than verified, which increases risk once ordinary home variables enter the session. |
| Carryover | In The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, the session is valuable because it improves what caregivers and staff do between appointments, not just what happens on camera. | In The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, success depends on the call itself and weakens once the learner and caregivers are back in everyday routines. |
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Use this framework when approaching the use of telehealth in supporting culturally diverse clients, staff and families in your practice:
Does the data support a need for intervention? Is there a meaningful impact on the individual's quality of life, safety, or access to reinforcement?
YES → Proceed to assessment NO → Document reasoning, monitor
A functional assessment should guide intervention selection. Avoid defaulting to standard protocols without individual analysis. Consider environmental variables, setting events, and private events.
YES → Select evidence-based approach matched to function NO → Complete assessment first
Goals should be co-developed. Assent and informed consent are ethical requirements. The individual's preferences and values matter in selecting both goals and methods.
YES → Proceed with collaborative plan NO → Engage in shared decision-making
This course covers the clinical and ethical dimensions in detail with structured learning objectives and CEU credit.
The Use of Telehealth in Supporting Culturally Diverse Clients, Staff and Families — Brittney Farley · 1 BACB General CEUs · $30
Take This Course →We extended this decision guide with research from our library — dig into the peer-reviewed studies behind each approach, in plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
256 research articles with practitioner takeaways
244 research articles with practitioner takeaways
233 research articles with practitioner takeaways
1 BACB General CEUs · $30 · BehaviorLive
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.