Assent-based practice has emerged as one of the most discussed and yet most misunderstood concepts in contemporary behavior analysis. The term appears frequently in professional discourse, conference presentations, and social media discussions, often accompanied by strong opinions but limited operational precision.
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Join Free →The Ethics code for Behavior Analysts indicates ethical requirements connected to assent-based practices stating that behavior analysts should: "involve clients and relevant stakeholders throughout the service relationship" (p. 11), while "respecting and actively promoting clients' self-determination to the best of their abilities, particularly when providing services to vulnerable populations, as well as "acknowledging that personal choice in service delivery is important by providing clients and stakeholders with needed information to make informed choices about services", "act in the best interest of learners, taking appropriate steps to support learners' rights, maximize benefits, and do no harm..."( p.4) and "obtain informed consent, and assent when applicable" (p. 13) (Behavior Analyst Certification Board, 2020). With the increase in discussions, literature, and research around assent-based practices within the field of ABA and other fields there has also naturally arose a call for clarification around what assent-based practices are and when they are "applicable". This presentation will leverage the existing literature (e.g., Breaux, & Smith, 2023; Flowers, & Dawes, 2023) and clinical experiences to facilitate a discussion towards a better understanding of assent and offer an overview of definitions related to assent as a set of practices, an overview of behavioral indicators and their meaning to those practices, and the parameters of assent regarding social validity, clinical considerations, and safety. The conditions under which assent ties into practices you are likely already implementing to facilitate a quality learning relationship with your clients will also be discussed. In addition, gaps within the current literature on assent procedures will also be highlighted to pinpoint some areas where more information appears necessary. Throughout this discussion, common myths and misconceptions of assent-based practices will also be reviewed along with ways to navigate these scenarios within your own practice, as well as when faced with misunderstandings that arise regarding assent-based practices from professionals with whom we collaborate.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | Ethics |
Dr. Candice Colón serves as the Director of Research and oversees peer review and continuing education at LEARN Behavioral. She received her doctoral degree from Western New England University and a Master of Science degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Northeastern University. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of severe behavior for children and adolescents and has experience providing and overseeing clinical and training practices in insurance-based home and community settings as well as private school and residential settings. In addition, Dr. Colón has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Bay Path University and is a Co-Founder of Resilience Skill Building, an ABA-based executive function skills coaching company. Her research interests include treatment/procedural integrity, training, and professional development practices, the assessment and treatment of interfering behavior, executive function skills, health related skills (e.g., toileting and sleep hygeine) and designing such procedures to be efficient, socially valid, and practical across settings. Her research is published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) and Behavioral Interventions. She has presented at national and regional conferences and also serves as a reviewer for journals such as The Analysis of Verbal Behavior (TAVB), Behavioral Interventions, and JABA. Since 2017, Dr. Colón has also served on the BABAT Board of Directors to support Massachusetts Professionals in Behavior Analysis. In her spare time, she enjoys running, coaching track & field, reading, coloring, and spending time with her husband, daughters, and their dogs.
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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.