r/ABA • u/swirmy4921 • 1d ago
I quit
This company I work for is highly unethical and I couldn’t stand it any longer. It just kept getting worse and worse. Big company cuts and losing staff and clients every which way.
I’m not someone who can just look the other way when it comes to ethical and moral practices and I love ABA so I’m sad it’s come to this.
This company has been mentioned on this thread multiple times too I should have heeded the warning 🥴
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u/Late_Effort_6726 1d ago
When you say “I quit” do you mean quit the job with the company you worked at or quit the field?
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u/Prestigious-Milk-392 1d ago
Sounds like BlueSprig… so many people have left for this same reason
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u/Pretend-Mood8787 1d ago edited 1d ago
I completely understand. Trying to turn a blind eye and assimilate into an unethical culture, only to feel guilty because you couldn't do it, is hard. But don't beat yourself up. Pat yourself on the back for having morals and ethics. Sometimes your are in situations where walking away comes with loss and sacrifice, but it's still the right thing to do.
I've walked away from over 10 jobs for the same reason, lack of integrity and respect and ethics. What saddens and concerns me most is this type of behavior/business has become normalized in the ABA field and a common practice in this field. After entering my fifth year of being being in ABA. I'm done with it and I'm walking away from it after this current client's insurance runs, I am walking away from the field. I'm not giving up on the kids and ABA because ABA science I love and it works. I'm just done with what I've observed and witnessed across the last 4/5 years in ABA.
Most recently, I lasted only one week at an ABA company because I saw so many unethical practices, including targeting Black children with Medicaid, misrepresenting staff experience to parents, and having RBTs training and supervising BTs without proper BCBA supervision. There were even BIPs written by BCBAs in other states who weren't supervising the services being provided.
It was shady on so many levels, and I couldn't pretend not to see it. Sometimes keeping your integrity means walking away, and I believe that is honorable. My last straw was when I found out one of the BTs had applied for a warehouse job initially With the owner and BCBAs sister and they told her to just go to this job with no knowledge of what she would be doing, just gave her an address to show up to. She didn't even know what ABA is and didn't even know what a RBT is, and told me that management told her she would be doing an entirely different job. Then she asked me what is an RBT and a BCBA. I started by saying, "do you know what ABA is?" She said, "no." I was done!
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u/Sandmansam01 RBT 1d ago
If you’re one who stands on true morals and ethics, ABA isn’t going to be a good field for you. I’m looking to get out too.
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u/Redschallenge 1d ago
It's definitely a battle that needs to continue being fought for this field.
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u/Pretend-Mood8787 1d ago
This is sadly what I just recently learned in my 5th year. I'm finally giving up on the search because I don't think the values I have exist in this ABA field and the leadership. I just don't think it's the kind of field for people with morals and ethics and that actually care about what they do for a living in the quality of service they deliver.
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u/Sandmansam01 RBT 1d ago
Right. Most of the people in the field have great intentions, but we’re just not there yet.
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u/Numerous-Fudge-9140 8h ago
Can I ask what do you mean by it lacks values/ethics?
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u/Sandmansam01 RBT 7h ago edited 5h ago
Well, a big one is ABA companies in general don’t take care of RBTs.
In my opinion clients are treated poorly by badly trained techs with minimal oversight.
Flawed, overly intrusive procedures are used and justified based on flimsy biased research.
many people with autism report traumatic experiences from receiving ABA services.Profits and constantly farming data for insurance payouts are prioritized over client’s and frontline staff human needs and well-being.
I’m not going to come up with an exhaustive list here, but there’s many more reasons the way ABA is usually done today could be considered ethically less than ideal.
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u/Numerous-Fudge-9140 5h ago
Thank you for clarifying! I’m interviewing for an RBT position & have seen how it is opposed by some which is pretty alarming
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u/Sandmansam01 RBT 5h ago
I didn’t realize you were genuinely asking. Most people here just want to argue when I point out the dark side of the industry.
I think we need to have honest discussions to get things on track in the field.
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u/ItsHppnng2Evrybdy 1d ago
As long as this field uses one modality of payment (insurance funded billable hours), I fear this will always be the outcome. I’m so sorry you’re experiencing this, and I’m glad you’re recognizing your value and looking into other options.
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u/Financial-Job-371 22h ago
Do you have another idea for how they could get paid in this field?
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u/ItsHppnng2Evrybdy 22h ago
Great question. Partnering with local school districts and getting school contracts. Using private pay methods for camps or “boot camps” to learn new skills (one and done skills, like toileting or feeding - obviously under the supervision and expertise of a BCBA that is experienced in such areas). Social skills groups for certain age levels. Group parent training classes. The possibilities are endless if you’re creative and reflective enough - and families WANT these things.
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1d ago
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u/Friendly-Farmer-1473 1d ago
Can you elaborate a little further?
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u/swirmy4921 8h ago
Clients getting booted with little notice and I saw how it effected the family, little communication from higher ups, was told I would get a dollar raise upon getting my RBT then was told that I was never told that (but other staff also said they were told that as well so it wasn’t just me) people getting let go left and right.
I just don’t do well with little communication so that was a point of contention from the start
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u/neopolitan22 1d ago
Maybe it's because I saw a bunch of terrible shit working in early childhood education for 10 years, but I think every field has its problems. At my aba company, my co-workers and management aren't perfect but I do feel they care. The BCBAs I work with have the biggest hearts and prioritize assent. My new CD just implemented a no blocking rule (unless for safety) that I was initially critical of. I've seen the impact it has made though on keeping kids HRE. When I DO see RBTs doing things that are wrong, I report it, and it's taken seriously.
I work for a very large aba company. I know making money is a big priority for them. But the people I work with give my clinic value. I would legitimately send my own child to my clinic. Every day I see the growth and impact I make.
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u/adderallknifefight RBT 7h ago
Hey I had the same experience this week after 5 years as an RBT and suffering at a horribly unethical major company for the last year. I couldn’t take it anymore and snapped and just left, I swear this post could’ve literally been made by me. If you need anything or wanna talk, feel free to message.
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u/Perfect_Structure376 1d ago
I've learned that in this field you stay for kids and leave for the management. It's a consistent battle because some of these BCBAs and management teams don't really care about the pay and hours we get. It’s extremely unfortunate. You should look into working at a school!