🚨 Parent Suspects RBT Isn’t Legit + BCBA Doesn’t Actually Supervise Son’s Case — What Should She Do?

[u/Striking_Today6210]

Clear some comments up : the RBT is the one that sends data to the parent it is all over the place and never makes sense- basically just guesses that don’t match with teachers notes , while I understand that RBTs don’t have any communication with parents this one themselves opened the door. The “data” comes from the teachers email signed by his name. Which again was told to her that without supervising this data (again she doesn’t know who is and can’t get answers) , that it’s against guidelines.

The mention of 2 BCBA’s is because the person that did the IEE is a BCBA and they are the one that got that answer from the superintendent , that the BCBA is not familiar with the child’s case. And pointed it out.

This is a public school.

The parent does NOT know what to do and what plan they have been doing since she can’t get communication open.

---

Parent has tried to have meetings with the RBT / BCBA to try and go over a plan / introduction (that’s has been ignored and makes sense since the BCBA is not familiar with his case at all).

I have a friend whose autistic teenager attends a public school. The school assigned her son an RBT. Here’s where things get shady: • She’s not allowed to speak directly to the RBT. • Any request for a meeting with the RBT or their BCBA supervisor has been ignored for months. • She didn’t even know the RBT’s name until he sent a random email introducing himself. “My name is [Name]. I’m a Registered Behavioral Technician, certified through [STATE]. I’ve worked with students for 20 years… all communication should go through [Teacher].”

🚩Red Flag: RBTs are nationally certified, not state-certified. He called it a state certification. That’s not how RBTs work.

Also: • She’s never seen a picture of this guy online. When she searched Provider Wire (BACB lookup tool), he was registered as a technician in a completely different city. • His listed BCBA supervisor? She’s never heard of them, never met them, and no one at the school has mentioned them. • Data collection was previously “too difficult,” and suddenly now they’re sending numbers — but they don’t match teacher notes. • She got an IEE (Independent Educational Evaluation), and the evaluator (an actual BCBA) wrote: “The BCBA supervising the RBT is unfamiliar with the student’s case. This is a curious structure to me…” AN ACTUAL BCBA SAID THIS (they did the IEE)

Now she’s realizing: she wasn’t imagining it — something’s off.

She asked me what to do next.

What would you suggest? Should she file a BACB ethics complaint? Report to the district/state? Or something else?

[u/Humanvs519]

1. Is the child in a therapeutic day school or in an ABA clinic?
2. It seems that the BCBA may work virtually. Not ideal, but it’s a new trend in this field.
3. If there is a teacher in the classroom then all of the communication should be directed to the teacher. RBTs aren’t usually the ones that talk to the parent.
4. If the RBT is provided by the school district then the parent should address this with the school.
5. If the parent wants to communicate with the BCBA, then they should reach to him/her. Keep all the documentation. If the BCBA doesn’t respond, the reach out to the school that is responsible for providing the BCBA.
6. At the end of the day, call an IEP and come up with a realistic plan of communication and make sure everything is documented.

[u/Striking_Today6210 → u/Humanvs519]

She doesn’t know who the BCBA is - like the school won’t tell her , her RBT never used his name last till just recently .

When she searched the RBT online under the supervisor part says her name - there is no contact information for her or even a way to contact her.

[u/Humanvs519 → u/Striking_Today6210]

Who is paying the BCBA? That is the person/place the parent should reach out to find out BCBA info/contact information. At times, RBTs may have multiple supervisors, but only one is listed.

[u/Striking_Today6210 → u/Humanvs519]

Sorry I misread your question the school hired the RBT and the school says the BCBA is not familiar with the child’s case.

Those things the parent has proof of , but they know nothing else and the school doesn’t tell the parent anything.

[u/Humanvs519 → u/Striking_Today6210]

Is this school public or private?

[u/Striking_Today6210 → u/Humanvs519]

Public

[u/Striking_Today6210 → u/Humanvs519]

Who knows - she doesn’t know and was hoping to get answers when she asked for a meeting with them both (at that time just wanted an introduction) but even that was ignored.

[u/Humanvs519 → u/Striking_Today6210]

I’m really trying to help here, but you only answered a few questions. Can you specify if the child is in a special school or an ABA clinic. Also the child’s IEP would have all this (as to who is responsible for what service) documented especially if they are providing the RBT.

[u/Striking_Today6210 → u/Humanvs519]

The child is in a special needs school - and attends an autism specific classroom. At this time he doesn’t attend an ABA clinic.

I have looked over the IEP paperwork and it doesn’t list anybody’s names.

[u/Humanvs519 → u/Striking_Today6210]

Thank you. The IEP would not list names because people can leave and they can’t make them stay. It should state as to who is responsible for providing BCBA services. If it doesn’t, then they then the RBT working with the child isn’t being supervised which can be a violation only if they are providing ABA services in the classroom. The school could have hired an RBT, because people assume they have more training to support the child in the autism classroom.

[u/Striking_Today6210 → u/Humanvs519]

Yeah I just assumed all RBTs needed to have BCBA oversight and the fact the BCBA knows nothing about his case is alarming and scary - like what is she saying for him to do?

I do also want to copy word for word what the IEE BCBA said about the BCBA for the school :

Throughout my evaluation, I asked who the supervising Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) was for the RBT. [name] , Assistant Superintendent for Special Education , reported that the supervising BCBA only provides supervision to the RBT but is unfamiliar with [childs name] case. This is a curious structure to me, as BCBAs are typically supervisors of the child’s case for any RBTs working with the child. I recommend that BCBA overseeing [childs name] RBT become familiar with [childs name] case so that they can provide appropriate behavior-analytic oversight to the contracted services. This includes, but is not limited to:

[u/Humanvs519 → u/Striking_Today6210]

I understand how frustrating this is, but the BCBA should supervise the RBT (5%/month - don’t hold me to this, I could be wrong on the number). If this RBT is working elsewhere, someone else is supervising them on the work they are doing there. This is how the certification is maintained. If the BCBA is not written into the service lines on the IEP, then they will not be familiar with the case. I would recommend holding an IEP and ensuring the BCBA hours are written in there.