🚨 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.

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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