You’ve received your child’s autism diagnosis, been told “ABA therapy is the gold standard,” and now you’re comparing ABA providers. At Kuska Autism Services, we’ve worked with hundreds of Utah families navigating this decision, and we’ve learned that providers who welcome tough questions are usually the ones worth choosing.
You deserve to know exactly what you’re choosing. These 19 questions help you identify providers who’ll genuinely partner with your family.
Credentials & Experience
1. Are all supervising clinicians Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) in good standing? Every ABA program should be overseen by BCBAs with active BACB certification. Ask to verify certification numbers on the BACB registry, quality providers share this immediately.
2. What’s your staff-to-child ratio, and how often will a BCBA directly observe sessions? BCBAs should directly observe at minimum twice monthly per Council of Autism Service Providers guidelines. Ask: How many clients per BCBA? How often are they physically present?
3. How do you train behavior technicians, and what ongoing supervision do they receive? Daily therapy quality depends on technician training. Research from PMC shows treatment fidelity—delivering interventions exactly as designed—directly correlates with better outcomes.
4. What experience do your BCBAs have with children similar to mine? Autism presents differently across children. Ask about specific experience relevant to your child’s profile.
Approach & Philosophy
5. How would you describe your therapeutic approach, structured and table-based, or naturalistic and play-based? At Kuska, we emphasize child-led, play-based approaches where learning happens through activities your child enjoys. Research shows naturalistic teaching can support children in transferring their skills broadly across different setting and different people, while more structured learning can be great for skill acquisition (learning new things).
6. How do you incorporate my child’s interests and preferences into therapy? Quality ABA follows the child’s lead through preference assessments and continuous observation. If providers can’t articulate individualization, that’s concerning.
7. What’s your stance on using food as a primary reinforcer? This reveals values around reinforcement. Modern ABA emphasizes social reinforcement, preferred activities, and natural consequences over edibles.
8. How do you obtain and maintain my child’s assent during therapy? Per BACB ethics guidelines, respecting assent is fundamental. Providers should explain how they monitor distress and adjust when children communicate discomfort.
Practical Matters
9. What are your current waitlist times, and how do you prioritize new clients? Timely access matters for outcomes. At Kuska’s Bountiful location, we currently have no waitlist for morning sessions.
10. Do you offer in-home, center-based, or hybrid service models? Each setting has advantages. We help families determine what fits their situation rather than forcing one model.
11. How flexible are you with scheduling, and what’s your cancellation policy? Life with young children is unpredictable. Rigid policies that penalize unavoidable disruptions create unnecessary stress. We will work with you and your family to create a plan that works well for you and for our wonderful staff.
12. What does your insurance authorization process look like? Quality providers handle most authorization burden, submitting documentation and coordinating with insurance. Ask who serves as your insurance contact.
Progress & Outcomes
13. How do you measure progress, and how often will you share data with us? You should receive regular progress reports. Ask to see samples. Are they readable? Do they show meaningful skill development?
14. How often do you reassess and update treatment goals? High-quality providers reassess every 6-12 months using standardized tools. Goals should evolve as your child develops.
15. What does “success” look like, and when might we reduce hours or graduate from therapy? Success looks different for every child and every family. At Kuska, we collaborate with you to define success and create a plan to graduate from ABA. ABA is meant to be temporary, so we will work hard with you and your child to meet all of their goals! Every provider should articulate clear discharge criteria.
Family Considerations
16. What does parent training look like, and how often will it happen? Research in the Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences found parent involvement accounts for 21% of reduced parenting stress and enhances skill generalization.
17. How do you handle challenging behaviors, and will you consult with me before implementing behavior reduction procedures? You should be informed and consulted before any behavior intervention plan. Ethical practice requires explaining behavior function, proposed interventions, and obtaining consent.
18. How do you collaborate with my child’s school or other providers? Ask: Do you attend IEP meetings? Will you communicate regularly with other therapists? Collaborative providers improve outcomes through unified approaches.
19. What’s your process for handling concerns or complaints? Quality providers welcome feedback and have clear grievance procedures. At Kuska, we prioritize open communication and address concerns promptly.
Using These Questions
Don’t ask everything in one call. Start with top priorities during initial consultations, then dig deeper with finalists. Pay attention to how providers respond—welcoming questions or defensive? Specific examples or vague reassurances?
Quality providers appreciate informed families. At Kuska, we encourage parents to interview multiple providers and make educated decisions. Your child deserves a provider who respects your family’s values, follows evidence-based practices, and genuinely partners with you throughout the journey.
Contact us to discuss how Kuska’s approach aligns with your family’s needs, or visit our diagnostic services page if you’re still in the evaluation phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it rude to ask ABA providers these detailed questions?
No. Quality providers expect and welcome thorough questions—it shows you’re an engaged parent who’ll be an excellent therapy partner. If a provider seems irritated by basic questions about credentials, approach, or outcomes, that’s a red flag.
Should I interview multiple ABA providers before choosing one?
Yes, whenever possible. While waitlists and insurance may constrain options, interviewing 2-3 providers allows you to compare approaches and quality indicators. This is about finding the right provider for your specific child.
What are the biggest red flags when evaluating ABA providers?
One important thing to look for is whether a provider’s approach is modern, compassionate, and centered on positive teaching strategies. High quality ABA providers focus on reinforcement, skill building, communication, and helping children succeed in meaningful, supportive ways.
A potential red flag is if a provider seems focused on reducing behavior without clearly explaining how they teach new skills, support emotional well being, and build independence. Ethical providers prioritize strength based care, quality of life, and teaching functional, meaningful skills in a way that feels respectful and encouraging for the child.
Another key indicator is a provider’s openness and transparency. Trustworthy organizations are happy to answer questions about how their services are designed to be ethical, kind, and aligned with each child’s dignity and autonomy. Providers should feel comfortable explaining how they ensure their work is compassionate, evidence based, and centered on the child’s best interests. If a provider avoids these conversations or becomes defensive rather than collaborative, that may signal they are not the right fit.
Ultimately, the best providers want families to feel informed, empowered, and confident. They value partnership, trust, and respect, and they welcome questions because they believe parents and caregivers are an essential part of the care team.
How long should I give a provider before deciding if they’re the right fit?
Most families gauge fit within 6-8 weeks. You should see rapport developing, receive clear communication, and feel like a valued partner. Behavioral progress may take 3-6 months, but trust concerns about practices or communication early.
Can I switch ABA providers if I’m unhappy?
Yes. While switching involves disruption, staying with a poor-fit provider is unnecessary. Most insurance allows changes with new authorization. Document concerns, discuss with the current provider first, then research alternatives before transitioning. Your clinicians should work with you in making the transition smooth to avoid an interruption in services.
References
- LeBlanc, L. A., Heinicke, M. R., & Baker, J. C. (2012). Expanding the consumer base for behavior-analytic services: Meeting the needs of consumers in the 21st century. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 5(1), 4-14. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8359641/
- Behavioral Health Center of Excellence. (2024). How BHCOE helps ensure quality ABA care and parental peace of mind. https://www.bhcoe.org/parent-autism-quality-aba-providers/
- Council of Autism Service Providers. (2023). ABA practice guidelines for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. https://www.casproviders.org/evidence-intensive-early-aba
- Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2020). Ethics code for behavior analysts. https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/ethics-code/
- Sneed, L., & Samelson, D. (2022). Effectiveness of parent-led applied behavior analysis at improving outcomes for parents of autistic children. Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences, 16(1), 160-177. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1536&context=jsbhs
- Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. (2021). Community report on autism. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/autism/