Assent Based ABA at ABA STEPS
Every Interaction Begins with Trust
At ABA STEPS, assent is not simply a clinical practice—it is the foundation of how we build relationships, teach new skills, and support every participant who walks through our doors. Our entire clinical model is guided by parent interview, Practical Functional Assessment-Skill-Based Treatment (PFA-SBT), developed by Dr. Greg Hanley and colleagues. These compassionate, trauma-informed approaches emphasize safety, trust, communication, and collaboration before instruction ever begins.
Rather than asking, “How do we get a participant to comply?” we ask, “How do we create an environment where the participant wants to learn?” This philosophy guides every interaction between our providers, participants, and families.
What Assent Means at ABA STEPS
While parents and legal guardians provide informed consent for ABA services, participants provide assent—their ongoing willingness to participate in therapy. We believe every individual, regardless of age or communication ability, has the right to communicate when they are comfortable engaging and when they need something different.
Assent is not limited to spoken words. Some participants verbally express excitement to begin therapy, while others demonstrate assent by approaching their provider, smiling, initiating play, accepting materials, following their provider to an activity, or engaging with the learning environment. Our providers are trained to recognize each participant’s unique communication style and continuously monitor these indicators throughout every session.
Because assent is dynamic, it can change from moment to moment. We continually evaluate whether participants remain comfortable, engaged, and willing to participate.
How We Build Assent
At ABA STEPS, we never expect trust to be automatic—it is earned. During initial sessions, and whenever a participant experiences changes in staff, routines, or environments, our providers focus on building rapport before introducing instructional demands. Through enjoyable interactions, shared activities, and individualized reinforcement, providers establish themselves as trusted partners in learning.
Our PFA-SBT model encourages providers to offer meaningful choices throughout sessions whenever possible. Participants may choose activities, materials, communication methods, the order of tasks, reinforcement options, or when to take breaks. These opportunities help participants experience therapy as collaborative rather than something being done to them.
Instruction is introduced gradually and only after strong therapeutic rapport has been established.
When Assent Is Withdrawn
One of the core principles of our clinical model is recognizing when a participant is communicating that they no longer wish to continue an activity. Assent withdrawal may include verbal statements such as “no,” requests for a break, walking away, turning away, pushing materials aside, disengaging from activities, increased agitation, or other behaviors indicating discomfort or a need for additional support.
Rather than viewing these behaviors as noncompliance, our providers view them as valuable communication.
When assent is withdrawn, our first response is curiosity—not correction.
Providers pause instruction to determine what the participant is communicating. They may reduce task difficulty, increase support, offer additional choices, adjust the environment, honor an appropriate break request, revisit reinforcement, or modify the teaching approach. Our goal is to rebuild comfort, safety, and motivation before resuming instruction whenever appropriate.
This approach allows participants to learn that communication is effective and that trusted adults will listen when they express their needs.
Guided by PFA and Skill-Based Treatment
Everything we do at ABA STEPS is informed by the principles of PFA-SBT. Following a Practical Functional Assessment, treatment focuses on teaching participants functional communication, tolerating delays or denials, cooperating with everyday expectations, and developing contextually appropriate skills that improve quality of life.
Importantly, these skills are taught in a way that prioritizes joy, safety, and trust. We do not rely on rigid compliance-based approaches or unnecessary power struggles. Instead, our providers work alongside participants to create successful learning opportunities that are individualized, meaningful, and reinforcing.
By honoring assent throughout treatment, we often see increased engagement, stronger therapeutic relationships, improved communication, and more meaningful long-term outcomes.
What Families Can Expect
Families partnering with ABA STEPS can expect compassionate, individualized care grounded in dignity and respect. Our providers are trained in PFA-SBT principles and use assent-based practices during every interaction—not only during teaching opportunities, but throughout play, transitions, daily routines, and parent coaching.
Parents will often hear our providers talking about building rapport, recognizing communication, honoring appropriate requests, creating opportunities for success, and maintaining therapeutic trust. These are not separate interventions—they are the foundation of how we provide ABA.
Our goal is not simply to teach skills. Our goal is to build confident, independent individuals who feel safe learning, communicating, and engaging with the world around them. We believe the strongest and most meaningful outcomes occur when participants willingly participate because therapy is enjoyable, respectful, and built on trust.
At ABA STEPS, assent is more than a best practice—it is the standard that guides every relationship, every interaction, and every learning opportunity.