Choosing an RBA Who Focuses on Meaningful Goals
When families begin Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) services, one of the most important decisions they make is choosing a service provider. While credentials and experience matter, how an RBA approaches assessment and goal-setting can make a world of difference in your child’s progress—and your family’s quality of life.
At bitKIDS Behaviour Consulting, we believe effective ABA goes far beyond completing a standard assessment in order and checking off required boxes. The most impactful therapy is rooted in meaningful, individualized goals that empower the whole family.
The Difference Between “Checking Boxes” and Meaningful Programming
Standardized assessments play an important role in ABA. They help RBAs gather baseline information, identify skill areas, and meet professional and funding requirements. However, when assessments become the end goal rather than a starting point, therapy can lose its relevance.
A “check-the-boxes” approach may result in:
- Goals that don’t reflect your child’s daily life
- Skills that look good on paper but aren’t functional at home or school
- Families feeling disconnected from the therapy process
In contrast, an RBA who prioritizes meaningful goals uses assessments as a tool, not a script.
What Meaningful Goals Really Look Like
Meaningful goals are:
- Functional – They help your child participate more independently in everyday routines
- Family-centered – They reflect what your family values and needs most
- Developmentally appropriate – They meet your child where they are, while supporting growth
- Generalizable – They work across settings: home, school, community, and play
For one family, this might mean focusing on smoother morning routines or mealtime independence. For another, it could be building communication skills that reduce frustration, or helping siblings play together more successfully.
Empowering the Whole Family
An RBA who values meaningful goals recognizes that progress doesn’t happen in isolation. Parents, caregivers, and siblings are key partners in the therapy process.
Family-empowering RBAs:
- Take time to listen to caregiver priorities and concerns
- Collaborate on goals that fit naturally into daily routines
- Provide parent coaching so skills carry over beyond therapy hours
- Adjust goals as family needs and circumstances evolve
This collaborative approach helps families feel confident, capable, and supported—not overwhelmed by programs that don’t fit their real lives.
Individualized Care Over One-Size-Fits-All
Every child is unique, and ABA should reflect that. RBAs who move beyond rigid assessment order understand that:
- Not all skills need to be taught in the same sequence
- Some goals are more meaningful right now than others
- Motivation, strengths, and interests should guide programming
When therapy is tailored this way, children are often more engaged, progress feels more natural, and learning becomes something that happens with the family—not just during sessions.
What to Look for When Choosing an RBA
When selecting an RBA for your child, consider asking:
- How do you involve families in goal selection?
- How do you balance standardized assessments with real-life priorities?
- How do you ensure skills generalize outside of sessions?
- How do goals evolve as my child and family grow?
The answers can reveal whether the RBA sees therapy as a checklist—or as a partnership.
Our Philosophy at bitKIDS
At bitKIDS Behaviour Consulting, we are committed to providing ABA that is evidence-based, individualized, and collaborative. We use assessments thoughtfully, but we place equal—if not greater—value on understanding each child, their family, and what truly matters in their day-to-day lives.
Because the most meaningful progress isn’t just measured on an assessment—it’s felt at home, at school, and in the moments that matter most.
