The Right to Effective Behavioral Treatment Revisited: Ethical Expectations for Behavior Analysts Today (Kelly et al., 2024)

“While it may be common to ask about maladaptive behaviors, such as elopement, aggression, property destruction, or self-injurious behaviors—how often do assessments include questions about weapons, such as guns in the home or which prerequisites that clients need to ensure they can safely escape a fire or smoke-filled house? Recently, a qualitative assessment tool, specifically to support behavior analysts in asking safety-related questions, was released. This open-ended assessment was designed with the “explicit purpose of evaluating potential risks and safety concerns associated with caring for children or adults with disabilities” (Foxman & Kelly, 2023, para 1). By beginning to ask these questions and incorporating the information into treatment planning, behavior analysts have the potential to bring attention to these risks for their clients and their caregivers (Kelly & Foxman, 2023).”