Consent and Assent in Positive Behaviour Support

Photo: Pawel Czerwinski

To begin, let’s define the two:

Consent is understood to be the agreement to participate (Breaux and Smith, 2023). Informed consent aims to make a learner/ guardian aware of what will happen during the provision of services, the potential benefits and risks of proposed interventions, how data will be used, and the right to remove consent to participate at any time without penalty (United States Department of Health and Human Services 2021, Dockett et al. 2012, Fabrizio 2005, Smith and Breaux 2020, as cited in Breaux and Smith, 2023).

Assent, on the other hand, is the legal agreement of someone who is not able to provide informed consent to participate, such as children or people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who participate in research (Breaux and Smith, 2023).

The Equality Act 2010 protects the legal rights to the employment, education, access to good, services and facilities, and buying and renting land or property, of all. It also protects one’s rights as a parent or carer of someone with disabilities. This act is important as it provides a legal framework to which the neglect of consent and assent can be referred to. In our work as behaviour analysts, having the by-in of our clients and their support systems is of utmost importance towards an effective and productive intervention. But it also empowers clients and mediators to make an informed choice towards their support. 

In PSG, our detailed consent forms allow respondents all the information they may require in order to make an informed decision when working with us. We have adapted these forms with regards to the different workstreams we have across the company, and to the abilities of whoever is reading them. We have developed ‘easy read’ versions of consent forms with symbols for those who find text difficult to process. We have also developed a client consent form which aims to highlight our person-centred way of working, and adaptations that are required and agreed before a clients engages with us. 

The importance we hold for consent and assent within our organisation is a testament to our person-centred approach with aims to support people towards their wellbeing and current needs. By promoting these rights, we are encouraging autonomy and informed decision making.

References:

Breaux, C. A., & Smith, K. (2023). Assent in applied behaviour analysis and positive behaviour support: ethical considerations and practical recommendations. International journal of developmental disabilities, 69(1), 111–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2022.2144969