Our Two Cents on Assent: Clearing Up Confusion and Providing a Path Forward for Assent-Based ABA Practice

The definition of assent was introduced in the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts that went into effect in January of 2022 (Behavior Analyst Certification Board, 2020). While the code defines assent, the field of behavior analysis as a whole continues to require refining in its incorporation of assent-based practices. Recent publications in the literature are starting to point behavior analysts on a trajectory towards assent-based practices (Rajaraman et al., 2022; Breaux & Smith, 2023). This panel of experienced behavior analysts who have researched and applied assent-based practices in a variety of settings will engage attendees in learning how and when assent should be honored, sharing innovative data on assent and evolving clinical repertoires to include assent-based practices.