How to Identify and Comply with Requirements for Making Public Statements About Professional Activities
If you’re a BCBA, RBT, or clinical supervisor, you’ve probably faced a moment like this: a colleague wants to post a client success story on the clinic’s Instagram. A journalist calls asking about your autism intervention approach. You’re preparing a conference presentation and want to include outcome data. Or you’re updating your professional website and wondering what claims you can safely make.
These moments involve public statements about professional activities—and they come with real rules you need to know. Making a public statement means sharing information with people beyond a single client or your internal team. It includes social media posts, presentations, marketing materials, interviews, publications, and even casual comments on professional platforms.
The good news: complying with these requirements isn’t complicated if you know what to look for. This guide walks you through what counts as a public statement, why compliance matters, what the actual requirements are, and how to apply them in your daily work.
One-Paragraph Summary
Public statements about your professional activities—whether on social media, in presentations, on your website, or in published work—must be truthful, protect client confidentiality, and accurately represent your credentials and role. Your employer, licensing board, and professional organizations like the BACB have specific rules about what you can say, to whom, and how. The core actions: be accurate and evidence-based in your claims, clearly identify your professional role and credentials, protect client privacy by obtaining informed consent before sharing anything identifiable, disclose any conflicts of interest or funding sources, and follow your employer’s policy. When in doubt, consult your supervisor, your organization’s policy manual, or an ethics consultant before posting or publishing.
What Counts as a Public Statement?
A public statement is any professional communication aimed at an audience beyond a single client, your supervisor, or your clinical team. It’s anything you’re sharing with the broader world.
This includes presentations at conferences or community events, social media posts (even on accounts you think are “personal” if you mention your work), marketing materials and website content, advertisements for your services, interviews with journalists or podcasters, published articles or case studies, client testimonials and success stories, and training videos or educational content you post online.
The key question: Could someone who isn’t directly involved in a client’s care access this information? If yes, it’s a public statement, and you need to follow the rules.
Why This Matters: Protecting Clients and the Profession
Public statements are where clients, families, referral sources, and the general public form opinions about ABA and about you. When public statements are inaccurate, incomplete, or made without proper consent, real harm can happen.
Client privacy and dignity are at stake. Even “de-identified” details can sometimes identify a client, especially in smaller communities or specialized populations. Sharing client information without consent violates the trust clients place in you. It can also harm families who see their child’s story told publicly without permission.
Your credibility and career can suffer. Misrepresenting your credentials, guaranteeing outcomes you can’t guarantee, or making unsupported claims can lead to disciplinary action from your licensing board or certification body. It can cost you your job or your credential. It can also damage referral relationships and your clinic’s reputation.
Public trust in ABA depends on honest communication. When practitioners make exaggerated claims or fail to disclose conflicts of interest, it undermines confidence in the entire field. Families and professionals begin to doubt whether our claims about ABA’s effectiveness are real or just marketing.
Key Requirements You Need to Know
The BACB Ethics Code, your state licensing board, and your employer all set rules for public statements. Here’s what you need to identify and follow:
Truthfulness and accuracy. Everything you say publicly must be honest, verifiable, and evidence-based. Don’t exaggerate results, claim expertise you don’t have, or present opinion as fact. If you say a technique works, you should be able to back that up.
Clear identification of credentials and role. When you speak publicly about your work, state exactly what you are: “BCBA,” “RBT,” “Clinical Supervisor,” or whatever your actual title is. Don’t use credentials you don’t hold. If you’re speaking on behalf of an employer, say so. If you’re expressing a personal opinion, make that clear too.
Protection of client confidentiality. Don’t share identifying details without written, informed consent. This includes names, ages, specific diagnoses, photos, videos, or any other information that could identify a client or their family. De-identifying information reduces risk but doesn’t guarantee anonymity. When in doubt, get explicit permission in writing.
Informed consent. Before you share anything about a client’s case—even a success story or de-identified example—ask the client or guardian for permission. Make sure they understand exactly where the material will be used and for what purpose. Consent should be documented in writing and kept in your records.
Disclosure of conflicts of interest and funding. If you’re being paid to promote something, if a company funds your research or presentation, if you have a financial stake in a program you’re recommending, or if there’s any other tie that could bias your message—say so. Readers deserve to know.
Distinction between honest claims and guarantees. You can say “our data suggest that clients often make significant progress” or “families report satisfaction with this approach.” You cannot say “this treatment will cure autism” or “guaranteed results in three months.” Always include appropriate disclaimers.
When and How to Use These Requirements
You’ll apply these rules in several real situations:
Preparing a conference talk or poster. Before you present, get written consent from the client or guardian if including case material, remove or carefully review identifying details, list your credentials and role clearly, disclose if the conference or your research is funded by an organization with a stake in the message, and run your slides past your supervisor or organization’s approval process.
Creating website or marketing content. Check your employer’s policy on what claims you can make. Ensure testimonials have written consent and include a disclosure if the person was compensated. Include a disclaimer that results vary. List your credentials accurately.
Posting client material on social media. Get explicit written consent that includes permission to post on that specific platform. De-identify carefully. Include a disclaimer about privacy and results. Check your employer’s social media policy—many restrict posting on personal accounts.
Responding to media requests. Clarify what you can and can’t discuss. Check if your employer’s communications team needs to be involved. Prepare disclosures about any funding or conflicts. Know that anything you say can be quoted, so be precise and evidence-based.
Publishing articles or case studies. Get informed consent from the client or family using a formal consent form that specifies the publication and its audience. Remove identifying details or use true composite cases. Have legal review if the publication reaches a wide audience. Disclose any funding sources or conflicts in the publication itself.
Examples: What This Looks Like in ABA
A BCBA is presenting a conference talk about a new intervention technique. She wants to show before-and-after graphs from one of her clients. Here’s what she does right: She obtains written consent from the client’s guardian, clearly stating that de-identified data will appear in a conference presentation. She removes the client’s name, age, and clinic name from the graphs. She lists her own credentials and notes that the conference is funded by a professional organization, not by a company selling the intervention. During the talk, she says, “Our data show promising results, but this reflects one client in one setting. Results vary.” This approach protects the client, ensures accuracy, and maintains transparency.
An ABA clinic posts a parent testimonial video on their website. The clinic has obtained a signed release from the parent specifying that the video may be used for marketing on the website and social media. The clinic has disclosed that the parent was offered a small gift card in exchange for the testimonial. The video includes a brief statement: “Results shown reflect one family’s experience. Outcomes vary depending on many factors.” This balances marketing with honesty and transparency.
Common Mistakes That Get Clinicians in Trouble
Assuming de-identification is always safe. You remove the name and think you’re covered. But in a small town, a unique combination of details can identify a client. Always ask: Could someone who knows this client recognize them from this information? If there’s any doubt, get written consent or don’t share it publicly.
Using your credentials in ways that imply guarantees. Saying “BCBA Specializing in Autism Recovery” or “Guaranteed Progress in 6 Months” suggests you can promise outcomes. You can’t. Use your credentials to establish that you’re qualified, not to make claims you can’t back up.
Posting client photos or videos without documented consent. It doesn’t matter if you think the family said yes in conversation. Get it in writing. Many disciplinary cases start with “I thought they were okay with it.”
Forgetting to disclose paid endorsements and funding sources. If you’re being paid to recommend a product, treatment protocol, or app, people need to know. If a company funded your research, your presentation, or your clinic’s program, disclose it. Transparency builds trust.
Confusing “I work with” with “I represent.” On your clinic’s website, listing a service implies your clinic offers it. On your personal social media, if you mention a technique, be clear whether you’re speaking personally or on behalf of your employer. Blurred lines lead to miscommunication and liability.
The Supervisor and Organizational Role
If you’re a supervisor or clinic director, you have extra responsibilities. Model compliant public communication yourself. Train your team on these rules during onboarding and supervision. Create a clear written policy for your clinic about who can make public statements, what approval is needed, and what templates or checklists to use. Before anything representing your clinic goes public, review it for accuracy, confidentiality risks, and alignment with your values and legal obligations.
When a team member wants to post something, give them a simple checklist:
- Consent obtained and documented?
- Client information de-identified or authorized for use?
- Credentials listed accurately?
- Any conflicts of interest or funding disclosed?
- Employer policy followed?
- Results presented honestly (no guarantees)?
Practical Checklist: Before You Speak or Post
Before you make any public statement, ask yourself:
- Is this truthful and backed by evidence?
- Have I identified my credentials and role clearly?
- Does this include any identifiable client information, and if so, do I have written consent?
- Have I disclosed any funding, sponsorship, or conflict of interest?
- Am I speaking for myself, my employer, or both?
- Have I checked my employer’s policy?
- Am I guaranteeing outcomes, or am I being appropriately honest about what results might look like?
- Could I defend this statement to a licensing board or ethics committee?
If you answer “no” or “I’m not sure” to any of these, pause. Consult your supervisor, your organization’s policy, or an ethics consultant before publishing.
Related Concepts
Public statements sit at the intersection of several ethical and professional responsibilities. Informed consent for public sharing is different from clinical consent—you’re asking permission to share information with a broad, unknown audience, often permanently. Confidentiality and privacy are the legal and ethical backbone of all your communications. Your scope of competence limits what you can speak about publicly—don’t present yourself as an expert in areas where you aren’t trained. Professional credentials have specific rules for how you list and use them. Conflicts of interest must be disclosed to maintain your independence and credibility. And supervision is where these principles get modeled and reinforced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I post de-identified case details on social media?
Proceed carefully. De-identification reduces risk but doesn’t eliminate it. Even without a name, a unique combination of details can lead someone to recognize a client. Before posting, ask: Could someone who knows this client figure out who they are? Get written consent from the client’s family. Follow your employer’s policy. Include a disclaimer about privacy and results.
How should I list my credentials on a public profile?
Use official abbreviations (BCBA, RBT, LCSW, etc.). List your title and any relevant licenses or certifications. Don’t claim specializations you don’t have. Include your role or affiliation. Follow your certifying body’s rules—the BACB has specific guidance on credential use. If you’re listing credentials on a personal platform, be clear whether you’re speaking personally or as a representative of your organization.
Are client testimonials allowed in marketing materials?
Yes, with conditions. Get documented consent from the client or guardian. Disclose whether the person was compensated. Include a statement that results vary and are not guaranteed. Follow your employer’s and your professional body’s rules. Have your legal team review if the testimonial will reach a wide audience.
Do I need permission from my employer to speak publicly about my work?
Often yes. Many employers require approval if your statement relates to organizational activities, services, or data. Check your employment contract and your organization’s policies. When in doubt, ask your supervisor before you commit to a speaking engagement or submit an article for publication.
What counts as a conflict of interest in a public statement?
Any financial, personal, or professional tie that could bias your message. This includes being paid to promote a product, having your research funded by a company with a stake in the results, owning stock in a company whose service you’re recommending, or having a personal relationship with someone involved. Disclose funding sources, sponsorships, and financial relationships clearly.
How do I handle media interview requests?
Clarify the scope and topic before you commit. Ask what you’re authorized to discuss given confidentiality obligations. If the story involves your employer or clinic, involve your organization’s communications team or leadership. Prepare any necessary disclosures. Remember that media interviews are public statements—treat them with the same care you’d give a published article.
Key Takeaways
Every time you step into the public eye as a clinician, you’re making a statement about yourself, your organization, and the field of ABA.
Be accurate and truthful. Back up your claims with evidence, not hope or marketing language.
Protect client privacy. Obtain written consent before sharing anything identifiable, and think carefully even about de-identified material.
Be transparent about your role and credentials. Let people know exactly who you are and whether you’re speaking for yourself or your employer.
Disclose conflicts of interest and funding sources. Trust grows from honesty.
Follow your employer’s policies. They exist to protect you, your clients, and your organization.
When you’re uncertain—and you should check anytime something feels even slightly gray—consult your supervisor, your policy manual, or an ethics professional before you post or publish.
Public statements shape how families, other professionals, and the public understand ABA and what we offer. Getting them right protects clients, protects you, and strengthens the profession.
