My four-year-old son (level 3 autism, ADHD, semi-verbal) received in-home ABA therapy through Kyo for several months. Based on what we later discovered on our home security cameras, I believe he was subjected to repeated inappropriate conduct by his assigned behavior technician.
We are in the process of contacting news agencies. This review is a sincere warning to current and prospective clients. Please read it carefully and make your own decisions.
The technician assigned to our home, Alex, was not providing structured therapy during many sessions. The footage shows that during periods when we were not directly in the room (we have more than one child with special needs and were moving between them), Alex engaged in repeated physical interactions that crossed clear boundaries we had already set.
These include:
* prolonged tickling that continued after my son clearly said "teacher stop," tried to push his hands away, and became distressed
* repeated physical contact on or very near private areas (front and back)
* covering my son with a blanket and reaching underneath it while he was on the bed
* placing hands around my son's neck during play, at one point causing him to gag
* placing a pillow over his face
* encouraging my son to climb onto the top bunk and jump off, despite explicit instructions that this was not allowed due to prior injuries
* rough handling on a sensory swing that resulted in falls that were seemingly intentional
My son fell multiple times. In some clips, he says he is hurt. None of these incidents were reported to us.
There had also been a prior incident where my son fell from a swing and hit his head in the presence of his supervising BCBA, Pashence Columbus. No incident report was provided. After that, I made it very clear: no swinging, no tickling, and maintain appropriate physical boundaries. Those instructions were not followed.
During this same period, my son's behavior changed dramatically. He developed aggression, began hitting, started using language we do not use in our home, and began waking up with night terrors. The change was severe enough that he underwent neurological testing and was prescribed medication while doctors tried to determine the cause.
At the time, we had no explanation.
After reviewing the footage and terminating services with Kyo, many of these behaviors improved almost immediately.
We have preserved the video evidence. Law enforcement has already been to our home, and multiple agencies are now reviewing what occurred. We have also been informed that the technician is no longer employed there.
We are still dealing with the long-term effects of what our son experienced.
I am not making broad claims about every ABA provider. I am sharing what happened in our home.
What I will say is this: families should not assume that in-home therapy is being properly supervised simply because it is labeled as clinical care. Oversight can vary, and parents should verify what is actually happening.
If your child is receiving services, especially if they are non-verbal or developmentally delayed, pay close attention, set clear boundaries, and verify.
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