Staff, Tariffs, and RFK Jr.: What ABA Companies Need to Know Right Now ABA Business News Roundup – April 28, 2025 If you're running or supporting an ABA business in 2025, this past month has been a wave of challenges, wake-up calls, and policy shifts. From devastating turnover rates to global economic pressure through new tariffs, to a controversial national autism registry proposal out of Washington — there’s a lot to keep track of. This roundup breaks down the three biggest developments affecting ABA practices and what they actually mean in practical terms. We’ve also included direct links to deep dives on each topic and tools you can start using right now. 🔁 ABA Staff Turnover: A Crisis We Can’t Ignore Let’s be blunt: some ABA companies are now replacing their entire workforce annually. According to CentralReach’s 2025 data, large enterprise-level ABA providers are reporting a 103.3% turnover rate. Mid-size organizations? 89.3%. Small businesses? 77.4%. These numbers are devastating — financially and clinically. Turnover leads to treatment disruptions, inconsistent client-staff relationships, burnt-out supervisors, and frustrated parents. It can even affect your payer relationships and business reputation. We explored this in our popular I Hate My Job podcast series: Episode 84 – Burnout and Unethical Practices Episode 114 – Real Solutions to Workforce Instability Episode 112 – Ethical Dilemmas from the Field Episode 111 – Frustrations of ABA Professionals Want to know what this is costing you? Try our free tool: Find out more For a full breakdown and solutions, read the article below: Find out more 💸 Tariffs and the Rising Cost of Doing Business The U.S. has issued new tariffs on imports from China, including toys, books, electronics, and more. These are items ABA providers use every day — and some tariffs are as high as 145%. This means higher prices for laptops, tablets, fidget toys, flashcards, and sensory items. Many printed educational materials are also affected. These rising costs put pressure on budgets and may limit what you're able to offer staff and clients. What You Can Do: Buy refurbished tablets and laptops (e.g., on eBay or Back Market) Use digital tools instead of physical ones where possible Source used materials locally via Facebook Marketplace or Buy Nothing groups Plan ahead and bulk-buy what you know you’ll need For more practical tips: Find out more 🧬 RFK Jr.’s Autism Registry: A New Era of Surveillance? Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has proposed creating a national autism registry that would collect data from health records, insurance claims, pharmacy logs, and even fitness trackers. And it may be done without consent. Advocates, including ASAN, have spoken out strongly. The concerns are big: privacy, autonomy, stigma, and who controls the data. There’s also worry that this could lead to more ableist policy-making. If you're an ABA provider, you need to stay alert. If this registry ever becomes linked to payer systems or compliance measures, it could seriously affect your operations. Breakdown here: Find out more 🧠 Final Thoughts: These Aren’t Separate Issues Whether it’s turnover, costs, or policy, these are all connected. They’re signs that your systems may need an upgrade. That’s what we built the ABA Business Leaders Platform for. Growth paths and raise structures Onboarding systems to reduce early burnout Admin tools and ethical training tracks If you’re ready to make change instead of reacting to chaos, we’re here to help. Find out more

RFK Jr.’s Autism Registry Proposal: Understanding the Implications for ABA Companies Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now serving as Health Secretary, has proposed the creation of a national autism registry. The stated goal: to identify environmental and other contributing factors behind autism diagnoses through a large-scale, data-driven research initiative. While the concept isn't new—registries exist for cancer, cerebral palsy, and other conditions—the autism community and ABA providers are watching closely, with a mix of curiosity and concern. What the Registry Intends to Do According to RFK Jr. and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, the registry would consolidate existing medical, insurance, pharmacy, and possibly even fitness tracking data into one central database. The objective is to support what Bhattacharya calls "the highest quality proposals" for autism research. These will range "from basic science to epidemiological approaches, to other more applied approaches" aimed at understanding, treating, and managing autism. Bhattacharya has also acknowledged autism’s variability across individuals, reflecting some awareness of the spectrum. The timeline is ambitious—results are expected by September. Experts have expressed skepticism, noting that quality research, especially at this scale, typically takes years, not months. Still, the potential is there, assuming it’s implemented thoughtfully. What Makes This Different from Existing Registries? Registries for other conditions already exist. Cancer surveillance programs like SEER have been around for decades. Similar databases for conditions like cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's, diabetes, and rare diseases are used for planning and public health—not broad federal surveillance. This proposal is different because of: The scale and centralization of data Unclear policies around consent and privacy Concerns about framing autism as something to "fix" The Privacy and Consent Debate ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) expressed strong concerns. Their statement highlights unanswered questions: how autistic individuals will be identified, whether identifying info will be included, what kind of notice people will get, and if there's any way to opt out. CBS News reported that data sources could include medical billing, prescription history, and even personal devices like smartwatches. Without clear guidelines, this raises serious ethical questions. ASAN also pointed out that this proposal comes from an administration whose past language about autism has been called out as eugenic and unscientific. That, paired with the lack of clarity, adds up to a lot of justified concern about misuse of data. States That Already Track Autism Through Registries Seven states already have some type of autism reporting or registry system: Delaware Indiana North Dakota New Jersey Rhode Island Utah West Virginia These are typically state-run, used for public health planning, and often include informed consent provisions. New Hampshire had one, but it was repealed in June 2024 when Gov. Chris Sununu signed legislation requiring all registry data to be destroyed. That decision was driven by privacy concerns and lack of transparency. Impacts on ABA Companies 1. Communication with Clients Families are going to have questions. ABA companies should be ready with transparent, straightforward answers about their data practices and how (or if) they’re involved in the registry. 2. Regulatory Preparedness If registry participation becomes tied to Medicaid or insurance compliance, providers could be facing new reporting burdens. It’s smart to review your current privacy policies now. 3. Funding Focus RFK Jr. is clearly focused on prevention and causes. That could pull funding away from services and into research, which may hurt small and mid-sized ABA practices depending on public payers. 4. Public Understanding of Autism There’s a growing divide between seeing autism as something to “cure” versus something to support. ABA providers should double down on education and clarity with families to reinforce that they’re there to help, not to change who someone is. Balancing Concern with Context It's important to keep perspective. Data registries, when run with transparency, consent, and community input, can lead to better care. But this proposal still lacks the critical information families and providers need to feel confident. If it's co-designed with the autistic community, has real privacy protections, and avoids pathologizing language, it could serve as a useful tool. But until those things are confirmed, caution is absolutely appropriate. What ABA Providers Can Do Track updates. Follow HHS, advocacy groups, and trade organizations. Communicate clearly. Don’t ignore client concerns—be ready to discuss them. Protect privacy. Review your policies and ensure you're covered legally and ethically. Speak up. If a public comment period opens, participate. Your input matters. Final Thoughts National autism registries aren’t inherently dangerous, but how they’re handled makes all the difference. The autism community—and ABA providers—need transparency, respect, and safeguards. If we don’t get that, this could create far more problems than it solves. Sources and Further Reading The Guardian Vanity Fair The Cut Axios Vulture People CBS News TIME ABC News The Independent The New Republic Psychology Today Newsweek Burnaby Now CBS News – Cause of Autism Research Plan

How the New Tariffs Could Impact ABA Businesses (And What You Can Do About It) There’s been a lot of talk lately about the new U.S.-China tariffs, and while most headlines focus on big industries or holiday shopping, ABA providers could feel the effects too—especially when it comes to everyday materials we use in sessions. What’s Going On With Tariffs? The U.S. has announced new tariffs, some reaching as high as 145%, on a wide range of goods imported from China. These tariffs are already affecting the cost of materials like electronics, toys, and books—items that many ABA providers rely on for therapy, training, and even operations. If you use flashcards, sensory toys, educational books, tablets, laptops, or reinforcers that were likely made overseas, there's a good chance these items will start costing more. Even the basics—like storage bins, puzzles, or communication tools—could see price hikes. What’s Being Hit? Toys and sensory items – many of these are imported directly from Asia and may jump in price. Books and learning materials – tariffs on publishing products could raise the cost of curricula or therapist toolkits. Electronics – tablets, laptops, cameras, printers—basically everything tech—is expected to cost more. Why This Matters for ABA Providers For small or mid-sized ABA businesses, this isn’t just a budget line—it’s operational. A lot of teams already run lean, and increasing costs on core materials can limit what’s available to staff and clients. These costs could: Cut into your ability to onboard new clients. Affect the quality or variety of reinforcers you provide. Make it harder to upgrade or replace aging tech. Limit access to supplemental training or supervision tools. What You Can Do Right Now 1. Use Facebook Marketplace or Buy Nothing Groups You’d be surprised how many sensory toys, books, or reinforcers you can find gently used—and sometimes for free. Local parents, daycares, and educators often give away high-quality items. 2. Buy Refurbished Electronics Instead of new, consider getting tablets or laptops from reputable sellers on eBay or other refurbishers. You’ll save a lot, and many come with warranties. 3. Bulk Up on Essentials Now If you know you’ll need more of something in the next few months (like visuals, timers, or token boards), buying now might avoid the next price hike. 4. Lean Into Digital Materials Switch to downloadable PDFs, digital visuals, or apps when possible. They’re not just cost-effective—they avoid shipping delays and tariffs altogether. 5. Share Resources Between Locations or Teams Create a shared inventory system so you’re not double-buying. It also helps identify what can be reused or rotated. Bottom Line The new tariffs might not seem like an ABA issue at first—but they can definitely impact your business. The key is to stay ahead of it. Find ways to stretch your resources, avoid overpaying for basics, and tap into your community. ABA providers are nothing if not creative and adaptive—this is just one more area to apply that mindset. Sources and Further Reading AP News: “Trump’s China tariff shocks US importers” Business Insider: “The trade war is coming for influencer plushies” USA Today: “What will Trump tariff impact be on electronics, appliances, phones?” American Booksellers Association: “An Overview of the 2025 Tariffs” Spectrum News: “Tariffs on China could hurt toy industry ahead of holidays”