Telling Success Stories in ABA with Data: Why It Matters More Than Ever
Happy Friday! Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention in ABA—the importance of sharing success stories.
We all know that data drives what we do. It’s how we track progress, how we make decisions, how we justify interventions. I’m a data nerd and you probably are too. But sometimes, just looking at numbers isn’t enough. A graph can show improvement, sure, but it doesn’t always capture the full picture.
That’s why stories and storytellers matter.
Because ABA isn’t just about interventions—it’s about people. And if we’re not telling stories about what’s working, we’re missing a huge opportunity to improve, learn, and stay motivated in this field.
Ask any BCBA, and they’ll tell you—one of the most frustrating parts of this job is when a program just isn’t moving.
You’ve tried different prompts. You’ve adjusted reinforcement. You’ve switched up SDs. And still—no progress. Weeks go by, and nothing changes.
That’s when clinicians start running out of ideas. And when people run out of ideas, they start to feel stuck. And when people feel stuck for too long, they burn out.
You may have been there
But—whether you feel it at that time or not—there’s always a solution.
Someone, somewhere, has been in the exact same situation and figured out a way through it. The problem is, we don’t always have easy access to those insights.
And that’s why success stories aren’t just nice to hear—they’re absolutely necessary for keeping clinicians engaged, effective, improving in their work, and…well…hopeful.
Success Stories Help Us Learn
We spend a lot of time in ABA discussing problems. Team meetings, CEUs, conferences—so many of these spaces are focused on troubleshooting challenges. And that’s useful. But we need to balance that by spending just as much time on what’s working.
Imagine this scenario:
A BCBA is working with a client who isn’t making progress on a language goal. They’ve adjusted reinforcement, changed prompts, tried new teaching strategies—nothing is clicking.
Then they hear another clinician present on a case with a similar situation—how they implemented a small but critical tweak (maybe adjusting latency requirements, maybe reworking the MO) and saw a breakthrough.
That’s the kind of insight that changes everything.
It’s real, applicable knowledge, not just theory. And more importantly, it’s immediately useful.
Success Stories Create Success Culture
So how do we actually make success stories a bigger part of how we share knowledge in ABA?
Regular Clinical Review Meetings Focused on Clinical Wins – Instead of just reviewing problems, set aside time in meetings for clinicians to share strategies that have worked.
Encouraging RBTs to Share Their Experiences – RBTs are the ones in sessions day in and day out. They see the small moments of progress that might get lost in the data. Give them space to share what they’re seeing in those presentations.
Building Success Stories into Supervision – Instead of only troubleshooting during supervision meetings, ask "What’s a win you’ve had this week?" This simple shift keeps the focus on progress.
Using Success Stories in Training – When onboarding new staff, don’t just teach them procedures—share real examples of how those procedures have led to meaningful progress for clients.
At the end of the day, success stories remind us that progress is happening. That even when things feel stuck, there’s always a way forward.
And if we don’t take the time to share those stories—if we only focus on what’s going wrong—we miss out on some of the best learning opportunities available.
So next time you’re in a clinical meeting, supervising a BCBA, or even just reflecting on your own cases, take a second to ask: What’s working?
Martin Myers is a BCBA with a passion for helping improve the field of ABA. He is the creator of BxMastery, with over 4,000 goal ideas, sequenced, to inspire your programming. With 10+ years of experience in the field, he’s dedicated to empowering others and fostering positive change through effective leadership and communication. Connect with Martin on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more insights and updates.