I-3: Identify and implement methods that promote equity in supervision practices ©
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Target Terms: equity in supervision
Equity in supervision
Definition: It is the responsibility of supervisors (of RBTs, paraprofessionals, aspiring behavior analysts, etc.) to implement practices that promote equity in supervision, and to teach their supervisees how to do the same.
- Equity is about people getting what they need to fully participate, even if what they need isn’t exactly the same as what other people may need.
- Our field really needs lots of different perspectives so that we can best support our clients.
- Always be learning. We should stay open to understanding more about how to support and engage each other.
As supervisors it is important to keep in mind that we provide support for growth in supervisees, but we do not dictate all facets of what growth should look like. Targets for growth may look different based on past experiences and future aspirations.
There are a lot of ways to support participation and promote equity! Here are a few ideas (there are many, many, many more things to consider).
- Normalize inclusive practices and language (e.g. sharing our pronouns even if we are cisgender).
- Rethink assumptions about how things are “supposed” to work – e.g. flexible scheduling, programming goals, what “success” means for each person.
- Ask people for what they need proactively, and offer an array of “default” options for everyone. This applies to intaking a new supervisee as well as a new client/family (e.g. how people like to be given feedback, what language they prefer to receive written material in, what technology they need to fully participate in activities, etc etc.)
Example: John is supervising fieldwork hours for Cindy. Prior to beginning supervision he assesses and reflects on his own position of privilege. During conversations he focuses on de-centering his experiences, reflecting on his own behavior during interactions, and understanding influences for his own behavior and beliefs. John is intentional about centering Cindy’s perspective and experiences and how he can support her growth in a socially valid manner.
Why it matters: This matters because serving the needs of people is the point of our science. (Sound familiar? We remind you a lot!)
Speaking of meeting everyone’s needs…do you have a perspective that would help us learn more about equity, and better teach others about it? Have feedback for how this page (or any page on this site) could be better? GREAT! Hit us up on the Contact Us page! Can’t wait to hear from you.
