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The Hidden Risks of Using AI to Write Positive Behaviour Support Plans

AI is transforming the way professionals work, offering faster documentation, improved efficiency, and administrative support. In the disability sector, some practitioners are beginning to use AI to assist with Positive Behaviour Support Plans (PBSPs). While the benefits are appealing, there are significant risks that cannot be ignored.

A Positive Behaviour Support Plan is more than a report. It reflects a person’s history, strengths, communication needs, environmental influences, and quality-of-life goals. It is built through observation, assessment, stakeholder consultation, and clinical reasoning. AI can generate text, but it cannot truly understand the lived experience of the individual behind the plan.

One of the biggest concerns is that AI can produce information that sounds accurate but is actually incorrect. It may make assumptions, misinterpret behavioural data, or suggest interventions that are inappropriate for the person. In behaviour support, these errors can lead to ineffective strategies, increased restrictive practices, and poorer outcomes.

There are also important ethical and legal considerations. Regardless of how much AI contributes to a document, the practitioner remains accountable for every recommendation and decision within the plan. Professional responsibility cannot be delegated to technology.

Privacy presents another challenge. Many AI platforms process information through external servers, creating potential risks when sensitive participant information is entered without appropriate safeguards, consent, or governance.

Perhaps the greatest risk is the erosion of professional judgement. Behaviour support relies on critical thinking, analysis, and human understanding. Over-reliance on AI may reduce opportunities for practitioners to develop and apply these essential skills.

This does not mean AI has no place in behaviour support. It can be valuable for proofreading, improving readability, formatting documents, and summarising practitioner-generated content. However, AI should support professional practice—not replace it.

As AI becomes more integrated into human services, the challenge is not whether we use it, but how we use it responsibly. Positive Behaviour Support is grounded in human rights, person-centred practice, and professional accountability. These principles require empathy, judgement, and genuine understanding—qualities that remain uniquely human.

AI may help write the words, but only skilled practitioners can truly write the plan.