In the How To ABA community, we’re always looking for ways to support each other. We decided to take some time to share some of our biggest failures to help others learn from our mistakes and perhaps do things differently. Shayna shares that one of her first-ever clients didn’t flourish under her leadership because she felt she had neglected one of his biggest interests. It was a missed opportunity to build up his motivation and today, she would have approached the situation from a different angle. Shira learned from a particular case that aligning with parents is more important sometimes than aligning with the school board. Leading with parent goals helps build trust and connection and parents really do know best when it comes to their children.

In terms of successes, it’s key to celebrate both big and small wins. How we define success is subjective, as what works for one case may not work for another. Providing children with a sense of independence through skills like speech and toilet training is always rewarding, especially when parents may have been told it would be impossible. A client of Shayna’s gained so much independence that he can now live on his own. Shira has been inspired by people she’s met who get into the field of ABA after learning about it from her, which is a measure of her successful mentorship and enthusiasm. When we review ourselves in a supervisory setting, we tend to go straight for the failures and are always harder on ourselves than we need to be. It’s important to relive our successes whenever possible as they are reinforcing and remind us why we do what we do.

What’s Inside:

• Shira and Shayna’s successes and failures as BCBAs
• How tapping into your successes can be reinforcing
• Why advocating for parents is important

Mentioned In This Episode:

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Staff training is an important part of our jobs. Whether you’re with supervisees, RBTs, or teachers, knowing your audience and having realistic expectations going into the training makes all the difference. Don’t assume that your audience knows as much as you do about the topic you’re presenting on and always start with what they understand. Set easy, attainable goals and consider using breakout groups to make things interactive. Adding video is another great way to mix things up and keep people engaged.

Having your trainees walk away with handouts and visuals helps make things concrete. Handouts help tremendously with more technical concepts and can be used for future reference. Doing a pre and post-test helps track progress on learning and how effective your training has been. Senior members of your organization are great resources to help you with training, especially if you’re hosting a large group. Always use stories and anecdotes that are relevant to you and your audience.

We are pleased to announce that we’ve made our staff training series available! Instead of reinventing the wheel, we’ve made it easy for you by creating reusable, editable training templates on a variety of different topics. They range from basic principles to more sophisticated concepts, like teaching language. There are ten different pieces of training that can be purchased individually, or you may purchase the bundle at a discount. Click the link below for more information!

What's Inside:

• Tips for presenting to different audiences
• Ideas for post-training takeaways
• Information on Shira and Shayna’s staff training series

Mentioned In This Episode:

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How To ABA Staff Training Series 

Angie Pickering lives in Portland, OR, and has a lot of interesting things going on. She started her career as a typical 9-to-5 clinic-based ABA in 2006 and has watched the field evolve over the years. Angie sees ABA as being in a sort of reflective period and moving towards more client-centered care, which is exciting. Six months ago, she decided to take a leap and started her own consulting business. Angie delivers focused training for staff at various clinics and teaches at Portland State University. She also offers remote supervision services as well, and she encourages our listeners to connect if they’re interested.

Angie is also developing an app called “Tracker!” which is expected to launch in February 2022. The app will streamline the documentation portion of ABA training and keep everything at your fingertips. It will interface with the 5th edition task list, so we will keep you all posted.

The biggest challenge Angie sees is that BCBAs have such a limited amount of time with large caseloads, and it seems that quality training for trainees takes the brunt. Supervisors often lack the adequate training they need to handle teaching someone new, so they just try to get them up to speed enough to get out the door. There’s plenty of support at the university level, but there needs to be more efficient at the real-world level once BCBAs are out with real clients. If we can streamline and enhance the training process, it can help empower new professionals which trickles down to the clients having the best experience possible.

What’s Inside:

• Ideas on how to improve the BCBA supervisory experience.
• Information on “Tracker!”, Angie’s upcoming app to help BCBAs.
• How to access a child’s motivation in their natural environment.

Mentioned In This Episode:

HowToABA.com
How to ABA on YouTube
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Angie Pickering/AKP Consulting - LinkedIn
AKP Consulting

Chris Collins is an RBT and the founder of ABAid Suncoast, a non-profit organization in Florida that helps remove barriers to entry into treatment for autism. Chris had a desire to create something that would offer direct support to clinics and provide financial assistance to families for diagnostics and treatment options. There are many children who can benefit from ABA services but because they don’t have an official diagnosis, insurance won’t cover their treatment, forcing families to pay out of pocket. Chris partners with treatment organizations in his community who refer families to him that are a good match for his program.

In a perfect world, Chris sees BCBA as much less of a fragmented modality. Many BCBAs are sole proprietors, so there can be a lack of established common best practices and communication between organizations. There is no shortage of children in need of services, but there is a shortage of providers, mainly due to burnout. This shortage can affect families as well, as frequent turnover means their children miss out on the consistency and stability that having the same practitioner provides. Chris’ advice for new BCBAs is to have patience. Being a BCBA is a fluid profession, and you often have to roll with the changes. If you’re dissatisfied with your job, try to advocate for yourself to turn things around before quitting, as the same common problems tend to exist across organizations. Know what your tolerance threshold is and always try to find the joy in what you do.

What’s Inside:

• How a non-profit organization is providing financial assistance for families in need of BCBA treatment.
• How a multidisciplinary treatment approach would greatly benefit children with autism and other disabilities.
• Why it’s important to advocate for yourself on the job as a BCBA.

Mentioned In This Episode:

HowToABA.com
How to ABA on YouTube
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ABAidsuncoast.org

We received such amazing feedback on our burnout episode that we decided to do a follow-up based on our top five daily habits. Simple things like waking up early or carving out five to ten quiet minutes each day to yourself can make a huge difference in your day. Activities like exercise, enjoying dinner with family, and a daily gratitude practice are non-negotiables for us. Schedules and to-do lists also help us effectively move through the day and we each do them a bit differently.

There’s no one way to create daily habits, as each of us has different needs and desires. The most important thing is that we stick to them and make them a priority. Putting time in the calendar can help you accomplish your habits each day. Creating healthy and firm boundaries around what you will and won’t do will also help you keep your own habits on that non-negotiable level. Discovering your own personal values and getting closer to them ensures that your daily habits are personalized.

We’d love to know what your own daily habits are, so please share them with the community!

What’s Inside:

• Shira and Shayna’s top 5 daily habits.
• How making a commitment to sticking with your own habits can create a more fulfilling life.

Mentioned In This Episode:

HowToABA.com
How to ABA on YouTube
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BCBA Rosa Casali has been practicing ABA for 13 years and is the founder of Behavior Solutions Inc. Her firm provides in-home care for families in the Miami area. Rosa has a master’s degree in mental health counseling and fell in love with ABA after taking an advanced course in the subject. She knew she wanted to help children and their families and becoming a BCBA was a hands-on way of doing so. Miami is a melting pot of cultures and Rosa’s been able to learn from people of all kinds of backgrounds. Different ethnicities approach autism and disabilities differently, which affects how the treatment is approached and progress is made.

Some families have a lack of information and resources to help them understand their child’s diagnosis. Being able to provide this for clients is something Rosa enjoys. When working with different cultures, take your time to study them, even if it’s as simple as doing a quick internet search. Ask the families about what they prefer, especially when entering their home, as they can have varying customs. When you show consideration to families, it builds trust and a lasting relationship. When setting treatment goals, ask the family what they have in mind. Sometimes the plan you initially bring won’t be a good fit with their culture or overall plans for their child. When you refrain from putting your agenda on families and let them drive the process, treatment is more successful.

When working with culturally diverse families, it helps to ask for feedback. Taking the initiative to make changes so families feel more comfortable is always worth it. For new BCBAs, the best advice would be not to give up. The field can be very challenging, especially when first starting out, but it is an extremely rewarding career.

What’s Inside:

• How do different cultures feel about getting a diagnosis for their child and how do they approach treatment.
• Discussion on different ethnic customs within the home setting.
• Advice on how to work with culturally diverse clients.

Mentioned In This Episode:

HowToABA.com
How to ABA on YouTube
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Behavior Solutions Inc. 

Tammy Kaiser is an RBT with a master’s degree in Jewish education. She’s planning on taking the BCBA exam in the spring and is also working on her Doctor of Science in Jewish studies. Tammy’s goal is to use her diverse background to look at the world of ABA through a lens of faith-based values. As a survivor of a mass shooting, Tammy also had to recover from a traumatic brain injury and PTSD. When she learned about ABA at a previous job, she realized that she had a unique perspective and mindset that could greatly benefit the field.

Looking at ABA from a trauma-informed lens is important. One of Tammy’s biggest challenges is to balance the idea of being an ABA professional with a trauma-informed approach. Being able to look at a family as a whole unit and taking the time to learn about them and their life is an important part of treatment. Taking a moment to connect with the family and meet them where they’re at can make all the difference in successful treatment.

Tammy is interested in creating a values-based system for ABA and focuses on putting children first. Children have just as many rights as adults and it’s important to consider the values and ethics of their families. This can help create treatment plans that fit within a family’s needs. Tammy feels that the field of ABA also needs more neurodiverse voices and could benefit from incorporating more empathy with scientific data. Compassionate care is becoming more of a mainstream topic in the field. Practitioners can benefit greatly from taking a step back and looking at the whole picture when treating clients.

What’s Inside:

• How incorporating faith-based values could positively impact ABA practices.
• Why using a trauma-informed approach in ABA can benefit clients. 
• How merging empathy and a focus on feelings with scientific data can help the field of ABA. 

Mentioned In This Episode:
HowToABA.com
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Sonya MacCrimmon is a life coach with a background in ABA. She made her way into ABA after her university program in psychology. Part of her curriculum included a learning disabilities course which piqued her interest and led her to a summer camp job, working with special needs children. Sonya worked as a BCBA at an agency for five and a half years and made her way into a supervisory position. Going through the pandemic made her think more about her own personal development and mindfulness, eventually leading her to become a certified life coach.

Sonya uses the ACT framework within her life coaching business and merges it with much of what she learned throughout her ABA experience. She helps her clients primarily with the mindset and habit changes. Sonya often utilizes techniques from her behavioral analyst days but finds that coaching takes on a more open-minded approach and takes emotional processing into account. One principle of ACT that is helpful when moving through emotions is “notice, name, neutralize”. When you notice you’re having an emotional reaction, naming it for what it is and knowing that it’s only temporary neutralizes its effects.

When you are first starting out as a BCBA, Sonya recommends being an open communicator. Be open to communicating your needs as well as be open to receiving feedback on how to improve. Being ready to learn and understand as much as you can when you’re new can make a lasting impact on your career. Knowing the difference between impostor syndrome and needing to ask for help is key. Lastly, always be open to communicating when you are experiencing burnout and always take time for yourself.

What's Inside:

• Sonya’s journey from BCBA to life coach.
• How Sonya uses ACT with her coaching clients and merges it with behavioral techniques.
• Why open communication is so important when first starting out as a BCBA.

Mentioned In This Episode:

HowToABA.com
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SonyaMacCrimmon.com
Sonya on Instagram

We’ve read so many books throughout our careers that we’d love to share with our audience. Below is a shortlist of recommended reading within this episode that can help you become a better BCBA. We’d also love to know what’s on your bookshelf, so make sure to connect with us and share!

— Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism (Catherine Maurice, Gina Green, et al.)
 —  A Work in Progress (Ron Leaf)
 — Early Start Denver Model (Sally J. Rogers and Geraldine Dawson)
 — The Behavior Code (Jessica Minahan and Nancy Rappaport, MD)
 — Beyond Behaviors (Mona Delahooke)
 — The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child (Alan E. Kazdin)
 — Parenting with Science (Leanne Page, BCBA)
 — Smart But Scattered (Peg Dawson and Richard Guare)
 — Teaching Language to Children with Autism or Other Developmental Disabilities (Mark Sundberg, Ph.D. & James W. Partington, Ph.D.)
 — Communication-Based Intervention for Problem Behavior (Edward Carr, Ph.D., Len Levin M.A., et al.)
 — Visual Supports for People with Autism (Marlene J. Cohen & Peter F. Gerhardt)
 — Early Intervention Games (Barbara Sher)

What’s Inside:

• Shayna and Shira’s recommended reading list to support practitioners, parents, and more

Mentioned In This Episode:

HowToABA.com
How to ABA on YouTube
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Patricia Williams is a BCaBA from Jamaica and a longtime member of How to ABA. She works in an international school on the island and began her career as a high school teacher. After observing students in her classes with behavioral issues, she studied special education and began using the techniques she learned. Patricia eventually began her own private school, with many parents enrolling their autistic children there because it poses fewer challenges than the regular school system. She also just completed her master’s degree in education, which compliments her behavioral knowledge very well.

Caribbean culture tends to be more “old-school,” with punishment often being the options parents and teachers go to first to correct behavior. Approaching ABA with compassion is a must for Patricia. Taking the time to develop a relationship with a child can be a long road but it is the right choice. You want children to do things for you because they like you, not because they’re afraid of you. A big challenge in Jamaica is that parents don’t always have the funding for services, and currently there is no insurance in place to help supplement costs. Sometimes all a parent can afford is one session, so creating a treatment plan that the parent understands and wants to follow makes all the difference.

Another challenge Patricia faces is a lack of resources. Currently, there is no screening program in place in Jamaica to help identify at-risk children. Sometimes a children with behavioral issues won’t get services until they’ve reached adulthood where it’s much more difficult to correct problems. Greater awareness of ABA services is needed for pediatricians and educators so that children can be referred to programs as early as possible. Patricia’s advice to new ABAs is to lean on your community and make sure you have a support group you can turn to. Researching topics and solutions that have already been proven in studies can help tremendously so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Also, be comfortable with not always having the answers.

What’s Inside:

• Patricia’s journey of becoming a BCaBA.
• Cultural challenges with ABA services in Jamaica.
• How a teaching background compliments behavioral analysis and practices.

Mentioned In This Episode:

HowToABA.com
How to ABA on YouTube
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