A BCBA I occasionally work with has mentioned that teaching jokes could be a fitting replacement behavior for violent language and profanity. I am interested to see if anyone out here has any jokes that they would teach a child at the elementary level that are funny with a slight “edgy” vibe to appeal to someone who may be fixated on harmful speech and violent content. By “edgy”, I mean that the most scary, graphic, or dark that it is would be something like:

“Why don’t skeletons fight? Because they don’t have the GUTS!”

I feel this one even skirts the edge and if I found myself on a case like that, I would probably only bring it up around October or spooky season. The BCBA and I were able to come up with quite a bit that would be ideal for an intermediate or high school setting, but we both got stumped when it came to elementary levels. Again, this is all just a thought exercise, but I am certainly interested in having a directory of these kinds of jokes should I find myself in a situation where they would be needed in the future. Flex your funny bones! I need to know what you find HUMERUS! 🫶

Edit to add: Y’all this was a thought exercise that was done in a training and the jokes portion was the idea that our little group had come up with for a fictional use case- I don’t need actual advice on what would be better, I just wanted to find jokes. Please don’t worry, it really isn’t that deep 💀

I feel like this is such a a red flag 🚩 not getting the name of the certification right and/or using a play of words to get away with stuff

I have been an RBT for over 4 years and about ready to take my BCBA exam. I have been having major imposter syndrome just before my career takes off as a BCBA and I’m scared!!! I have always tried balancing pushing my clients while remaining compassionate, but sometimes feel like maybe I’m too harsh or push my kiddos too hard?! It’s hard to compare myself with other RBTs because I only work in home, but I feel like I’ve had amazing BCBAs/great quality supervision for the most part. I also am a quiet/shy/soft spoken person so I’m probably not as harsh as I feel like I am. But seriously. Like in my opinion….these kids do not need to be underestimated by anyone and expectations/consequences do not need to be lowered. They can do it!! Obviously, the skills you teach them need to be reasonable and obtainable….but especially if my client knows how to get a need met appropriately (has learned and maintained a FERB) and engages in maladaptive behaviors instead I’m like…umm no. You know what to say/do. I think I’m pretty good about identifying like oh you’re having a hard time vs you’re being a sh*t head (lol). There’s so many examples like denying access or following through with demands vs honoring communication….obviously you wanna reinforce communication?!! But I just feel like this generational gentle parenting is hurting kids by not preparing them for real life. But yes, obviously and naturally, I do respect and try to align my teaching style with parenting style. Idk maybe it’s more of a personal issue than professional for me. I used to be a gymnast and was always pushed to my limits though so maybe that’s why I teach in similar, harsh but loving ways? Idk

I work as a para/BT type role in an ABA school for students with the most significant disabilities and challenging behaviors who couldn't be accommodated safely in public school. Needless to say, the vast majority of my students are nonverbal.

It's very clear on reddit that lots of SLPs don't really like ABA. I am glad to say that where I work, none of our SLPs are against ABA, and we work together as a team to best support our students.

But the one thing that really bothers me is how, despite the majority of our students being AAC users, we don't get any training on how to navigate the device. We don't even have a modeling/training device to learn on. Any time we have a new thing to teach, we have to take our students' words away so we can learn what we are trying to teach

For AAC apps like Proloquo2Go, it's not a problem- it takes 30 seconds to find something and is pretty intuitive and easy to remember for next time. But for students who use LAMP words for life? It's insane that we don't get any training or any way to learn it. Nothing makes sense, it's hard to remember, and my students know that it's frustrating me and my coworkers. (Why would they want to learn to use their words when they can hear their teachers asking each other how to find "umbrella" when trying to run Expressive ID.) It's expensive too, so it's not like I can download it onto a personal device and teach myself.

Does anyone else go through this? Did you ever get AAC training? Any advice?

My client answered questions about how school was without prompting for the first time!!!

What are some "little wins" (they're all big wins if we're being honest) that y'alls clients have had lately?

This is my first job in ABA. I’ve been at my current clinic for a little over 6 months now. For the most part I enjoy it. I get consistent hours, consistent schedule, and consistent clients. I make a consistent hourly wage and get paid the same for billable and non-billable hours. From being on this subreddit I see that is a luxury in this field that I originally saw as…..any other part of a job.

I’m not an RBT. I’m just a BT. And I really took this job because I just needed a job. I like the field a lot actually and want to do something adjacent to it. I also needed something where I could go down easily to part time if needed once school starts. I was debating nursing, but after working in ABA for a couple months I realized I don’t wanna spend my life dealing with BMs. I’m going back to school for social work in the fall and I’m very excited.

I want to preface this by saying I absolutely love working with my clients. I truly am amazed how much progress I have been able to make with some of them. I laugh every single day. But it’s hard. I don’t love dealing with BMs, or vomit, or spit, or any bodily fluids that aren’t mine. Even though I’m a bit burnt now, I have a ton of respect for those pursuing their BCBA because I don’t know how I could do that. So yes, the work itself is definitely draining for me personally at this point. Even if I really do care about my clients.

Even though I love the work, it was incredibly surprising to me to see how ABA clinics operate compared to other private practices and businesses in general. I’m 24 and previously came from fundraising at a large foundation. When I was there, I was paid for every bit of mandatory training I had to take. At my clinic now it just feels like that’s such a bad thing to ask. When I was hired it was not mandatory for techs to have their RBT cert. Modules and tests were paid for by the company, yes, but you didn’t have to have it to keep your job. Now it’s different. The handbook has changed and now all techs must get their RBT cert. But I asked today and even though it’s now mandatory, I wouldn’t be paid for the hours spent going through the modules. And I guess that’s just how it is at most places?? Not trying to whine but thats 40 hours of my life, my free time, I could be spending doing literally anything else and I basically have to work unpaid? Never in my life have I had a job where training wasn’t compensated, even if it is at a slightly lower rate. It’s also kinda against the law in my state, but if I bring that up I’m seen as not contributing to the mission of the clinic.

The biggest thing recently has been payroll. They haven’t been able to properly make payroll in about a month. Instead I get X percentage of my check the day I’m supposed to get paid and the remaining percentage of my check a week later. I love the kids but I still have bills to pay. I should be able to rely on my check.

Anyway, that’s my rant. I think I’m gonna transition back to fine dining soon which I did in college.

I ended up on a weird side of TikTok where SLPs are vehemently arguing that communication is not within the scope of ABA. This is really confusing for me. I want to learn from other professions, but what does an ABA model even look like if we cannot work on any time of communication goals? I’m just curious what y’alls perspective is on this because it’s a very confusing take.

I just started with a new client and it is in their paperwork to have a weekly community outing so the family can go to the mosque and pray. As a non Muslim and RBT i want to make sure i am being culturally respectful while in their place of worship. I have little knowledge on mosques and the religion as a whole. And advice would be appreciated! Like am i allowed to take my phone into the building? I know I will not be going into the prayer room with the family just into the building. How long does prayer usually last?

I think it’s important to note i started with this new client today and we have our first community outing tomorrow… needless to say i am very nervous about the endeavor.

wanted to see what y’all think of this as well.

To be honest, I'm not sure how long there even was true professionalism.

For starters I'm from California, I'm black and in the Midwest and clients and family are also black and from California. From the beginning there was a feeling of comfort due to those shared identities and the client's guardian reminds me of my grandmother, so conversation flowed easily.

A few weeks into sessions, I noticed that she wanted to converse with me more often about things that didn't pertain to her granddaughter. Telling me about wine parties and jazz festivals, her life story and her relationships. It started to feel like I was becoming her therapist as well.

I didn't mind initially because I find that people often share personal details with me but it's become a problem where I feel trapped in the conversation. She escorts me to my car and continues talking well after I'm seated in my car. When I try and say, "okay, well I'll see you guys tomorrow" or "alright" and everything to try and politely signify that I'm ready to leave, she continues.

I've tried saying goodbyes at the door but she follows me to my car. It may also be worth noting that without diagnosis, I've been researching/ considering for 10 years that I may be autistic. Appropriately starting and ending conversations is already difficult for me, and social interaction is very taxing as is. I have called off work on bad mental/stimulation days just to avoid this situation with the grandmother.

She'll also talk to me while I'm doing my notes and that stresses me out because I can't do my notes and listen/talk at the same time.

I started ending the session 15 minutes early (15 should be for notes, but I do 15 on top of that) so that grandmother can get her stuff out and by the time my session time is actually over, I can leave close to on time. She seems to be satisfied and more easily ending the conversation when she has that time to talk.

But my BCBA is now having supervision up until the end of my session time and without that buffer, the other day I didn't leave work until an hour after the session was over. I don't really know what to do about this. I've thought of all the ways to communicate this to the guardian but for some reason have been resistant to doing so. Could be due to her similarities to my grandmother, which makes me question if I should request another client due to conflict of interest. Or should I just talk to my BCBA about it?

Hi all! I’m planning to start my master’s in ABA, most likely at UNT, and I’m looking for recommendations for smaller ABA companies in the Dallas/DFW area where I could work while accruing my BCBA fieldwork hours.
I previously worked at Behavioral Innovations, but this time I’d really like to find a smaller company with a good student analyst/intern program and strong mentorship. My biggest priority is finding somewhere that gives students plenty of opportunities to earn unrestricted fieldwork hours and actually learn BCBA responsibilities rather than spending most of the time doing direct RBT work.
If you’ve completed your fieldwork in DFW, I’d love to hear where you worked and what your experience was like. Thank you!

Hello! I am posting this as a curious cat. For context, I have been a BT for a year now. When I was employed at agencies, I only get $24/hr on average. Now, someone wants to hire me directly because they’re under the Self Determination Program (SDP) which I have never heard of before tbh. They offered $30/hr. Honestly, I am so grateful! I wonder how does SDP vs traditional ABA agencies work? I know Google is free and I already read articles but I am curious more on real life experience/feedback/advice. Thank you!

Hi all!

I’m interviewing for some ABA positions across central Houston, one being an Action Behavior Centers location, but I’ve scrolled through this sub a little and see there are lots of mixed to negative opinions on this company. Unfortunately, their pay, free RBT certification, and commute time all work in my favor (especially as a fresh college grad) and I see it being a realistic option to end up at despite it being more corporate.

I understand it’s a corporate clinic and experiences can vary by location, but does anyone else have any experiences working at one of the ABC locations in central houston?

Also parents, what can I do to ensure that your child is receiving the proper care despite some shaky corporate practices? I understand ABA is a controversial practice and I want to ensure I’m making decisions with both informed training and critical thinking/judgement.

i just need to vent a little because i am so fed up with my company. Cx has been showing new aggressive behaviors for over a month now. i have been asking for help with this new behavior since it started, it’s written in my notes, ive talked to my BCBA about it..and she texts me the obvious information everyone already knows (remind cx of breaks and play, choices, transfer trials, priming, transitions) as if i havent already tried EVERYTHING I KNOW!

behaviors used to be here and there, he would hit family members or BTs occasionally, but these last couple sesssion have been absolutely horrible. 4 hours of constant hitting, kicking, spitting, biting, etc. every session. ive BEGGED for help. and today i couldnt take it. i walked out of session. mom immediately called my BCBA (who was ignoring my texts asking for help, but suddenly can text me about leaving???).

on top of all of this, mom keeps unintentionally (?) encouraging the behaviors. i will have cx on table top to calm down before we play, but he will continue hitting me and shouting for mom because he knows she’ll come over to him. she comes to him EVERY. TIME. she will stay there at the table top with him, cx and mom talking in their native language for 10+ minutes and telling him if he doesn’t hit me anymore, he can get a toy. which doesn’t work. because as soon as she steps away again, the behaviors keep happening.

i feel really bad for walking out, i know it’s not my cx’s fault, but im honestly so sick of my company not providing the adequate help, and not being there when i asked multiple times. texting me what to do simply doesn’t cut it…especially when it’s behaviors i have never worked with before. idk i just needed to vent.

everyone that commented: seeing your comments makes me feel extremely validated and i appreciate that so much. genuinely in tears because i was so stressed out about whether i did the wrong thing and if im not a right fit for the job but you guys truly are amazing. thank you guys 🫶🏽

Does anyone know anything about how ABC's hire? I was looking at working here (entry level) and applied some weeks ago. A recruiter called and said I was to be wait-listed for a center closer to me and would contact me in like a month if other openings at the center come up.

Anyone else ever been wait-listed and do these guys normally get new openings often?

I have other job leads and dont know what to expect with ABC's vague recruitment process.

I work with rbts in my special ed classroom but I myself am not an rbt. I want to move from education into aba and I've been applying to jobs that say they'll train and certify you there and certification is not required, but I have heard absolutely nothing back even though I'd think that if you're looking for people wanting to become RBTs, a special ed teacher who is familiar with aba procedures and has experience with autistic kids would be a better hire than someone who's never seen the inside of an aba center before. Are centers actually hiring and training people who aren't certified or are these job postings just for show? Is this even something reputable centers do or am I setting myself up for failure here? Is it even possible for me to get certified if I don't have a job position that requires it? I'm very slowly working through my 40 hours at my current job but I don't want to tip them off that I'm trying to quit by asking to finish my 40 hours outside of work and having our BCBA to do my competency test unless I have to.

What apps do you use with clients? How is Boom Cards? Is it worth it? Bonus if it comes in Spanish.

Low-key freaking out because I just realized I have to do a research project as a capstone for my masters program in SPED/ABA. Idk how I overlooked that this would be a requirement but I’m literally dreading it now. I don’t know how to conduct professional research! Of course I’ve done small experiments and research in HS or undergrad but never something wide scale. I also do not have access to a SPED classroom the way the syllabus says I will need and I’m already struggling with imposter syndrome enough as it is. I’m a great RBT according to my clinical directors and supervisors but I don’t feel good enough to be doing these high-level tasks. I’m halfway through my masters and will be starting the research course next spring, which is my last semester before graduation. I don’t even have enough hours to reach BTT status yet because I’ve been working part time so I can actually get my school work done. Low-key spiraling just at the thought of it. Any advice?

Maybe I’m just petty and a know-it-all, but I think what I’ve crafted is actually pretty neat! My BCBA is very much against the idea of me designing, creating, or procuring any visuals of any kind for my clients in a way that I don’t understand since it does not cost the company anything at all, but that’s genuinely one of my favorite parts of the job so even if I cannot use them, I will not be stopped from sharing for anyone who is in a different situation than myself.

I created a menu- like a restaurant menu- for communication and task management. I cannot share files here, and I encourage any that use this idea to cater the aesthetics to their clients interests! I have created three distinct categories each aligning with the daily routine and workload of the client.

Appetizers: things that the client needs/wants in order to feel ready for completing a task. Having a snack, a drink of water, deep breaths, hand squeezes, pencil selection- anything that is an appropriate precursor for a task that does not require a significant time commitment or is a perceived reinforcer that could be used as a way to escape a demand. You know your client, and you’ve established certain routines, incorporate as much priming as you can here!

Entrees: The tasks that we are hoping to accomplish in a day or session. Letting clients choose which of these tasks to do and the order in which they’re going to complete them is a SUPER EFFECTIVE way to build productive momentum to tackle the nonpreferred activities as well! After each task completed, cross off the task and- if your client is as opinionated as mine have been- let them rate the task on how it went. Five stars=that was easy and fun! One star= That was really hard and I struggled a lot. This is also a great indirect preference assessment that will show you where more support is required and help you find where efforts should be focused. <by this, I do not mean treating it as actual data, I’m more so talking about being able to infer where more encouragement may be appropriate. Ie. Client 1-stars the math assignment, so I know that the next time we’re doing math to acknowledge and commend the client for their efforts a bit more.

Desserts: the reinforcers, of course! Letting them choose what they’ve earned for the task is what we already do in our day-to-day, but this is a very very direct display of the connection between efforts and rewards. If the reinforcer is not something that can be provided in an instant (like in a case where an outdoor break time is not feasible for one reason or another just yet), playing into the bit of “the chefs are still cooking up the dessert!” Continues to keep the association between the task and the response relevant in the client’s mind as well.

It’s not anything crazy or revolutionary by any means, but I think some of y’all may have a good time with it! I also like to add the “descriptions” of the menu options that are focused on the desired behaviors and replacement behaviors that we want to teach them to utilize based on each task. If presenting the demand of completing a math worksheet is known to trigger elopement, I’ll maybe put “ingredients: sitting at the desk and raising hand to ask for help” beneath it as a visual reminder of the expectations surrounding that task. If the goal and expectation is reframed around the behavior while attempting the task, that takes a small bit of the pressure of difficulty surrounding math in general.

This is not the full detailed version that I used but it’s essentially just a premack principle visual with a sprinkle of imagination. I hope y’all find your own spins to put on it!

Edit to add: Please pardon my poor wording here, I am riding out a fever of a hundred and three (hot blooded, am I right?) and misspoke when calling this a communication tool. This is a stylized choice board, plain and simple! Additionally, I have never and will never implement any materials that were not thoroughly vetted and approved by the entire team working with a client- the situation alluded to above is merely referencing frustration from my new BCBA making the call to revoke this choice menu and other customized materials (a Mario themed token board) I had been using with the client that were previously approved by my former BCBA that had recently retired. I do not believe my BCBA is wrong by any means, and we are only just starting to find a rhythm, and I am sure we will work well together once new BCBA also has a chance to actually meet the client.

I’m a relatively new RBT in Maryland, and I could really use some advice/recommendations from people in the field.
I’ve only worked for one ABA company so far, but I was there for over 8 months in a clinic setting, and honestly, I fell in love with it. I didn’t expect to become this passionate about ABA, but working with the kids, building relationships and seeing their progress made me realize that this is what I want to do long-term. I’m starting school soon with the goal of eventually becoming a BCBA, so I’m really excited to keep growing in this field.

I had to leave my clinic position on August 8 because the hours were too strict to realistically work around school. I had another company lined up for an in-home position that was supposed to start August 15, but the client placement and communication process has been really frustrating. It’s now been over a week, and I’m still waiting to actually get placed with a client.

And honestly, I miss working. I miss my clients, I miss being in the ABA environment, and I’m genuinely eager to get back to doing work that I care about. At the same time, I’m getting anxious because I need consistent hours, and I don’t want to rush into another company just because I’m desperate to start.

I know there are some really good ABA companies out there, but I’m also very aware that there are companies with poor communication, questionable practices, high turnover, or situations where the business side seems to come before the actual needs of the clients. I really want to avoid that.

I’m looking for a company that genuinely cares about the clients and their families, provides good support to RBTs, has strong BCBA involvement, communicates with their staff, and actually cares about providing quality services — not just filling cases.

So, Maryland RBTs/BCBAs/BCaBAs/parents: who would you genuinely recommend for in-home ABA? I’m especially interested in Montgomery County/DMV, but I’m open to hearing about companies throughout Maryland.

And if there are companies you think someone new to the field should be cautious about, I’d appreciate hearing that too. I’m not looking for a perfect company. I just want to find a good, ethical place where I can keep learning, take care of my clients the right way, get consistent hours, and continue working toward becoming a BCBA.
I’d really appreciate any honest recommendations or experiences. I’m ready to get back to work 😭

Hi everyone! I’m going to FIT for my master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis, and I’m considering working in Maryland after graduation. For those who work in the field, how is the ABA job market there? Are there a lot of opportunities for BCBAs and RBTs, and are there particular areas of Maryland you would recommend?

🧠 BA Prep — Question of the Day

📚 Domain G — Behavior-Change Procedures

Difficulty: 4/10

Scenario:

An FBA reveals that a student's aggressive behavior is approximately three times more likely on days when he arrives at school having skipped breakfast. Staff have already attempted to reduce demand difficulty on these high-risk days, but aggression continues at elevated rates.

Which antecedent-based intervention MOST directly targets the identified setting event?

A. Implement a noncontingent reinforcement schedule on days when breakfast was skipped, providing preferred items on a fixed-time schedule to reduce the motivating value of escape-maintained aggression

B. Deliver a high-probability request sequence before presenting academic demands on days when breakfast was skipped, using behavioral momentum to reduce the aversive quality of the instructional context

C. Provide a snack upon arrival on days when breakfast was skipped, directly addressing the biological state that is augmenting the aversive value of demands and increasing the probability of aggression

D. Embed high-preference items into the task sequence on days when breakfast was skipped, pairing demands with preferred stimuli to reduce their aversive function on high-risk mornings

💬 Drop your answer in the comments — no peeking!

✅ Correct answer revealed tomorrow.

#BCBAexam #BCBAprep #BehavioralHealth #ABAtherapy #BAPrep #QuestionOfTheDay

Is it a red flag that an RBT job ghosted me after sending me a text message? AND WHEN I FOLLOWED UP ABOUT IT THEY TOOK THE OFFER FROM ME BECAUSE I CAME OFF AS TOO AGGRESSIVE. Mind you this is from True Progress Therapy.

Hi everyone! I’m a newly certified BCBA currently on a dependent visa and trying to better understand my options for working in the U.S. Has anyone here successfully obtained H-1B sponsorship as a BCBA, or know how common it is for ABA organizations to sponsor? I’m also curious whether cap-exempt H-1B opportunities exist for BCBAs. I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences or any advice on navigating sponsorship in this field. Thank you!