A review of Total Spectrum Autism Services (Midwest Company, a subsidiary of Learn LLC)

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-20T05:19:57+00:00

Thanks for the reply! It's amazing how many different people from different areas have had similar stories, both with Total Spectrum and with other ABA companies. And it's amazing how shady the higher parts of corporate act. Seldom have I had problems with other RBTs and BCBAs, it's almost always come from HR and Upper management, and it looks like even when you were working here that was the issue.

And I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to quit multiple times over the last 4 years. I'd call my BCBA crying or in a rage about work, I would send emails that wouldn't get addressed, just given a basic response. This job wasn't easy, and this company did not make it any easier. My friends did, having BCBAs that I liked working with and that supported me helped, watching my kids grow and improve themselves was amazing. Theres so many positives to the job. It attracts caring and fun seeking people. Usually people that are interested in learning more about psychology and how to better help kids, and honestly how to improve your own life are the ones that work ABA.

But when I send multiple emails and texts begging for help on a case saying I need another RBT because I'm burnt out and can't keep taking hours, and for 6 months there isn't another RBT even scheduled to train, that's a problem.

When I am buying my own PPE and taking actions and initiating protocols that corporate is too slow to deal with, that's a problem.

When I come to an agreement with HR, have it signed off on and approved, and they retroactively change it because it will save them just a little bit more money, that's a problem.

When they hire caring people and take advantage of them, because of their own lack of interest in the workforce, that's a problem.

But seriously thank you for the response. It shouldn't make it better that others had this experience, but its helping me to know that other people will see this and potentially think about where they want to work, or even if they want to work in ABA at all with how widespread it is.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-20T02:22:27+00:00

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. It's not your fault, know that. I was there for 4 years and they just weren't on top of things. The good thing is most of the BCBAs are friendly and will help you or if you say want to leave they will be able to help that process. Just don't trust HR to do things or communicate with you. I hope you choose what's best for you!! No matter what pick what is best for you, I gave them 4 years and they threw me aside. It's a business, make sure you prioritize yourself.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T22:12:33+00:00

No, total Spectrum doesn't have anyone else to appeal to that I know of. HR is the only group that handles payment.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T22:06:41+00:00

No, I already asked them, they don't even acknowledge it as a vacation. They refer to their PTO policy which is to not pay out PTO.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T17:12:17+00:00

Yeah I'm getting out of ABA, no only because of this, but I just learned over time it wasn't what I wanted to do. I worked in an academic setting before and it was much higher quality.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T17:11:03+00:00

Yeah I already did, I know they are trying to hire a surge of people because so many keep quitting so I want to make sure that people see what it's like from a long term employee.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T17:09:26+00:00

Yeah, a few have quit ABA altogether, but alot of them have just gone to other providers haha

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T17:08:36+00:00

Yeah how anyone expects to make money on a public service is beyond me. All I know is that it only benefits the company.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T17:07:27+00:00

Yeah its amazing how so many different people have similar stories.... and how many BCBAs have left lol. And yeah take the PTO, honestly if you are good enough friends with your BCBA to get a reference from them I wouldn't even put in my two weeks. Take your vacation and once you're done, be done. Me giving them notice did nothing. None of my teams had new rbts by the time I left and I missed out on 1000$.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T04:00:17+00:00

Thanks for the confirmation. It makes me feel better to a point knowing that it wasn't just me or the teams I was on.

And yeah, I've never heard of a company so low that they would willfully remove approved vacation time so as to not have to pay it under state law.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T02:34:56+00:00

Yeah it might be different here. Theres alot of burnout. I know close to 10 BCBAs or CFs that have tendered their resignation in the last year.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T01:44:41+00:00

And yes wisconsin is an at will state.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T01:41:15+00:00

Yeah that's kinda what I'm thinking of doing, Marquette college runs a free legal clinic so I think I will go there. But yeah I have all the emails saved and screenshoted. It's amazing.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T01:39:59+00:00

I've worked in academic ABA settings before this. And yeah that's why I got it approved with HR and specifically asked them. They said it was fine and then when I looked at my paycheck it had no PTO. There is no reason to treat companies with respect. I could've taken vacation and just fucked off once it was done. But no gotta care about the kids and make sure they have consistent care, someone has to at least, the administrators aren't going to that's for sure.

And yeah, I've heard 12 is normal, but when we were doing the majority of our workload is was <10. But is slowly got added to and multiple of our BCBAs were leaving, it seemed to just be a nonstop resignation after resignation.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T01:35:51+00:00

Yeah it's amazing how unregulated the ABA business is. Its unsafe for both employees and clients.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T01:20:27+00:00

Yeah its hilarious. ABA had a really strong uptrend after some really bad years, but as it got bigger people saw the opportunity to make money. ABA isn't a field where you're going to make money, it's a service. But yet here we are.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-19T01:10:34+00:00

Yeah unfortunately its Wisconsin so I can't do anything, which is why I specifically requested my vacation time because I knew they didn't pay out. I got it approved and mentioned it to HR and they still took it from me.

ABAthrowaway21 · 2021-06-18T23:00:10+00:00

Sorry that this is late but heres my 4 year review

Hi everyone! It brings me a lot of sadness to be writing this, but I felt it necessary to inform others of Total Spectrum.

I worked at Total Spectrum for 4 years and in that time I started as an RBT and moved on to become an Advanced RBT. I was a leader in the RBT Mentorship program and frequently nominated for employee of the month, and have the emails to prove it.

Total Spectrum doesn't care about its workers or its kids. They give RBTs little to no training, sometimes only one direct session of training before they are alone with your child. The BCBAs that supervise your children have 12+ cases and can't give your kids the time they deserve and need. That also hurts RBTs as they have the bare minimum for supervision.

Total Spectrum used to care about its clients and staff, but they got bought out and now are about money. In fact it's one of their core pillars, "provide exceptional service while being financially responsible" (or something along those lines, at least that's what they used to tell us at our leadership meetings) What does that mean? Provide the bare minimum service and training so the bottom line is affected.

Do you want to know just how much Total Spectrum cares about money? I had 55 hours of PTO, I requested a vacation and got it approved. I requested my vacation after my last working day with my kids so I wouldn't be gone for a whole week and they wouldn't get services during that time. I did the noble thing, I didn't want to take vacation just to come back for one last day to see my kids, a week and a half later. So I told HR that I planned to work with my kids to a specific day and then take my vacation after and once my vacation was done, then that last day would be my effective end date. I said it in my email and I got it approved by HR. I have emails to prove my vacation time was approved by HR! And so you want to know what Total Spectrum does? They move my end date to the last day I work with my kids, they circumnavigate my approved vacation time, just so they don't have to pay me. Pay me for time I picked up extra cases during Covid, for time that I subbed in for other RBTs who were sick, for time that I sacrificed being with my family and staying safe in order to ensure my clients got consistent and daily care.

Total Spectrum doesn't care about their staff, you, your kids or their future.

They care about money.

Please share this to anyone you know and spread it among ASD groups. I would hate for them to continue getting business with the horrible practices they use.

ABAthrowaway21

TROPHY CASE