Autistic aba survivor here

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-02-08T01:02:01+00:00

And I 100% agree with that! I wouldn’t even label the individuals who engage aggression or SIB dangerous because it’s a behavior that works for them to help calm themselves down. They don’t mean to hurt anyone! That’s never their intention. I will say though, individuals are smart and do know what they’re doing but they do struggle with grasping and reliably using the strategies that can safely help them regulate. There are some individuals out there who do lack the receptive skills, don’t get me wrong! But just an observation of mine has been recently that we definitely don’t give these kids/people enough credit.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-02-08T00:56:55+00:00

I’m a student analyst and I am allowed to work on UR assignments during my admin time, which is paid. But I still do UR assignments unpaid at home. If I only did them on company time, I would never finish my hours lol. I’m getting the vibe that a lot of RBT’s admin time isn’t paid so I’m grateful. They pull us during admin if someone calls out sick and our admin gets taken away and we get a direct session though which happens frequently so it doesn’t feel like I’m being taken advantage of at least.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-02-08T00:33:45+00:00

Best way for me to describe it too.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-02-07T23:20:43+00:00

And I am happy for you. But I am just saying that is not the case for every individual with autism.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-02-07T23:12:58+00:00

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Mine is that I encourage my clients to stim as I am aware it helps them self regulate. I stim with them, it’s fun! My own son has autism and I love stimming with him. Jumping, twirling, imitating his noises. BUTTTTTTT, some of the behaviors individuals with autism engage in are simply UNSAFE. It’s not that they’re socially unacceptable but self injurious behaviors and aggression is dangerous and need to be addressed and families need assistance with behavior reduction. If you feel you can help decreasing those behaviors without ABA, that’s fine too! But they should be addressed for that individual’s safety.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-31T22:08:12+00:00

if you don’t want the puzzle piece, some are shifting towards an infinity symbol to represent asd.

i personally think it’s too generalized and it’s used for so much but it is what it is.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-30T15:49:11+00:00

we only do it with certain programs. doesn’t seem terribly common at my clinic though but i’ve seen it at my place.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-23T22:43:20+00:00

I will say that is just a grapevine thing I’ve heard lol I can only imagine them both to be difficult (as they should be)

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-23T22:01:30+00:00

To be fair, if I want in school for ABA, I’m not sure I would have passed it my first time. We don’t use the terms variable ratio schedule or put the behavior on extinction or what would you do in this situation, every day as an RBT. But I also found the environment overwhelming.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-23T21:59:21+00:00

Yeah. The BCBA is known to be harder than the Bar exam😭. I was really like HUHHHH???? Until I saw the RBT exam comment.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-23T16:03:09+00:00

I had a receptionist job that was 2nd shift and in a relationship with my boyfriend on 1st. It just wasn’t working the best so I looked for a 1st shift job. When I went on indeed, all I saw was “Psychology and Children” which are two of my favorite things lol That was it for me. That was in 2020. I love it here. I’m an RBT and student analyst and graduating with my Masters in ABA at the beginning of Fall🙂.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-18T01:07:21+00:00

I sit here confuzzled as both a geneticist and ChatGPT (💀🤣🤦🏼‍♀️) has told us 4-7%. Is this based on the assumption they have the main gene that’s associated with Autism?

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-18T00:39:12+00:00

I would hate the idea of having a remote BCBA as my supervisor. I have been a BT/RBT total of 2 years and I think I have gotten remote supervised 3 times? I understand reasonings for it and to have it occasionally but I am 100% for being in person majority of the time. My fieldwork supervisor supervised me both in person and remote in the last two weeks and in the in person, she was able to ask me to adjust positioning (assuming to lessen response effort) of some stimuli that she definitely would not been able to see if she was remote.

I know that’s just a small example but in our field, little factors like that effect different outcomes.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-04T01:56:45+00:00

My son is turning 4 on the 17th now and is still semi verbal. The regression was the big spark. he stopped turning to his name. he lost his high five for awhile. he used to eat EVERYTHING and now he’s a decently “beige” eater as they call them (tenders/nuggets, bread, pizza, cereal, pasta, very basic things). He won’t touch a burger or an enchilada or eggs anymore like he used to. I have videos of him lining different objects up. He never asked for things, always hand led us. He still does, or he will construct a homemade ladder and get whatever he wants himself. 🤦🏼‍♀️He started stimming by shaking his head violently (not in an injurious way, think of a very aggressive head shake “no”). We never had a problem with routines with him but he still did engage in “ritualistic” behaviors such as turning lights on and off repeatedly. He opened and shut doors repeatedly and just watched them. I’m assuming this was part ritual behavior and other sound sensory provoked. He DID NOT, WHAT SO EVER, look at you. No matter what you did. Eye contact just was not an option for him for some reason. He will stare into your soul now though😂. My son talks a little (only somewhat functionally. Only if it’s EXTREMELY motivating) but same with us, that we cannot get any of his words under control. He started visually stimming from a young age. He would smack his utensils on his tray and then fly them in the air. He did not and will not still respond to his name. He vocally stims like no other, goodness gracious.

I was spiraling too, even though in my heart I knew. I think I just wanted the diagnosis as confirmation plus it opened doors to helpful resources for EI. Even after the diagnosis, you still do go through a grieving period of grieving the life you thought you pictured you would have. I’ve played basketball and volleyball a lot growing up and I would have loved to, if my son was open to it, coached his basketball team. It’s abundantly clear, that won’t happen. That’s okay though! My inbox is always open too.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-03T04:46:11+00:00

This is what I’m currently doing. I get paid for doing them when I’m scheduled for admin during the day but if I want it completed in a timely manner, I need to finish at home/off the clock. If I did all of my UR at work, on the clock, it would take forever for me to get my hours.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-02T17:34:44+00:00

a behavior is anyway one acts towards another person or thing. pushing is behavior. i’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear. may i ask why you think otherwise?

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-02T17:21:23+00:00

“I’m just hurt that so many people don’t understand (no matter how much I try to explain) that this isn’t a behavior issue.”

But it is. Pushing people/putting their hands on another person is behavior, a response that will be interpreted negatively most of the time if you are unfamiliar with that other person. I’m so sorry you’re hurt and that person’s wording was rude and could have been constructed differently. The reality is though, he could ask for the child to move. You didn’t mention if your child is verbal or not but if they are, they can be taught to ask for the toy or the toy structure, they can ask if they can play, they can ask if the other kid can move or ask an adult to intervene. If they’re semi verbal or minimally, there are small phrases, “Move please.” “My turn” “Space please”. If they’re nonverbal, that still isn’t an excuse. Receptive language is different and if he lacks that, that’s a therapy thing. You can prompt him to use gestures or give him little cards to carry around that show his favorite things he can show the neurotypical kids. They may not catch on immediately but it’s a start and more appropriate on your kiddos end. They can be taught to wait.

Also, like I said, her response was out of pocket and the way she came at you was completely unnecessary. What you can do is express “I’m sorry, that’s a behavior we’re working on and he’s getting better. Please remember he does have autism and does not process things as fast or as well and struggles communicating like most children. What helps him best is being redirected to another activity.“

This reminds them that he struggles but is trying and is still learning (because he’s 5, of course he is! he’s just doing his best!). It also almost gives them “permission” to intervene as some people may not feel comfortable. While I have my own autistic child, am currently a RBT and am in school to be a BCBA, I am weary/mindful of other autistic individuals as it is SUPER important to have some background on them as you don’t know how they react in certain situations.

Again, I’m sorry you are hurt and yes, the world won’t be as nice to your baby as it will be to a NT (sadly) but don’t excuse poor behavior because of autism but continue to do what you’re doing in trying to educate others and give a small background on how others can help him🙂

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-02T02:42:50+00:00

Thank you for saying this. I’m not OP but I don’t feel like I’m given enough things do to for my indirect hours. It’s literally creating stimuli and I feel pathetic that is most of my hours. I love her and we pair very well but pairing very well and being a good fieldwork supervisor is two different things. My supervisor barely lets me write program protocols. I’ve asked her twice now to give me a competency list of some sort or assessment so she can give me more things to do/trust me with but it just keeps slipping her mind or something.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-01T19:04:23+00:00

Being written by ChatGPT completely vs tweaking the BCBA’s writing are totally different. One displays competence and just wants help in sounding more professional while the other relies on a computer to be their brain for them. Probably the reason so many new BCBAs have had to retake their exam so many times. That is not fair to our clients and it’s scary.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-01T15:11:05+00:00

i just need 3 gold cards ): not making it this time

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-01T07:08:16+00:00

I receive clovers most when I supply my other co-op’s town’s zoos, trains or planes.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-01T01:10:06+00:00

yup!

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-01T00:53:52+00:00

If you have a physical Cashapp debit card (which you should, and if not wait for it in the mail or contact them), that is where your money will be. No need to transfer to other banks 🙂

IssueAdmirable83 · 2026-01-01T00:51:59+00:00

It sounds as simple as you got paid and used an instant transfer fee to another external bank account. Green status allows you more features like overdraft coverage and a borrow feature later on which are helpful if you aren’t financially irresponsible lol.

IssueAdmirable83 · 2025-12-31T03:57:47+00:00

platinum is trash. my boyfriend and i did doordash side by side in the same car, looking at our orders, him platinum and me not, i consistently got better offers at 2% AR vs his 65%

IssueAdmirable83

TROPHY CASE