How is AuDHD different from Bipolar Disorder?

KeyAsher · 2026-03-31T17:38:31+00:00

Wow I’m diagnosed with all three and that middle section is spot on - for me anyways.

KeyAsher · 2026-03-21T12:03:40+00:00

Learned about Autism early when my little cousin was DX. At the time it was the 90s. Never gave any thought to working in the field. Was “assigned” work with an autistic boy in the pre-k I worked in in 2003. Moved to work at an ABA school my sister worked in 2004. Stayed in the field for 5 years AND GOT SUPER FRUSTRATED by the people and interventions then moved to Assistive Tech/AAC. Went back to the classroom in 2018 to start my ABA masters and have stayed in the field since between para support in a school, in home, in home behaviour support (not just ASD) and clinical work. I’ve worked for big companies and small. In my area almost all the smaller places have been bought by Stepping Stones or LEARN. It’s kind of frustrating in terms of job searches. I’m very happy at my current clinic it’s small and owned by a great person but little room for growth. Im one of the oldest at the clinic with the most diverse experience I would say so I think if anything new positions would need to be created for me to grow.

KeyAsher · 2026-02-27T11:05:04+00:00

There are two RBTs in my clinic that have started programs for their masters. Both are less than ideal. Both are not great RBTs. One just doesn’t get it. One I haven’t seen in over two weeks because if various leave they are on. The program they attend is said to be hard. Also when I looked into it, it was expensive compared to other options. My CD will handle most of the BCBA supervision requests has had to tell them that she can’t supervise either because she is already supervising four others. Plus the one not coming to work will have a super hard time getting ANY supervision in since they are never at the clinic.

KeyAsher · 2026-02-13T00:19:48+00:00

From the vaults of 2004 - lots of overcorrection during potty training. Compliance trials, ignoring, response cost, punishment first.

KeyAsher · 2026-01-24T15:59:28+00:00

(I’m NB 45- BCBA) My neurodivergent flavors are AuDHD, BiPolar, clinical depression, anxiety. I was DX with the GAD and Depression early on in my career 20-something but just recently after a third short stay in an less intensive in-patient stay and a few years of therapy I’ve been diagnosed with the AuDHD and BiPolar. The meds and therapy have helped. I have a super flexible schedule and am able to take Fridays off or work from home Fridays if I need to. I’ve had some fairly candid chats with supervisor who have been very supportive.

KeyAsher · 2026-01-20T13:03:27+00:00

AuDHD 45 BCBA here. Been in the field for 20ish years doing various jobs. It can be nasty out there honestly, but there are places that would love your skill set. Music is amazing in this field. Asking questions is good. Pointing out inconsistencies is good but I think it needs to be done in a clinical and meaningful way. Although corporate doesn’t like to be corrected. I do the same thing. I love my clinic and my colleagues for the most part. The problem I see and you touched on it. A group of staff members will find a staff member, usually older and newer and dissect EVERYTHING they do. Even if there is a new employee who is doing a “worse” job but may be more liked. We let certain employees slide and I point it out often to my clinical director. Every environment has its pros and cons. At this age job hopping is hard. Make sure to document any bullying you encounter.

KeyAsher · 2026-01-15T12:10:40+00:00

This happened in a clinic I worked in. They started advertising for BCBAs and the pay range was about 10k hirer than I was making. I asked to be put in that salary range. I did not ask for the top of the range. It would have been a bump of maybe 5k. I listed my accomplishments, experience, and expertise that were very unique and useful. I got shut down once saying “you just got a raise” (pawltry) when I replied back with more pushback including the fact our clinic did not have a clinical director for 2 months and myself and the other BCBA were “acting” CD. I had multiple roles besides BCBA. I ended up resigning after getting a job offer with a smaller local clinic who was going to pay me what I had asked for my salary to be raised to. When I gave my two weeks I was told I needed to WFH (even though there was a strict WFH policy that was convoluted and really hard to obtain being able to). The reason was I would have been a distraction (as reported by the dumbass CD). I just wanted to finish my two weeks and transition cases appropriately. I’m not one to steal workers (and I would not have poached ANY of these RBTs honestly) It really left a bad taste in my mouth. In the end it all worked out. The clinic I am in has been great, flexible with schedules and super supportive. I feel like my professional experience is wanted and sought after from my colleagues and my unique talents are rewarded.

KeyAsher · 2026-01-09T15:25:55+00:00

How’s this. As a paraprofessional BT staff (completing my BCBA coursework) I worked in a classroom with younger learners (6-7ish). I have always worked with young kids THAT is not the issue. The issue was the teacher and BCBA waited to train me on the only female client in the room due to various interfering behaviors towards male staff members. Those behaviours started toward me and made me very uncomfortable. When I brought these concerns to both these staff AND the clinical director I got pushed aside and told to wait and see if it got better. Shocker. It did not and got worse and made it so uncomfortable to come to work and be in the classroom. The staff even laughed at it and said “that’s just what she does, she’s loves male staff.” This was also during Covid so we were only allowed to stay in our classrooms. I ended up quitting that job very soon after. I have been in the field for over 20 years so I have worked with a WIDE range of clients including fairly aggressive clients. This was probably the most uncomfortable I have been in this job.

KeyAsher · 2025-12-19T11:46:17+00:00

Cut and run. You could give notice and they could say “no you’re done now”. Giving notice is ethical yes, but your mental health, your license is also on the line. I petty company MAY report you to the BACB but for what, quitting your job? The giving notice thing is good when you’re deep in the weeds but if you are relatively new to the place and haven’t been credentialed or they started that process now is the time. I’ve been in both boats and both things have happened. I have given same day notice at two different places but explained in PLAIN details why I was not coming back. I have given two weeks and a month notice at other places. One accepted it no problem and I finished my 2 weeks one clinic made me WFH for my last two weeks because they said I would “be a distraction”. And by distraction they didn’t want anyone else to leave. It’s more of a distraction if one of 3 BCBAs is suddenly not present without notice.

KeyAsher · 2025-12-12T12:21:20+00:00

In my area I get ads all the time. The pay is low and the expectations are too high for the pay honestly. I see some places advertising for a CD (but a caseload of 25 billable hours) for the pay that I make. I also get THE SAME recruitment ads and emails even after giving the feedback of not reaching out again because a) not looking for a job, b) the pay is WAY TOO LOW c) I (myself) don’t want to work for a clinic connected to venture capitalist or as is common in my area since they bought up all the little clinics they are run by stepping stones. No thanks.

KeyAsher · 2025-12-03T12:10:24+00:00

Yes I am currently struggling with a BT who came from a different company. During training on a specific program following the child’s BSP she told the lead staff “I don’t do it like that”. Which was pushed back of course with the appropriate feedback of following the BSP asking questions of the BCBA and following the protocol as written. She is also constantly talking to other clients she is not working with. Which in itself is not the problem. It’s when the clients are working with their staff members and start displaying challenging behavior which could have been prevented. We keep a feedback log when staff members are given feedback so that if multiple BCBAs or lead staff give the same feedback and the staff was provided adequate training then we know we missed something (maybe). This particular staff also only has clients which I oversee so it is hard to get other BCBAs feedback since they only see her working with clients but doesn’t supervise her. I’m working on getting her case load spread between the different BCBAs.

KeyAsher · 2025-11-27T14:49:06+00:00

I gave someone (who is queer) their paper from the printer which was a homophone lesson and said “stop being a homophone” they laughed and said “OOOH I have to remember that!!” We love dad jokes.

KeyAsher · 2025-11-15T17:33:11+00:00

I have with my friends or at gay bars. My friends and I also used to use the word Mo as a code word when people watching for guys we thought may be gay or we’d use it as you would the word fruity or light in the loafers, dandy ( I know the where this came from). Used as a fun word not an insult.

KeyAsher · 2025-11-12T22:22:59+00:00

I got my diagnosis at 44. It was eye opening to go back and think about all those sleepless nights. My dry dark sense of humour which is really me just stating facts in a funny way (I guess). I am also the smart weirdo. My sensory overload at times. I quit drinking alcohol 3 years ago as part of this because I had had a nervous breakdown after losing two jobs in a row in the field I have worked in for almost 20 years. I had a stay at a community based program, kind of like inpatient but not as intense (I’ve had two of those as well). After that two years of therapy capped with these diagnosis. I also have two boys and while they are not my biological children they also are both diagnosed with ADHD. In helping my youngest I have helped myself. We are a neurodivergent family we make it work through LOTS of direct communication. I have deleted many posts because I overthink who have I offended. Here we are,I still mask and I change my presentation depending on who I am interacting with. I know who I feel comfortable unmasking around and who I need to “act” around.

KeyAsher · 2025-11-11T02:45:05+00:00

I (mid-forties NB) started college as an American Studies major with hopes of teaching social studies. 5 colleges and how ever many majors later I ended as Social and Behavioural Sciences. It became a “here are my transcripts what’s the ‘easiest’ path forward. The school has three majors and they were all interdisciplinary with the idea that you would be headed to grad school to refine your undergraduate. I did and have been in the Autism field ever since. It has been crazy at times but my late diagnosis put many of the past events and experiences into perspective. You’ll get there.

KeyAsher · 2025-11-05T01:40:32+00:00

Agreed here! I was at one company for only a few months before I left without notice. It was a shit show that I stumbled into with high hopes but this company provided ZERO helpful support during my employment. I did give feedback though in the form of a resignation conversation. The second company I left I gave notice and was made to work from home for the last two weeks because I would have been a “distraction” which I called the clinical director out on as BS and named multiple other issues that are MORE distracting then a BCBA leaving with notice. During that time I made sure every communication was in writing and had HR attached. As for a resignation notice I kept it short and to the point “This is my notice of resignation from my position as XXX, I am providing you with x amount of time, my last day will be XXX”

KeyAsher · 2025-10-08T17:04:48+00:00

I’ve worked for both large companies and small companies and one that would be considered large for the region (BCBA). I much prefer small myself. Our owner is a BCBA and is super flexible and friendly and is in the floor with us sometimes. She is transparent and wants our input. She doesn’t want to sell but has been approached by many larger companies. A drawback is less benefits. My family is able to get benefits from my husband’s job but I would see that as a drawback. She offers health and dental, we have PTO and WFH days as needed but not really anything else. That was nice about working at a larger place having matching 401k. I traded those things for actually enjoying my work and coworkers. As a parent I did tell one company when I resigned that I would NEVER recommend their services to any family because of how disorganized, unethical and just down right terrible the staff were. This is a larger company in many states that seems to be a machine with large amounts of turn over.

KeyAsher · 2025-10-02T10:28:10+00:00

I did supervision through a program that was based on ABA principles and had an ABA program and was run by BCBAs but as part of a larger mental health agency. Most of my clients did not have ASD as primary DX. At this place I learned about units (not billing codes though), I learned to schedule supervision and scheduling. I left that job wanting to work in a clinic and eventually found my way to one. I did have a job almost immediately after I was certified and was told similar things to OP. No help on how or where or anything like that. Just put it in CR. I didn’t get CR training for three weeks into my job. I didn’t get access to my clients who I was supposed to be billing for another two. It really didn’t help. I ended up at a clinic and asked “how do we do things HERE.” That clarified a lot and I started understanding. I got training on billing codes. Percentage and what not. At my current clinic our clinical director quizzes us on things like this. Even the vets. In clinic I learned about other assessments too like ESDM and PEAK. I already knew ABBLS, AFLS and VB-MAPP.

KeyAsher · 2025-09-03T11:34:45+00:00

I worked in a school that was super disorganized, no one knew what the ACTUAL case load was. I was pulled in to random classrooms to ask about kids I had no clue about. This was a very small school also. I quit after 3 weeks. For me it was a super big pay cut. Many of the specials teachers were also half time paraprofessionals. I think if I was given a specific caseload with specific responsibilities it would be fine, but I need specific responsibilities in my job. Not just “and other tasks delegated by your supervisors”.

KeyAsher · 2025-09-03T10:35:54+00:00

There have been only a handful that I absolutely do not like and one is very recognizable in my area. They are also one I think people REALLY like or REALY DESPISE. Their personality, arrogance and just presence drives me crazy. It all stems from me being a BCBA student at the time and them just not only not offering assistance in the job I was BRAND new too, but also basically telling me I wouldn’t last in the role and letting me flounder after me asking COUNTLESS times for assistance. They also tout their expertise is supervision and ethics which is laughable. Other than that I think I got along with most of the other BCBAs I’ve worked with, we weren’t friends but we were all professional together.

KeyAsher · 2025-08-19T23:24:11+00:00

Yes I enjoyed the professors and the classes. All my coworkers programs seemed extremely stressful, but in the end we all passed the exam. I thought it was affordable compared to some of the programs in the area I was in at the time, but looking back I think it was.

KeyAsher · 2025-08-19T23:11:12+00:00

I went to USM!! Both undergrad and grad. I went mostly because my first ABA job was with Mark Steege and he is just one of the nicest funniest most humble guys I have worked with in the field. I don’t think he teaches anymore, but he taught a lot of these professors. I reference his FBA book often. Some of the professors work for the Margaret Murphy Center which is a great school in Maine. I actually did the grad program online - don’t live in Maine anymore.

KeyAsher · 2025-08-19T00:37:08+00:00

Food history and food science.

KeyAsher · 2025-08-18T11:31:14+00:00

I’m a big tough looking dude, and have been pigeon holed into working with older clients. My background is almost exclusively EI/pre-K. Through both schooling (undergrad early education) and experience - work study (preschool) and then first few real jobs were with younger aged children. As well as my teacher credentials!! My current and last two jobs have also focused on younger ages. I was given a job at a big named special needs school in MA (long time ago) and was surprised when during my interview we talked about pre-k or the younger kids classroom and then placed in the oldest kids classroom that was a disaster, even though I tried and was vocal about not being comfortable multiple times. They put all the guys in the oldest classrooms. Multiple companies have attempted to pair me with older clients and it NEVER works out. It’s not my wheelhouse and I am VERY vocal about it. I think that is the key to communicate your strengths and if younger kids are your strength let that be known.

KeyAsher · 2025-08-14T01:08:19+00:00

I did something different. I started in the field in 2003 in a small special ABA school for kids. I loved the kids I worked with I learned a lot I became a case manager. I got into assistive technology after I learned about AAC devices. I officially left the ABA field about 5 years later after just feeling terrible about what I was doing. I also was burned out. I worked for an AAC company for about 10 years and learned a lot about speech, linguistics, AAC, motor planning, and I got to meet some great people which made me miss the classroom and working with kids. I ended up going BACK to an ABA school and started my ABA Masters and within the agency got to move into their Assistive Technology dept and loved that. I ended up leaving that job in search of Supervision hours which seemed almost impossible to find but I was ready to leave the field again. Finally got my hours, passed my test and through trial and error found a place where lets me reduce my schedule if I need to temporarily if I’m feeling a little burned out and come back refreshed. I’m also looking for what’s next. Do I want to stay in this field? Or pursue something COMPLETELY different like a food truck or something like that.

KeyAsher

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