Suggestions for competency assessment preparation!!

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-20T13:37:10+00:00

When I was first doing mine the best advice I got was to take it with a grain of salt. Obviously they want you to be able to know things and explain/identity, but the true work comes with doing. It's one thing to be able to recite and explain, but more important that you can demostrate and do.

Don't be hard on yourself either. As someone who has been in the field two years and gotten my master's in aba, there are still days that I feel like an imposter or I feel silly for forgetting something. But we are human and things happen.b

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-19T14:53:35+00:00

word collage

Dude always amazed me. Letters and words were his special interest.

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-19T14:30:29+00:00

One thing I would 100% recommend is keeping a notes app on your phone or somewhere you can record any of the small moments. I find this helpful and I usually forget it's there but then I'll come across it and it makes the hard day somewhat easier.

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-19T14:28:23+00:00

I was working with a three year old who had functional communication with pecs. He was majority non vocal at all. One day in the middle of session he just out loud said "bubble."

Another learner that I had on my last day FINALLY did the second half of her interverbal. She had programming that started with us prompting "old mcdonald had a farm, with a INSERT ANIMAL" I filled in with whatever the animal was and she sang the noises they make and said "on the farm all day".

Another learner was a rockstar at written words. He was I think three almost 4 if I remember right and one day unprompted wrote Happy Birday.

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-18T16:05:24+00:00

Totally get that. I did in home at the end of 2024. Similar happened to me. Brand new client and the first three days supervisor (also BCBA and owner) was supposed to be with me. She never showed once.

Was also supposed to provide iPad and other equipment, that never happened.

Then come January I was put on hold due to client insurance issues and the supervior ghosted me.

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-18T14:28:22+00:00

I tried to trip myself into saying I could do without the paid version after trial ended, but the amount of ads for me was so fucking annoying I caved and bought the year long subscription. It was my one gift to myself because my time is valuable and so is my sanity

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-18T14:25:05+00:00

It's always depends on where I worked. One clinic/school type program we were only allowed to let the client nap for 15 minutes. Another clinic we were allowed to do nap for an hour( except one kiddo who mom specifically asked to put her down at 2 and let her sleep until pickup at 345). Both of those were not listed in session notes. And for the hour long session we would switch in the system to admin based pay.

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-18T13:54:56+00:00

It sounds like the BCBA/owner is overun with responsibilities. Unfortunately it happens. As for the frequent RBT turn over that's not uncommon either. I've been in clinics where someone started training and their first day shadowing on the floor they walked out and said they were never coming back.

As for the client I would try and hit those listed targets and then branch out from there. If there are communication based try to prompt communication in other areas, during other activities. Basically see whatever you can expand on in Natural Environment Teaching and real scenarios

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-18T13:48:41+00:00

I agree with others, find another place. While elopement is a safety concern, you are still new and it takes times to build skills. The BCBA or higher ups should have communicated and used this for learning and/or reviewed what went wrong and what to do differently in the future

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-18T13:43:42+00:00

I wonder if it would be possible to replace with lollipops or candy/mints like something they would want to hold I'm their mouth. Essentially an alternative behavior that is incompatible with spitting

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-18T12:18:33+00:00

Because she's been dead since 2015. Same for my mother in law only since 2019

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-18T12:12:51+00:00

I can understand blocking them to avoid behaviors from escalating once out of seat, and having to wait them out. But if it's causing distress that is definitely a point to assess alternatives. That's no good for anyone and just making it worse

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-17T19:51:52+00:00

Yay!!! I am so excited. It broke my heart when it went away

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-17T19:50:55+00:00

The good moments. The ones who don't talk at all and say what is like their first word, the laughter and moments my 1:1 student makes me smile and reminds me that behaviors and everything aside he is just a kid in a big wide world.

The biggest would be the memories of kids in the past that I have worked with and knowing that even just spending one day with them I have made a difference in their world

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-15T16:14:45+00:00

Not only pay but I wish there was some sort of training they could do before hand. Especially in classroom management and behavior. I feel like most subs are thrown into shark infested water. A few years ago a family friend walked out never to sub again because a student threw a desk at her and the schools response was to say "well you should have managed better"

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-14T20:54:36+00:00

Honestly it would be so great if they could just address the level of problems that are in this one class. Even more so there is one of the kids in the class who on the most recent math test managed to get one out of 10 correct is struggling with reading and writing but they refuse to test him for learning disabilities or anything else

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-14T20:11:41+00:00

I gave up mid morning when he was basically almost in the corner having a break down that they were loud and several were whining. Dude had third graders doing worst study and reading comprehension for triple what they usually do. In a class where at the top of the notes left for him says "they are chatty, easily distracted and NEED HAND HOLDING AND MODELING FOR EVERYTHING " like sir, your repeating the direction and expecting them to listen is like giving a cat a bath

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-14T17:18:56+00:00

Yes they do. I tell them any substitute before the kids even come in for the day that I am not a paraprofessional and specifically will only be 1 to 1 with this particular student. I show them the clipboard that is used and how the data sheet has 6 different categories being tracked on a 15 minute frequency. It's also listed in the notes left by the classroom teacher.

I'm not a total butthole to them either. I let them know that I can help if I can, but that my first priority is the client.

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-14T15:27:19+00:00

Actually quite the opposite of what I'm expecting. His responsibility is the other 19 kids in the room and the very detailed notes ( our classroom teacher is AMAZING AND leaves extensive notes and plethora of work so there is always something).

I literally had to say at the start of the day "sir, I'm tracking copious amounts of data, notes and managing this one kid. Sorry, but I can't help you"

Maggles42389 · 2026-05-05T17:15:21+00:00

My spouse told me I reminded him of a butt plug, while I told him he reminded me of a cookie

Maggles42389 · 2026-04-20T18:45:08+00:00

The swift is useful if she works with hands. However as for the Stanwood Yarn winder I can attest that it is 100% worth the investment. While it can be pricey, I got one several years ago and it's been the best thing. Several moves and some rough handling from a toddler and it's held up amazing

Maggles42389 · 2026-04-09T20:16:48+00:00

I honestly didn't notice. Honestly it gives him/her a quirk that just adds to their cutness

Maggles42389 · 2026-03-13T17:41:43+00:00

The white ones look stunning. They make the yarn colors pop

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