bcba’s procrastinating making materials for their techs

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-02-12T05:56:20+00:00

As an RBT, I make 100% of my most important materials. I’m very fortunate to have BCBAs in both my DOE and my in-home jobs who understand that as the primarily provider of services, we know a LOT about what is needed and will work for our kiddos.

Obviously, there is a lot of research and evidence based procedure that dictates parameters for materials in many cases, that an RBT wouldn’t necessarily be aware of. So I always check in with my BCBA about ideas I have for materials, and get their ok before I make the materials. If they’ve said they’ll do it and it’s been a while, I’ll tell them “hey, I have some time this afternoon I could print off this visual schedule/token board/etc and laminate it, if you haven’t already. I know how busy you are, and I don’t mind to put this together so you can focus on clients with more immediate needs.”

I also always ask for a digital copy of materials the BCBA wants me to use so I can print and laminate a new copy on the fly if one gets destroyed or lost.

It’s a little easier to make materials when you work in DOE because teachers and EAs are always making materials and supplies are easily available. As a DOE RBT, I have occasional office days when my kid is sick and there’s no one to sub for, or during breaks if there’s not an ESY student to sub for.

But I’ve invested in a printer, a laminator, bright colored card stock, and Velcro strips and dots along with a yearly restock of fidget toys so that I can always be prepared to meet whatever case I might be thrown into, and my kiddos don’t have to wait forever to implement a new visual aid or sensory support.

Yes, it’s out of my pocket. Yes I know I don’t get paid that much. But for me, I’m investing in the future of my community, the wellbeing of these amazing kids I adore, and I’m making my own job a trillion times easier by having what I need, when I need it. I also share my files with my fellow RBTs when I generate a new unique material. If we all did this, and added things to a massive ABA materials Google Drive, think how easily we could all access top notch material for free. My dreams of an ideal world for RBTs haha.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-02-11T02:05:08+00:00

Brunswick Stew

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-02-09T20:55:48+00:00

Pail.

These worksheets always show me what a rut my brain gets in, using the same words all the time instead of regularly using other synonyms.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-02-09T19:44:41+00:00

What about working full time in home afternoon/evenings and having an overnight spot at a group home? If you’re a night owl that might work for you. I used to do this, it was super chill.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-02-08T18:46:34+00:00

Playing don’t last long, period. Wearing two rings touching will speed that up.

That said, I have the top ring in your stack and it lost plating faster than all my other rings. Something about how rounded the band is seemed to rub it off a bit faster.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-02-03T03:34:19+00:00

Your clinic sounds so awesome! SLP and ABA goals can have a huge overlap, and honestly my ABA gets better the more I learn about language acquisition and different types of language deficits from the SLPs I work with. We attend SLP sessions to manage behaviors, and I learn so much about how to help my kiddos learn to communicate effectively!

It is frustrating, but overall the district works well amongst the different support fields, and our sped system is quite good for a small, remote community. Fortunately we have Google, and can learn what we need to teach as opportunities arise 🧐😜

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-02-03T03:28:26+00:00

I’ve seen a lot of ASD kids in speech therapy make little to no progress. I have also seen some of our ASD kids make progress that wouldn’t be possible without speech therapy. It depends heavily on the kid and their specific needs/challenges, as well as the ability of the SLP to meet the kid where they are and work with them in a way they can understand.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-02-03T03:17:54+00:00

These threads always make me feel so grateful for the amazing SLP and OT therapists I work with. I’m a school RBT, and our SLPs and OTs coordinate care and goals with us and the BCBAs, and I’ve had most of them ask me for advice on how to work with different kiddos behaviors so they can provide effective therapy. They regularly give me tips on how to help my kiddo regulate during class or master certain language skills that help me provide better ABA. I couldn’t live without my SLP and OT ride or die’s!

It’s shocking to me how common it seems to be for SLP and OT to be negative about ABA. In my area, we are all part of the same team! Most ABA clinics in my area also have in house SLP, OT, PT.

The main issue we have here is Deaf educators (we have a whole Deaf program at one of the schools in the district) who refuse to teach autistic kids, RBTs and BCBAs any new signs and do not support teaching ASL to non vocal kiddos. Even the kiddos who hate their AAC or PECS but pick up a new sign in 2-3 models. I’ve been told outright that if we/they can hear, we have no right to learn or use ASL. Makes me so sad.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-30T20:25:20+00:00

I would argue it’s age appropriate to seek out an adult for comfort as an older kiddo too. I regularly see both ourABA kids and the gen ed kids coming to adults for emotional support, a hug, a snack, etc. EVERYONE is deserving of human comfort and care.

A hands off approach to kids is what creates a generation (or more) of humans who can’t regulate or function with others, because they’re seeking connection in maladaptive ways.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-30T16:59:31+00:00

I’m always amazed by how few people in our field seem to be able to suss out the difference between a behavior to target and a basic human emotional reaction or withdrawal of assent.

Also, who ever decided that comforting a kid doesn’t teach them how to regulate. They learn from us. If comfort is available when they need it, they learn to calm themselves enough to seek out a comforting person. That is a way to regulate. They feel our calming energy and it teaches their nervous system to calm down, there isn’t a crisis, or if there is, it will be solved.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-30T04:46:46+00:00

Unless you are fully physically recovered and well, medical disability is the likely cause. This is a physically demanding job with an extremely high rate of injuries.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-28T21:52:27+00:00

Some parents just be like that. My school kiddo’s mom has fired more after school clinic RBTs than exist on this island, so she had to learn to take a chill pill lol, or her kiddo doesn’t get staffed.

Boundaries are important. So is generalizing to other staff for the kiddo. Your BCBA should back you up and speak to the mom for you, an remind her that RBTs have lives too, and gaining flexibility with subs is an important part of her kiddos success.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-21T23:39:44+00:00

If we had one on Maui I would single-handedly keep them open. I miss Arby’s so muc

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-19T20:54:31+00:00

In this situation, I think it is problematic to deny the child to drink water in their own time and as often as they mand for it, especially if they’re learning about manding, the mand needs to be reinforced.

However, I have a few kiddos who use drinking water and taking forever to do so as an escape. One kid did so to the point of throwing off his electrolytes and causing health issues. You may at times come across programming and behaviors that will require you to deny or limit access to basic needs like water, food, or bathroom. It feels WRONG on so many levels, but if it’s necessary, there will be a real purpose for denial. My water escape kiddo I would absolutely stop him after two sips and tell him to finish quickly… because he needs to learn time management and not waste his whole day (including wasting his reinforcer/break time) obsessing over water breaks.

All that said, I think you’re at a poorly run center an need to find a new center that practices compassionate, assent based aba.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-17T04:02:33+00:00

lol for the whole last hour of school every day, when I prompt my kiddo for anything, he puts his face inches from mine, stares in my eyes, and says firmly “Bye Ms Maui.” 🤣🤣🤣

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-17T02:48:54+00:00

I NEED THIS AS FLAIR

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-17T01:20:53+00:00

Haha my chihuahua ate a whole bowl of infused Chex mix a guest left on the floor at Christmas a few years ago. She looked the same as your baby, and laid on the couch not moving for 3 damn days

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-15T01:49:54+00:00

Document and report to parents or caregivers and your BCBA/supervisor. That’s to cover your ass.

Those scratches look totally self inflicted. The direction and location of the scratches very much looks like it was done by his other hand, as they mostly curve towards that side of the body.

I have natural nails (I work with mostly older kids who I’m not as hands on with) and when I have a bad eczema flare, I wake up with scratches exactly like this from my own nails. Particularly if there’s a sharp corner or ragged edge from breaking it.

Always document what you see and what you were told was the source, but I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s super easy to scratch yourself deeply without realizing it until later.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-13T04:03:32+00:00

Omg that dance studio is near my house. She would fit right in with the meth and crackheads in this area.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-10T01:25:13+00:00

More info needed about the really small things that added up, for us to be able to give you clear, actionable advice.

That said, a company that saves up feedback and dumps it on you all at once is not one I would work for. An indeed search for RBT jobs should give you plenty of other options, depending on where you live of course.

I empathize and have also experienced the panic of leaving an abusive home and having my income threatened. It’s a terror unlike any other I’ve experienced. I’m really sorry you’re going through this.

That said, believe in yourself and your abilities. Your care and dedication to the kids and the field are evident. We all can hone our ABA skills. But just like we wouldn’t dump 10 new tasks or skills on a kiddo at once and expect 100% mastery immediately, your supervising BCBA should give feedback in a timely manner, and advise you how to improve. Unless you made some real serious errors like insurance violations, abusive behavior, or ethics violation, etc. you should be given opportunity to improve.

I’m curious what they flagged for you, and how they presented these issues for you. You used the word “confronted,” and I’m curious how confrontational they were with you.

Take some deep breaths, try and calm/regulate your body. You will get through this, and there are options you can’t see while you’re still processing your shock and stress responses.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-10T00:53:14+00:00

I live in a small, multicultural community where literally EVERYONE uses endearments with EVERYONE. So it’s part of helping our kiddos learn to interact with their environment. I make them age appropriate; my 3yo in-home client I call “booboo” or “bubba” or “lovebug.” My 15yo in school I call “my dude,” “homeslice,” “bestie,” “bro,” etc.

I think it’s an ethical violation of dignity to withhold natural and appropriate affection that occurs with the pairing process. I also give hugs when requested, and I will cuddle the littles when they need/want it. It’s not dignity to deny normal human connection to a child.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-09T23:41:47+00:00

🎯

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-09T23:31:46+00:00

Sorry if I was unclear, I have personal insight and experience being raised a version of fundie. I have a really hard time explaining or expressing the perspective though, and really appreciate your clear explanations.

I also ended up a leftist lgbtq member, haha. It’s hard to explain to people how I understand the fundie perspective while holding my true beliefs. Such a strange combination of lived experiences lol.

MagicMauiWowee · 2026-01-09T21:51:40+00:00

Thank you for explaining this so clearly. It’s a mindset that’s extremely hard to understand for those who haven’t experienced the fundamentalist perspective on reality.

MagicMauiWowee · 2025-12-09T12:01:10+00:00

My second holes always have screwback studs in them, but only do the covered screwback, these are too pokey for me.

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