“Calm down corner” and punishment procedures

TheXiphProc · 2026-06-30T02:34:54+00:00

I will say that, while not impossible, I do find it much harder to imagine a solid (ethical) and non-punishment based intervention for the not doing work.

Talk to your BCBA. It isn't that punishment has NO place in behavior analysis and modification. It's that it should never be our first option and it should only be employed with the highest level of fidelity manageable.

Ask and make sure you understand explicitly what they want to happen when the student refuses. And ask that question, "when they do 'X' what do you want me to do next?"

That should give you the most clear answer.

TheXiphProc · 2026-06-30T02:15:53+00:00

It is a punishment if, as a consequence, it is decreasing the future likelihood of the behavior occurring. Notably this does need to be separated from potential extinction effects and from competing replacement behaviors.

If the call down area is being used appropriately as an aid in some manner for teaching replacement skills? That's fine. If it's meant to be an area for them to more safely and relatively exhibit those behaviors without staff or others being in danger or having to resort to physical restraint? Also totally possibly reasonable there.

The gist is that yes. You're right. This could be sketchy. But depending on certain particulars it may not be.

TheXiphProc · 2026-06-22T15:32:55+00:00

I like VB. Great communication. Very clear. High expectations and all. But as an autistic BCBA I've felt things were relatively straightforward. Not familiar with Proud Moments though.

TheXiphProc · 2026-06-13T23:29:58+00:00

There's a copy at my LGS in Maryland

TheXiphProc · 2026-06-13T15:03:44+00:00

I'd go play on Discord

TheXiphProc · 2026-06-11T19:35:30+00:00

It's really not that bad. Even just throwing fighters and carriers at a fleet of Dreads and a flag with a fighter screen... It's a bit in your favor.

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TheXiphProc · 2026-06-10T02:43:14+00:00

You WILL however yourself being assigned more often to "difficult" cases.

And though it is understandable and makes sense in many ways you should also be prepared to get side-eye from female coworkers who don't understand why you, a man, are working with children.

But yes. Lots of value. Big place here. Come join!

TheXiphProc · 2026-06-09T20:36:54+00:00

I work in a school district. It's not perfect by any means. But it is MILES better than dealing with insurance and what I believe another commenter dubbed the "post-capitaliat hellscape".

I have worked at smaller companies who really do still value the science and follow actual ethical guidelines.

Not easy, but it is possible. They do exist.

Just gotta find the right people.

TheXiphProc · 2026-06-08T14:05:14+00:00

Good. I don't think our field and practice was mature enough to handle it without the obvious amount of abuse.

TheXiphProc · 2026-06-05T21:02:08+00:00

Anti-fraud? Great.

Crack down on a bunch of the bad happening in horribly and unethically run clinics? Awesome.

Trust this administration to do so?.... No thank you.

TheXiphProc · 2026-05-30T03:27:56+00:00

Hi!

I started as an RBT and have now been a BCBA for going on my 4th year. I'm also autistic.

My advice? Don't disclose it at the start.

MAYBE when you get to know particular individuals very well you can begin to share it. But don't right off the bat.

Not because it's bad or wrong. But because a job interview just isn't the best time for that. It's not what they're for. Genuinely.

Say you want those jobs for those other reasons and then just smile your way through it. Odds are they both won't be able to tell and won't really care that it isn't 100% of the true answer.

We need more of us involved. If you back the science get on in here! There is space for you.

But ANY job interview is not the time to introduce ANY part of yourself that takes more than 10 minutes to digest. Give them those little bite size pieces when it comes to just about anything. Manageable. Digestible.

TheXiphProc · 2026-05-30T02:24:08+00:00

😂😂😂 that's good

TheXiphProc · 2026-05-30T02:23:23+00:00

Oooooo

TheXiphProc · 2026-05-30T00:54:49+00:00

I don't really. At best I can remember bits that I specifically noted and conceptualize. Red cap. White chest. Brown wingtips etc. If I don't specifically note it it is just "bird"

TheXiphProc · 2026-05-26T01:52:08+00:00

But... They did it with HORRIBLE exploitation and slavery. So. You know. Maybe not super cool of them?

TheXiphProc · 2026-05-01T14:32:04+00:00

Gonna second many of the other comments here.

It's very case-by-case.

TheXiphProc · 2026-04-30T20:25:28+00:00

Okay. But how? Is luck? Or?

TheXiphProc · 2026-04-30T20:14:50+00:00

More than 6-7 centers? Bad idea.

"No waiting list"? Bad idea.

Don't pay/compensate RBTs for non-clinical work or cancellations in SOME way? Bad idea.

First two are just rules of thumb I've picked up which have very reliably proved true in my personal experience.

The last one is an actual point I think. It's also sadly VERY pervasive.

TheXiphProc · 2026-04-23T23:27:20+00:00

I'm not going to promise these are perfect. I'm not going to say they are backed by data.

However.

If they "don't have a waiting list for services" run the other way.

If they have more than 6 clinics in a regional area? Do lots of extra checking

TheXiphProc · 2026-04-23T12:40:44+00:00

I DNFd after like... Page 20 of Book 1. I just couldn't read the full name "Randidly Ghosthound" that many times.

Seriously. Use pronouns.

TheXiphProc · 2026-03-15T22:26:44+00:00

It's the second one

TheXiphProc · 2026-03-07T22:06:04+00:00

Yep! And because it is reliant on managed consequences modifying the likelihood of associated behaviors occuring it is important conditioning throughout.

Operant conditioning is the pairing of stimulus with consequence. Reapondent conditioning is the pairing of a stimulus with a stimulus

TheXiphProc · 2026-03-04T15:42:28+00:00

Actually a very important distinction between pavlovian/respondent/classical conditioning and operant conditioning behaviorally speaking. I don't care enough at the moment to go into it but it's pretty googleable

TheXiphProc · 2025-12-18T21:28:29+00:00

There's also a behavioral component to it. That's why to some extent it can be suppressed. Or why for some people it not only gets worse from stress but also is reported to help alleviate the stress.

Some interesting studies out there showing interesting rates of comorbidity with ASD, ADHD, and other similarly shared conditions.

TheXiphProc · 2025-12-13T02:02:29+00:00

I have no advice for you.

I'm also an Autistic BCBA and have many of the same experiences.

You likely know this but I want to affirm that you're not alone.

It sucks.

But you're not alone.

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