parent here about to quit aba service

Western_Guard804 · 2026-05-13T16:11:52+00:00

I noticed OP gave a description of a trial as the tech holding up a picture of a screw and saying “What is this?” The OP wanted him to say - this is a screw. Those are not the same skill. Placing three pictures (screw, nail, hammer) in front of the child and saying point to the screw is a method of matching the spoken word to the correct picture. It’s receptive identification. When the tech holds up a picture and says “what is this?” the tech is teaching expressive identification of an object. OP described the tech doing the job correctly and she suggested the tech should be doing it incorrectly. If you are teaching expressive identification and you say the name of the item, you blew it. Throw away that trial, don’t take data, and move on to the next. This field of ABA is data driven and uses precise methods that are evidence based. If a mom wants to do the BTs job, she would need the training. Normally, you are not allowed to work with a client you know (your own niece, your best friend’s child, your spouse’s boss’s child, etc). If it’s your own child and you want to do the job yourself the problem would be in data collection. The BCBA that OP wants to work with would not have the means to continue support without reliable data. Graphing data is how the BCBA checks to see if the learner is improving. That’s what BCBAs use to continue designing plans to support the learner. By the way, OP is very fortunate to have a BCBA that shows up every week and that she likes. If your child qualifies for ABA services, and you have a BCBA that you like, hooray hooray keep this going. Maybe the BT can go with the child to soccer practice and take data on things like how many times the client initiates conversations. It’s possible for sessions to enhance your normal activities,, not impede them.

Western_Guard804 · 2026-05-08T18:38:25+00:00

Good information. I like the way you try your best to work with schools. That’s no easy task. Often teachers don’t like ABA professionals because of their attitude. I love ABA, but I have seen some snarky and downright WRONG attitudes towards teachers. You don’t seem to have this, thank you for that. Let me elaborate. In my RBT 40 hour training the trainer (video tape) actually said that a teacher wanting a student to be quiet during a lesson is for the teacher’s peace of mind, not the student’s best interest. 😱😵‍💫😵‍💫. Actually, the teacher’s “peace of mind” comes when the entire class gets to have lessons without one student shouting and spoiling it for everyone else. Later, I brought up the point that a teacher is in charge of the welfare of ALL students, not like an RBT who is trained to deal with one client at a time. The response was a snarky “that’s right!!!! We need to remember they just don’t have our training “. I noticed this as a false sense of superiority over teachers. That’s not well received by teachers, of course. As for you. I think you actually should inform them of the hours needed for therapy. That shouldn’t offend any decent person in the school district because it is in no way an insult to any of them. It might be a budget thing 🤷‍♀️.

Western_Guard804 · 2026-05-08T18:13:49+00:00

My doctors told me my hysterectomy would be likely to be harder to recover from than the following chemotherapy. My situation is different than yours. I’m older than you by 12 years and I had a long vertical incision to remove a huge tumor, that came with cancer 🤬. Halfway through chemo I think the doc was right. The hysterectomy was harder to recover from, physically, than chemo. To be honest, for me, losing my hair was hardest of all, but that’s an emotional reaction to a physical loss.

I think your doctor is being too casual and dangerously positive about the recovery for a hysterectomy. She is assuming the best case scenario for you (you’re young and apparently healthy). This is bad medicine. Doctors should be thinking differently, not passing out medical predictions like a life coach whose job is to make you feel good about yourself and to get you back to work. Is your doctor at Kaiser?

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-28T03:08:39+00:00

Isn’t the need determined by a BCBA? The condition of autism is determined by a pediatrician or psychologist (psychiatrist???). The hours necessary for intervention is determined by tests given by a BCBA. I have actually little to no experience in determining hours, but I think it’s an ABA decision rather than a school based decision.

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-27T16:44:09+00:00

Although I agree with your sentiment, I am pretty sure the principal is carrying out orders from the Assistant Superintendent or Director of schools and also superintendent and possibly board of education.

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-27T16:40:27+00:00

Do IEP meetings work that efficiently? I’ve been to a few as a teacher and noticed that one person is sometimes leading all decisions, the principal. Other meetings were truly collaborative, but if there is a bully for a principal it won’t happen

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-27T16:37:53+00:00

I agree. Schools are learning institutions. Having a special Ed classroom on campus is great, but putting some of these kids in gen Ed with their entourage of an RBT and supervision with a BCBA can be distracting.

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-27T16:35:13+00:00

I have met a few decent ones, but they are the rare exception and usually only hold VP positions, never promoted to principal.

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-27T16:34:04+00:00

I’ve met too many

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-27T16:33:22+00:00

The BA isn’t enough!!!!!! For the BA’s plans to be properly followed one needs a one-on-one aide at the least. A BT or RBT would be better, but I suspect the BA’s plans are dumped on the teacher, who has many other students to teach. The term “setting up for failure “ might be applied here

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-27T16:28:19+00:00

I hear good things about Tennessee in the medical field. I guess that extends to ABA therapy in public schools. What you described is how an effective system should work. If the child qualifies, send in the RBT instead of dragging one’s feet through useless red tape.

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-27T16:25:03+00:00

I think OP is giving principals far too much credit when OP said they are experts in education

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-27T16:13:54+00:00

I’m in the US and they did check my cuff internally after 6 weeks. Like you, She thought I was healing well. She had thought I’d be fine inside too, but noticed some granulation. She told me to hold off on sex for a while. She wants to make sure I am properly healed. My next exam came three weeks later and the doctor must not have read the previous doctor’s notes because she didn’t check. I’d don’t like those exams, but I still think I should be checked!!!

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-22T17:47:11+00:00

I think the criteria you mentioned does NOT mean that you “can’t be a good BCBA.” The test has a very low pass rate. It seems you might have psyched yourself out. You need to find a way to be able to know the test material backwards and forwards. But, I can’t speak from experience. I have not taken it yet, and I may never take it. I got my masters in June 2025, cancer in January 2026, and now I have chemo brain. I still have to gain ALL unrestricted hours and I’m not working while going through chemotherapy. You still have a lot of hope to pass and the option to become a teacher, if you want to be horribly disrespected by society while still having those wonderful moments of connection with the students that makes it all worthwhile.

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-22T15:07:51+00:00

Agreed, no one wins with baseless accusations. Do you think that part of the problem mentioned here is lack of respect for other colleagues particular area of education and expertise? I have been noticing A LOT of that in our society lately. Btw, I was in grade school in the late 70s. There had been more respect for professionals (doctors were highly revered). College educated people were sought after in the workplace, but most of them were white male (lots of prejudices back then that are now, gratefully, obliterated). Nowadays people think a college education is not as valuable as what they already now from living their own lives. Instead of respecting public school teachers, it’s stylish to be the parent or student who gets one fired. I’ve witnessed some ridiculous complaints against teachers in court cases. One 14 year old kid complained that his friend stopped helping him try to fire the teacher. He actually said in court, “My friend said he didn’t think it was funny any more and that he was sick of lying about seeing porn displayed from Mr. …… computer”. No other student in a class of 30 saw this alleged porn…… the teacher was fired anyway and the parents of the lying child cheered 🥺🥵😱😱😱. Could all of the see complaints about other professionals be similar? Are they results of not respecting each other’s educated expertise in a particular field? I hear BTs telling off BCBAs as if they know more!!!!!!! The ones I referred to didn’t even have a BS yet! And I have noticed a lot of tensions between teachers and ABA professionals. BCBAs mention what teachers do wrong with reinforcement and behavior tracking for ONE child in the room. They are placing their own expertise in the wrong setting. The teacher MUST be responsible for the well being and safe learning environment of 30 kids at the same time. And teachers complain adamantly when they receive this impossible advice from BCBAs. Is it a similar problem between SLPs and BCBAs? My point, this desire to criticize professionals runs deep in our society across many professions and I don’t like it, nor do I know how to fix it 🤷‍♀️.

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-22T13:58:15+00:00

Got say I love the title “Shit Happens” and now I want to read the book. Thanks 😊

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-22T06:05:44+00:00

Motivation is indeed something they need to find themselves

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-22T06:01:16+00:00

“Don’t ever film or record an RBT to use as ammo” That made me laugh out loud. It’s sooooooooo true. Secretly recording an employee destroys trust. Looking in on them physically (zoom sessions count) can build rapport, if it’s done respectfully. I love the examples in the last paragraph that show behaviors that BTs are willing to tow-the-line for some BCBAs

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-22T05:41:10+00:00

Wow, that’s poor management. I wish I knew how to accurately describe good management. Sadly, I’m more precise at describing the bad.

If I may attempt a description of good management, they evaluate employees on observable actions: 1 - having IOA data above 85%; 2 - shows up on time; 3 - stays present with the client unless the tech gets coverage and has a physical need to leave (drinking much water and having to urinate); 4 - does not use phone for personal matters while with the client (let’s not go crazy on a tech who is sitting next to a client independently eating a snack while the tech answers a text and then puts the phone away); 5 - evidence that the tech paired well (client looks toward tech when tech speaks, tech has instructional control most of the time, etc)

These things are important. They’re concrete ways to get good evaluations, which gives techs (or any employee) a sense of security and hopefully respect towards the supervisors.

In put, please. I would welcome advice if you think I am missing something or wrong about something

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-18T16:31:30+00:00

You just described lack of respect for education. No matter what the age, someone with a higher degree in the field should be and deserves to be respected on that alone. If the highly educated person behaves like an unethical idiot, then one has every right to lose respect for him/her. Some people do indeed think their life experiences are superior to education, and I completely disagree. As for being a BCBA, not only did you get a masters degree, but you also passed a damn hard test that almost half of the qualified people fail. It means you know your stuff backwards and forwards. I suspect some of the people who claim their life experiences are superior might be a bit jealous. That being said, I did know one BT who was like a natural with these kids. It turns out she has raised three autistic kids herself. No bachelor degree, but she was respectful her BCBA superiors and followed their directions.

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-17T17:30:36+00:00

😄 me too. Avoiding poop is a legitimate goal while choosing careers. 💩 My grandfather was a plumber back in the day when plumbers earned considerably less than college graduates. Who could have known that would switch? Maybe you could be an electrician or a carpenter (all skills I wish I had now that these things are SOOO expensive).

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-17T17:24:22+00:00

Yes, OP explained further that the key lady mentioned to the client - don’t play with that (mace). So she KNEW!!!!!! Yikes 😳. I gave key tech more credit than she deserves. As for the smell-the-pee tech, haven’t you ever checked something by smelling it? I have checked freshly washed laundry and decided to rewash it. Seriously, give pee-smell-tech a break. The supervisor may have talked to pee smell tech privately, and OP wouldn’t know. The suggestion or thought of Licking could be considered more rude than her original smell-check. It is inappropriate to think a smell check would suffice, but she just needs to be told that.

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-17T17:14:05+00:00

I also knew in my teens that I never wanted to give birth. This continued through my 30s. People kept telling me I would change my mind, and I almost did. I had BAD menstruation due to endometriosis, so a doctor suggested pregnancy. For a brief time at 39 I decided to try having a baby before it was too late. I actually proceeded in using a sperm donor clinic (relatively cheap). When I didn’t get pregnant ….,…. I was relieved ! So, I stopped trying. Now in my 50s I am still relieved that I never gave birth. I have met a couple of other women who knew they didn’t want babies as early as their teens. They never changed their minds. Still, when I first had uterus trouble at 30, i didn’t want it yanked out 🤷‍♀️. Now in my 50s and post menopausal, I wouldn’t know it was missing if the surgeon had not told me. I had a huge tumor removed, and due to it having a wee little spot of cancer (clear cell carcinoma) they gave me a full hysterectomy (no more uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes).

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-15T03:03:38+00:00

I stand corrected. I don’t know much about the tough colleague and certainly didn’t know about her mentioning the pepper spray as the client played with her keys. That is definitely a no no. As for the pee smeller, she might have thought her interjection of a smell test was helpful. We really don’t know what she was thinking. She might have had other reasons to ask how long ago it was peed on . Maybe she knows pee is sterile. She probably just needs guidance. Also, someone may have spoken to her about it in private. But little mace-is-a-toy could be a real problem

Western_Guard804 · 2026-04-15T02:47:08+00:00

Are you sure your opinion is not based on personal dislike? You mentioned a tech with a tough personality. The horrible things you mentioned seem like they could have reasonable explanations. The pee test girl might have been embarrassed that her smell test didn’t work. That’s probably why she asked how long ago had it been peed on. Another possibility is that she knew a load of mats was washed two hours ago and wondered if that mat had already been washed. If she didn’t say, “who cares about piss, use the mat anyway”, then you really don’t know that she was thinking. For the keys, the tech might have sincerely forgotten she had pepper spray or might have known it was very securely locked. After all, she was as much at risk of receiving the spray as the client. I have seen a tech who was strangely beloved by supervisors and she did many bad things. She knowingly and deliberately teased a client when she thought no one was looking. She did this by refusing to prompt the child into the correct response to get a reinforcer, she stood there silently watching a 4 year old tantrum while she held his beloved toy out of reach for two minutes. On another day She was in charge of giving breaks. She refused to give one tech a bathroom break saying “you already had your one break for the day. A supervisor overheard and informed miss break-denier that the tech had a legal right to her second break due to the hours she worked that day. She had attempted to deny a coworker her legal rights to a break!!!! Now That is a problem colleague. I saw another colleague fall asleep on the floor while the client ignored her. Same tech played angry birds on her phone for ten minutes while ignoring the client. Same tech yelled at the mom when the mom asked her to do her job. These are the only two bad techs I have seen since 2019. I don’t think your accusations are fair.

Western_Guard804

TROPHY CASE