What Is an ABA Therapist?
Below will explain you what an ABA therapist average day looks like, the job's main advantages and disadvantages, and how you can become a successful ABA therapist.
The ABCs of ABA
One of the basic concepts of ABA therapy is the ABC (Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence). Therapists rely on the ABC to understand why an autistic child is behaving a certain way. ABA instructors identify the emotional, verbal, visual, physical, or other type of antecedent that led to the behavior. For example, the antecedent may be a loud noise. The behavior is how the kid reacted: crying, screaming, pulling hair, or throwing objects. ABA therapists’ job is to determine the consequence that followed and its influence on the behavior.
What ABA therapist typical day look like :
Here are examples of what ABA therapist will work with autistic children on :
• Behavioral Skills: Teaching them to sit at the table, not scratching when upset, and sharing toys.
• Communication : Modeling them how to verbally ask for a toy or express the removal of aversive or unwanted activities.
• Social Skills: Guide them to play with others, make new friends, and ask questions in the classroom.
• Academic Performance : Teach them how to do their homework, put away their items when activity completed, and politely ask to watch TV after they're finished.
To enable ASD kids, achieve these objectives and more, ABA therapists utilizes multiple devices, settings, and locations.
Devices That ABA Therapists Use
ABA therapist may use the iPad apps to improve ASD children's skills and play interactive digital and offline games with them. The benefits of educative iPad use are :
• Watching and imitating yoga and gym videos. It shows autistic kids how to regulate their body movements and enhance their balance and coordination.
• iPad pen helps learn how to write (via apps).
• iPad also allows them to develop some motor skills when they touch and navigate the iPad screen with it (instead of doing so with their fingers).
• Dancing and music apps are a form of music and movement goals.
ABA therapist also spend time playing games and outdoor activities with ASD kids, such as:
• Dressing up dolls teaches a children new words and encourages them to speak.
• Play dough calms the senses and energizes kids’ sensory processes.
• Playground activities help improve gross motor skills.
It's common for therapists to play with the child individually, but also to engage him with a group of kids.
Individual vs Group ABA Therapy
ABA therapists observe children in one or both of the following settings :
• Group Therapy: Therapist monitors how the child interacts with their classmates or treats them among a group of other autistic kids.
• Individually: The ABA therapist holds one-on-one sessions with the child.
Whether it's a group or individual setting, ABA therapists must regularly commute and intervene in multiple places.
Places That Therapists Work In
• Home : Therapist spend most of the day at the child's home and conduct ABA sessions there.
• Center : Kids are coming to Therapist office for the sessions.
• School: Therapists go to child school to help with social and communication skills.
• Events: Therapists commonly observe children at playgrounds, family and other social events.
Being an ABA therapist can be demanding. In addition to balancing between the various devices, settings, and places that are involved in a treatment program, therapist must also cater to the child’ unique needs.
Is it difficult to be ABA therapist ?
Therapists often run into challenges in applied behavior analysis that require patience, organization, and dedication, such as :
• Physical tasks like sitting or standing beside the child as they eat or play, keeping up with their energy levels, and preventing them from causing damage.
• Addressing problematic and troublesome behaviors. Some kid may excessively yell or cry and throw objects when they're upset.
• Managing a high number of caseloads.
• Finding an appropriate work-life balance.
• Switching between a therapist-child approach to a collaborative one when they meet the parents or teach them behavioral management techniques.
This profession comes with a lot of positive aspects, too.
Is it rewarding to be ABA therapist?
Yes, it is. Many ABA therapists appreciate the rewarding and fulfilling nature of their job because:
• They see autistic children improve their skills and reach important personal, academic, social, and developmental skills.
• They witness the happiness and pride that they brought to a family firsthand.
• They experience the joyfulness and lightheartedness of working with kids.
• They fulfill their passion for giving to others and making a difference in people's lives.
If you are motivated by these benefits and rewards, especially passion, you are likely to become an effective and successful ABA therapist.
How to be a successful ABA therapist?
To attain a successful career, ABA therapist, should developpe some of the qualities:
• A passion for the career.
• The patience and willingness to invest in growth and progress.
• Enjoying engaging with children, playing games with them, and participating in other activities for kids.
Therapist also must obtain the proper certification to be a professional ABA therapist.
How do I become an ABA therapist in France ?
ONPAC oversees the processes that aspiring ABA therapists must go through to get certified. There are three types of certificates that allow you to practice ABA therapy in France :
• ACC-A (BCBA)
• ACC-B (BCaBA)
Each of these will require to have an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. It is possible also to obtain the certification as :
• TEC-C (RBT) with a high school diploma, which enables you to assist and work with ABA practitioners. TEC-C aren't permitted to directly provide the treatment, while ACC-A and ACC-B can.
The common thing about practicing ABA therapy, is that everything goes back to the ABCs, positive enforcement, and other basic therapeutic techniques. Just as importantly (and regardless of the certification that they have), a typical day for almost any ABA therapist involves playing with children, dealing with behavioral challenges, and reaping the rewards that come with seeing their patients' lives change.