Registered Behavioral Technician
Hello! Apologies that this is long. I'm an over explainer but I've tried to cut this down. I have read the rules and hope this doesn't fall under inappropriate ABA, I'm not posting here to be told it's right, I just want to better understand the changes that supposedly have been implemented, what practices they haven't modified, and what I should watch for, to meet the recommendations of the Autistic community.
TLDR: I worked with an amazing RBT (registered behavioral technician) in a classroom, and her supervisor approached me about joining his team as an RBT - which would pay $3/hr what I'm making now! But in googling to learn more I'm seeing that they're trained to use ABA practices by a BCBA. I don't want to participate in abusive ABA practices and I don't understand how it's supposedly changed. Even if I do not do this training (which I'm leaning against), I have to continue working with RBTs and I feel like I need to better understand how it's implemented, what I need to watch for to help ensure my students rights are respected, etc.
I'm a disabled, neurodivergent (possibly Autistic myself?) adult, and in Feb, I began working in a school as a Parapro in a self-contained "CI" classroom, Y5-1st grade (but only 1 child was CI, and the other 5 were Autistic). All of these students were non-verbal and/or had very limited communication (I know these labels can be problematic, but for explanations sake, likely considered Level 2 or 3). Before Covid, I was a social worker in child welfare for 15 years, first working with mostly older kids and teens with special (emotional, behavioral, physical, & cognitive) needs, and then as a parent educator running a family preservation program. I'm underemployed (and underpaid) in this position, but I love working with this population, and am good at it. My kids go to the same school I work at - which is a huge bonus!
Every child enrolled in my classroom had participated in ABA outside of school. I know nothing about the "new style" of ABA, and have formed my opinion on ABA in general by listening to Autistic adults who completed ABA prior to the supposed changes being implemented. I haven't been able to find information on how ABA has been changed.
The last two months of school we had a new staff start as an RBT, who was phenomenal at working with our most behaviorally challenging kindergartner (my favorite little boy!). Her degree was in language & communication but she had worked at an ABA center and then got certified for the school to be an RBT.
She embodied the epitome of wonderful care for this student. She has an older sibling who is Autistic that she is extremely involved with and obviously loves. She respected my student for exactly who he is as an individual, didn't try and stop him stimming, didn't try and force him to "act neurotypical" - she just worked at helping his behaviors be safe. A lot of his behaviors were fed by frustration over not being able to express his needs and wants. Some examples of things she was working towards: not throwing metal water bottles and other children's AAC around the room, using his AAC and spoken words to communicate (he voiced occasionally to me prior to her starting, and was minimally using his AAC around requesting food, but after 2 months with her he was proudly using his AAC all the time, multiple word sentences, and speaking). Her main goal was getting him to stop eloping out of the school, classrooms, and playground. One of the ways she did this was by helping him ask to play a chase game in the gym, rather than running away from staff and eloping out of classrooms and the building.
None of what I witnessed her doing was anything I would consider inappropriate, abusive, or coercive. This little boy thrived under her support and was always excited to see her and so proud of himself for the way he was progressing in his communication and behavior.
When her supervisor came to observe/help, he told me I would make a great RBT. Now I'm getting emails from my school districts union about how we need more RBTs - and how much better the pay is - it would take me 5 years to reach that pay tier as a parapro!! I'm not even sure if this job would be feasible with my physical limitations (hypermobility spectrum disorder), but I don't even feel I can look into it until I better understand RBT and the "new ABA" and have heard from Autistic voices. My RBT friend and I talked about this and she felt similarly, that she didn't understand if things were better these days.
I've tried to Google and find out more. When I've talked to my Autistic friends (who also have Autistic kids), they've (understandably) opted their kids out of ABA. It seems the only adult Autistic voices I've been able to find to hear from, are not those people who have gone through the new ABA, or sent their kids to it.
I would love any resources or information, or personal experiences. I want to always advocate for the best interests of my students!
If this isn't the right group to ask this, please let me know if a better one.
Thanks!