BCBA seems a tad racist. What should I do?
I just started working at this center not too long ago, and honestly, I’m overwhelmed. I started a few days ago, and I haven’t really received any support. From the moment I first interacted with my BCBA, she was super cold. I went in to shake hands, and she moved away from me.
Don’t want to shake hands? Fine by me. I go to introduce myself to my client (a young, nonverbal child, black). I noticed the BCBA was also cold with him. She has another client at the same center as me. However, this child is white, also new, but she was much warmer. Cool. I’m pairing with my client, who just analyzes. Nothing genuinely unusual. But I wanted to know a bit about him and the case overall, so I asked a question. Ignores me completely. Maybe she misheard? I ask again. Responds super cold. Not a problem. I wasn’t told anything about the case, center, or schedule, so I’m moving around like a chicken without a head. I ask her when lunch is for him…. I get an idk. The other non-black BT, who is once again super new, asks something along those lines? She is being as bubbly as can be and responds. Alrighty!
Welp, it’s only once a week for roughly 2 hours, right? I try to reframe my thoughts to reassure myself… She comes the next day.
The client is having a rough time adjusting. He’s crying, I’m trying, but hey, it’s his first week. For reference, we don’t get a break and work 7 hours, 5 days a week. So really, when the children eat, we try to eat as well. What could go wrong with that game plan(sarcasm)? The child comes in with shrimp. I’m superrrr allergic to seafood, so I let the BCBA know and, as a result, I need to move away while he eats it. I take the time to eat really quickly, but I’m still in the room. After he’s finished eating, she turns to me and says, “You need to make sure that while he’s eating, you are always next to him. Regardless of allergies “. Okay???? I respond with “ I’ll die, and then there’d be absolutely no one to watch him”. She doesn’t respond.
After lunch, he’s crying because he’s not used to the routine. I’m trying all my tricks, but I just started working with him. He doesn’t know me. He wouldn’t stop crying. So I sing to him and try to put on the show of a lifetime. He calms down. The BCBA comes in, completely takes over, and basically says, “You’re doing wrong.” He starts crying again, and then takes 30 extra minutes to calm down. Great!! I then overheard the BCBA talking about me to somebody else. I have been here for less than 12 days, and she’s somehow trying to make it seem like I’m inadequate as I’m pairing with him.
I honestly don’t know what to do, and I’m really overwhelmed having just started here. I would never try to make it hostile for anyone just coming into a case. I’m concerned about letting the company know, because we all know how often they side with BCBAs. The company treats BTs and RBTs as nothing more than a pair of pants. I really need my daytime hours. I don’t know what to do. Any advice? I really need my daytime hours. I don’t know what to do. Am I overthinking it? Any advice?