Career Choice: Behavior Analyst
/Background:
Since I was little, I always told my mom growing up that I knew I wanted to help people everyday in my life. The question we all have when picking a career choice is what could I possibly love to do everyday that I can continue doing it for the rest of my life. Fortunately, my choice came a little easy for me! While attending the University of South Florida, a new minor had just opened up: Intro to Applied Behavior Analysis instructed by none other than Ms. Victoria Fogel. As soon as I took the first course, I KNEW I had made the right choice. The more I learned, the more I fell in love with the field. I had the wonderful opportunity to begin my career while working at the Florida Autism Center of Excellence as a teacher's assistant, where I quickly learned that no child is the same and they are all special in their own ways. From there, I transitioned to a clinic where I had the opportunity to transition from a Registered Behavior Technician to a Clinical Coordinator overseeing the clinic. Here, I continued to develop the love for my field, strengthen my skill sets with the population I worked with and was able to train parents and some of the most wonderful staff I have ever had the pleasure of working with.
Random facts about me: I love Christmas and especially the GRINCH! I love to dance salsa and can eat Cold Stone for every meal of the day.
Why did I choose ABA?
Applied Behavior Analysis is the application of the principles of learning and motivation from Behavior Analysis, and the procedures and technology derived from those principles, to the solution of problems of social significance. Through years of research and development, behavior analysts have created a science that is replicable not only by those with the degree in Behavior Analysis but teachers, caregivers and anyone who wishes to implement its highly researched techniques. I have witnessed first-hand by working with amazing individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities, the power that my field has. I have witnessed milestones that may be considered minute for a typically developing child but enormous for the kiddos I have worked with. Some of my favorite milestones include: teaching a child to use the Picture Exchange Communication System not only to request using sentences but to label events around him, teaching a child to get dressed using a task analysis, having a conversation with a child that it is "ok" to be different and that autism does not make him "less", helping countless families achieve potty training successes and being able to mainstream a child who previously didn't know how to communicate using words!
My Mission:
My mission at AMA Behavioral Consulting, LLC is to provide each learner with evidence-based, high quality behavior therapy services to reach their full potential. I wish to create a company that serves as a resource of information about our field and our practices and that is ethical in each step of the process. I truly value what my field can accomplish and I cannot wait to share my work with others who wish to share these amazing experiences with me!
