aba therapist

registered behavior technician

behavior technician

behavioral specialist

board certified behavior analyst

Learning Arts

I've been working here for a little over a year and this place seemed so great at first. The kids are amazing, really fun and it really gives you an opportunity to be creative with activities. I'm not an outgoing person and I found myself on the first day ready to make work fun, but the excitement wore off due to a few staff members. I don't really work with other techs, it's one on one sessions with the child and at times you get supervision sessions with the child's specialist or BCBA during sessions. They are supposed to be offering support and training because the goals for each child is very specific. I find myself feeling tested during these supervised sessions because alot of the times the way someone will supervise is only asking, "well, what do you think is the right answer?" And this was while I was very new at this field. Other times, I feel overwhelmed because it is a very physical job of constant moving around, playing, and interacting with a little one, while also logging information on a tablet and having supervision at the same time. During supervision, another specialist will have high demands one after the other and not acknowledge the time it takes to keep up with the student while also listening to demands in a condescending tone while also over explaining themselves while I'm processing all the instructions. Maybe if we weren't understaffed the people in higher positions than me wouldn't be so demeaning towards me, but this job is starting to feel more like I'm a maid than a teacher. They are there to support the students and train techs so that we can run sessions efficiently and be a collaborative team but it feels more like they dump all the work on techs and don't really care for their integrity. I don't know how other technicians feel about the job because our energy and attention is so invested in our students, but with my experience I feel tested and overworked with hardly any questions answered politely and constructively.
If you're a fast paced worker and can have insanely high energy (for the student's engagement) at all times 3 hours straight for multiple sessions a day, and absorb ABA therapy on the spot but also remembering that each student has a detailed and specific way of being taught, constantly relearning what someone else just taught you, then go for it. The hard work does pay off, I just wish the staff above me were more receptive of my questions and concerns especially when we share a passion for helping kids. However, not all staff above me are the same, but depending on what student you get placed with, you also get their specialist and BCBA. Some of the staff are actually very supportive and inspire me to put my best efforts for the student. Some are very clear on the training and really helpful with showing how to do the work and going step by step while also being encouraging and respectful. 

I have seen people come and go. This job is NOT FOR EVERYONE. I truly loved this job. As an introduction into this field being a behavior technician, they seem to hire just about anyone. They burn everyone out with work and throw technicians into cases that may have not been introduced to the technician formally. I understand there are ways to learn, but in home sessions while being solo do not make sense. They go as far as bothering you outside of work, and you have to check on your cases (specifically via email) multiple times a day, even when you're off. Personally, I would not want to work on my day off and constantly have to check my email or have specialists calling me and then have the higher positions take it personally. Having another job and having the pressure of people in this company breathe down your neck is a bit difficult. Don't get me wrong, it is an amazing job and it is very rewarding. BUT the specialists above the cases are also very overworked and most of the time they seem like they're not on top of it because they have so many cases to handle. There have been times where higher positions of the clinic would leave the company and specialists, (higher hand above the technicians) wouldn't notify the technicians until months after. That is IF the technicians or patients ask where so and so went. If you have an input (ex: of where a table should be positioned so that the patient does not harm themselves) and for the safety of any patient's safety, you are acknowledged at that time you speak, but they will let it fly over their head and leave things as is. To say the least, this company is very unorganized and sketchy. No one will be able to back you up in this company. The hardest part of the job is not having anyone to guide you as an entry level, because "there is no specific way to teach the kids". Lastly, the most enjoyable and rewarding part would be the programs ran with your patients and seeing the result of what you've built.

Worked for this company for two years as a behavioral technician. Helping the kids was the reason for my two year stay. Management was HORRIBLE, they all treated you as if you were insignificant. Let me explain how... First they hired me as a part-time employee but they would never give me more than 30 hrs despite my availability changing to a full-time... Why you may ask? Because they didn't want me to have any employee benefits such as healthcare. Secondly, I was told that the children are recommended to rotate technicians on a monthly basis to provide "generalization", but that never happened. Behavioral technicians who were related to supervisors would always keep the easier cases. Did the head manager of the office know about this? Yes but c'mon he was good friends with all the supervisors. Third, be ready to hold your urine because every behavioral technician has a kid to work with at all times so who is going to watch over yours? You will have to hope for a willing supervisor to show up or a technician who isn't busy enough to watch over two kids. Fourth, parent cancellations... If a parents calls in 45 min before the shift to cancel you don't get paid. Now if they call in 15 min before the shift starts you get half of the shift paid. If they call let say 20 min before supervisors then say you don't get paid anything because they assume you are not on your way to work. Learning arts has a policy which they will breach at times to their convenience. For example "x amount of parent cancellations are allowed", if parents go over the x amount you are stuck with that case because HR makes it nearly impossible to change your current case. Now there are some positive things about learning arts and that would be working with kids who are very innocent in they're own ways and co-workers who are just like you and get along with.

Once hired training is paid for. They made it seem like you could get hours but once you started there was no chance in obtaining any hours, it got so bad I only would work 10 hrs a week. I would ask and they never said anything. Sometimes shifts would start at 3 and I would start getting ready at 12 only to find out the shift was canceled at 1, waste of time when I could’ve worked at my second job. Or parents would cancel at the door if you drove to their address HR would say they emailed you notifying you and would not pay you regardless if you were there or not, unless parents canceled after your shift started. Pay is low also for the type of stress you go through. This job can be mentally, physically and emotionally challenging. It’s not worth the pay when you go home bruised and getting slapped in the face, kicked, spit at, punched etc. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed working there. If they would’ve fixed their hours and pay rate I would stayed but I couldn’t stay in a place where my paycheck was $20 for two weeks. Management was horrible specialist are there at times and you tell them what your patient has difficulties with and they won’t help you. It’s stressful when you want to do your job but specialists are not playing their part. If you don’t mind working 3 hrs shifts and have cancellations almost three days out of the week depending on how many patients you have (I had 3) then this is the job for you. It gives you experience that you can use when applying for another job and you learn a lot from the kiddos and what it’s like to work with children in the autism spectrum.

The kids and the other RBTs and lead technicians make this job enjoyable. It is an incredible feeling to watch your clients grow and learn, and the lead techs are extremely supportive and helpful. 
However, their HR is extremely unorganized and unreliable. It can take months to hear back from them on important issues such as healthcare benefits. Additionally, their cancellation policy is unrealistic  and confusing. They have been known to deny raises (which are supposed to occur every 6 months) based on technicians cancelling sessions for medically excused reasons. When asked what their cancellation policy is, one HR representative wrote in an email, “any cancellation is too many.” I’d love to know if that particular representative has ever had to call out sick from work, and if so, if they think they should be denied a raise for doing so. One employee was even fired for having medically excused absences. Additionally, technicians only receive 24 hours per year of paid sick leave. 

The training process at Learning Arts consists of shadowing more experienced technicians in the field. Technicians are frequently expected to train new hires without extra pay for this added responsibility. New hires are frequently placed with difficult and aggressive clients without receiving crisis prevention training. 
The turnover rate for this job is high, due to frequent cancellations and low hours. Despite stating that they require technicians work at least 15 hours per week, they have started new hires with 6–9 hours per week for several months before finally giving them more hours. 

I got hired on with this company as an office coordinator... When I got hired on I was super excited and fit right up my alley. I thought this would be the perfect fit while I continued my college education. Great hours (that were not too overwhelming) and my own independence. Shortly after (or I would say before my 90 day probationary period was up) I was told we are downsizing to a smaller office. I was told in short detail to pack the clinic up. HR (Human Resources) and both of my supervisors did not ask for anyone else who works in the clinic (like the BCBA's or the specalist to help me) so I was stuck by myself packing up tons of toys, bigger object items, board games, books, etc. for 6 different classrooms... The communication through the clinic itself & the supervisor staff is awful. I felt the Merced location is often forgotten about. Anyway, so before my 90 day probationary period they informed me they will not open up a smaller office and ended up laying me off. The company itself tried their very best to get around me having to apply for unemployment which I figured out right away. Everyone who I spoke to strongly believe they knew the clinic was closing when I got hired on and wanted me to do their dirty work and pack up the clinic alone so they didn't have too. Which explains the lack of communication. Overall, I'm extremely disappointed. Just know this company will probably never improve in the Merced area and working for them will probably be inconsistent. 

The  core values  that was rolled out last year was EPIC , Empowerment, Potential ,Impact , Compassion . And here is how they fail their  core values.
Empowerment: but HR does not stand with staff and lets continuous complaints/ Reports go unchecked.   Job security worries by going to HR  continue to run rampant . 
Potential :  Despite data collected by a 3rd party company and in house surveys that  shows a reoccurring reason for a lot of areas loosing staff they paid no mind to them . They also never reviewed the surveys they sent out. And lack the ability to see and curate the potential in employees they actively employ to make them want to grow within the company.
Impact : They impact the lives of employees by suddenly taking large amounts of hours with no notice affecting Employee livelihoods . They roll out new policy's that impact clinics but fail to roll them out cohesively across all clinics. 
Compassion : They lack compassion when employees go to HR , they lack compassion with kiddos needing special request in clinics . Executive(s) they let make every decision  lacks empathy, kindness , and compassion and became all about maximizing profit margins at the expense of employee hours and clinic  needs and staff hiring . " Health of the company" Is used fairly often for lack of hours, wages,  and clinic needs.

 


Can get very hectic and difficult. You will get hit at some point but you'll forget about it when you see your kid smile or hug you. It's even better when they hug you or ask if you're okay seconds after hitting you. 
They get kind of upset if you give less than 24 hours notice for cancellation even if you woke up feeling sick and couldn't predict that happening. They'll give you a "verbal" warning for it. HR is great if you talk to them though. Every specialist has their own way of doing things and it can get confusing especially if they are very particular. You'll do great if you can let loose, throw yourself in it completely and be silly no matter how funny you may look to other techs.
They have a Kuddos system that is great in theory because it's giving compliments to each other but it actually kind of sucks. The same people get them/give them to each other. I gave one to this girl and she legit cried about it because she said she was trying extra hard and nobody noticed.

I go to my client's home, or to the clinic, and work on behavioral programs, social goals, and life skills in order to better their ability to become independent individuals.

Having been in this field for 7 months prior to being at Learning ARTS I knew a good deal about it, but I've learned a great deal from my experiences here including NCPI  training (Non-threatening Crisis Prevention Intervention) as well.

The management at Learning ARTS is very good. The owner is an incredible man to work for, and he maintains that all those working for him are kind and understanding.

The majority of my coworkers are great people. Mostly all of us that do interact on cased work quite congruently.

The most enjoyable part of my job is making a lasting, positive, impact on another person's life. The most difficult aspect is the emotional, and sometimes physical, assaults that can occur during some children's behaviors.

There have been a lot of ups and downs in regards to scheduling and pay. The only reason why I still stay is because of the kiddos I work with. This is not the place to work at if you want a solid stable income and schedule. The employee turnover is very very fast, some leaving even during the 7-day training because they realize the pay is not worth the stress. Many of my coworkers have left because of that uncertainty in the pay. You also have to be mentally and emotionally strong to work in this kind of field as you have to treat kids with special needs. On the up side, you get to learn a lot about ABA and dealing with kids on the spectrum. The people I work with are hardworking individuals trying to make ends meet, and we push each other to keep going. The supervisors are also very nice and supportive. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Aba therapist 10 salaries reported	$31.00 per hour
Registered behavior technician 78 salaries reported	$23.01 per hour
Behavior technician 1 salary reported	$28.50 per hour
Behavioral specialist 29 salaries reported	$29.40 per hour
Board certified behavior analyst 14 salaries reported	$93,933 per year

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