board certified behavior analyst

clinical director

registered behavior technician

aba therapist

therapy coordinator

Stride Autism Centers

This company is an absolute embarrassment. They will add countless additional tasks to your workload. For example if you are off the schedule and in school, you will be required to make program cards rather than do the required tasks for school or get unrestricted hours. The CC is only able to help with tasks if they’re are decorative tasks- such as decorating the lobby. We’ve started doing “overstaffing”, which is basically just being on-call- which is not listed in our required tasks, but they don’t care about that. Then when you are required to come in- despite being told 10-15 minutes before shift- and you are unable to due to appointments, you get a mark on your attendance. Not to mention you only have some many unpaid days you can take off before you get terminated, even if they made you use ALL of you PTO in the previous year. HR is always giving you run-around answers and then make you seem like the one who doesn’t understand to your BCBA. The BCBA is incredibly unprofessional and spends majority of supervision on their phone or talking to other RBTs they are not supervising. Not to mention they are hardly actually present during the supervision hours. Their fidelity checks are usually impacted by who is being supervised, rather than how the RBT is actually running session. The BCBA will also undermine the expectations that you place on your client- even if you aren’t being supervised. Fellow RBTs are very cliquey and they make it known during shifts. Often times they will only help each other out, leaving the three to four of us not in the clique to “fend for ourselves”. Majority of the time, we don’t even get support from the BCBA or CC. The lack of support gets even worse if you get sick or have mental health concerns. You’ll be called into the BCBA office and have a “meeting” with the BCBA while the CC sits in the corner on their computer about your engagement with the clients. However, even when you explain that your struggling to find the will to live, they’ll dismiss you. Then when you try to be more engaged, despite wanting to disappear, the BCBA will tell you that they expected more after the meeting. Not to mention that even when both the BCBA and the CC say they’ll help give you more breaks during session, they never will- it’s just another lie they’ll tell you. I once told both the CC and the BCBA  that I thought I was going to throw up, and neither one of them care to make sure I wasn’t running a temperature- which is odd considering we work with kids and they’re more likely to get sick if we’re sick, but what do I know. The school assistance program they offer is a joke and trap. You’ll have to jump through numerous different hoops just get to the full BCBA pay- unless you’re a favorite then they’ll invent a new position for you that’s salary. The favoritism within this company is absolutely ridiculous. And it has been brought to the attention of the CEO, but nothings been fixed cause they clearly don’t actually care about their employees. The new Cedar Rapids clinic was not completely ready to be opened, yet they did. Stride is expanding faster than they should, especially given the amount of issues their other clinics have. 

I don’t usually leave reviews, but I wanted to share my experience working at Chicagoland Centers to give others a better understanding of the environment.
In my opinion, the biggest challenge was management and leadership. At times, I felt there was limited support when concerns were raised, and issues were not always addressed in a way that felt productive. In my experience, bringing concerns up the chain of command did not always lead to resolution, and sometimes made the work environment feel more uncomfortable rather than improved.
There also seemed to be a disconnect between leadership decisions and the day-to-day realities within the centers. Expectations did not always align with the workload staff were managing, which could make the role feel overwhelming at times. I often felt that more communication and understanding from leadership could have made a big difference.
From my perspective, staffing and overall support were also areas that could be improved. There were times where I felt responsible for managing a high workload independently, which contributed to stress and burnout. I believe additional support and clearer structure would help employees feel more set up for success.
I also felt that when raising concerns, there could have been more encouragement and reassurance for employees to speak up comfortably. Creating a more open and supportive environment for feedback would be beneficial for both staff and leadership.
The work with clients is meaningful and rewarding, which is a strong positive. However, in my opinion, improvements in leadership, communication, and support would make a significant difference in employee experience and retention.

PROS:
My experience at Stride was a generally positive one. I appreciated that I was given the opportunity to work full-time, have a consistent schedule, and was off on weekends. What is very lucrative about this company is that working hours are 8am to 4pm as an RBT, and this is something that I very much appreciated. It meant I could truly have a life outside of work, and it made me feel acknowledged as an employee. In fact, employees with families are celebrated (you'll see yourself a great dose of newborns in the newsletters!), making this company very family-friendly! 

My supervisor was very supportive whenever I needed her whether it was for work or not. She had our best interest at heart, and she worked very hard to ensure clinical operations sailed smoothly! My colleagues were also super supportive and always came to my aide if I needed it. 

Brad, CEO, is nothing short of a great leader. He genuinely listens to his employees, only thinks of solutions, and always aims for improvement and growth.

During my time there, we were given additional self-care days added to PTO. Benefits included affordable healthcare and dental options, and they were effective immediately upon employment!

CONS:
At one point, an 8am to 4pm schedule was no longer a good option for me given my circumstances, so I had to resign. 

Given that Stride is still in its infancy, it is a work in progress. This means management is still learning and changing policies. This can lead to miscommunication sometimes between employees.

Lastly, the hardest part of the job is that Stride only accepts clients ages 2-6, so it is very taxing on adults. In many ways, working with toddlers and pre-school aged children is much more challenging than school aged children (6+) because they usually move more, are still developing, and typically do not have the skills that older children do. While this makes our work that much more rewarding, it can be draining at times to work with young children back-to-back.

I had the privilege of working at Stride and can confidently say that it was a truly enriching experience and incredible journey filled with growth, learning, and meaningful impact. During my tenure at Stride, I had the privilege of collaborating with an outstanding group of professionals who are deeply committed to providing the best ABA therapy and support for children with autism and their families in need. The dedication and passion exhibited by the entire team truly impressed me. From the RBTs and BCBAs on the ground to the CEO, Brad Zelinger, everyone consistently demonstrated their commitment to the mission and values of the organization!
One of the key strengths of Stride is the supportive and collaborative environment that fosters professional growth and development. I was fortunate to work alongside colleagues who encouraged open communication, creativity, and teamwork. This inclusive culture significantly contributes to the achievements and the positive impact Stride makes on the lives of children with autism and their families. One of the standout aspects of my time with Stride was the camaraderie among colleagues. The friendships and connections I formed extended beyond the workplace, creating a sense of belonging and lifelong relationships that I will always cherish. 
I am truly grateful for the opportunities I had to lead and contribute to Stride. The experience has not only enriched my professional skills but also deepened my understanding of the importance of compassionate and effective care in the ABA therapy field.
I wholeheartedly recommend Stride to anyone seeking a rewarding and fulfilling career in ABA therapy. The organization's commitment to excellence, supportive culture, and dedication to making a difference set it apart as an exceptional employer! 

Whether you are an RBT or BCBA, Stride has truly lived up to its mission! 

"To provide the best possible support to children with autism and their families by attracting, developing and retaining world-class clinicians and therapists." 

As a BCBA it was important for me to find a company who was invested in my growth within the field. Stride does this by providing numerous mentorship and learning opportunities. BCBAs at Stride have weekly meetings with their Clinical Supervisor, monthly collaboration meetings with other BCBAs in their region, and monthly training opportunities that often include speakers who are thought leaders in the field. In addition to a generous CEU allowance, Stride also organizes an annual BCBA retreat. The retreat is a great opportunity for BCBAs from all of Stride's locations to get together for networking, professional development, and fun! 

Not only does Stride invest in their BCBAs but also their RBTs. An RBT's work is taxing and Stride does all they can to show their RBTs they are valued and mitigate burnout. RBTs at Stride are guaranteed full time hours and are able to receive benefits.  They are offered growth opportunities that include tuition assistance and supervised fieldwork hours for those pursuing their BCBA. I have never worked for a ABA company that treats their RBTs so well. 

Other perks to working at Stride are the consistent schedule; support of a center coordinator (who is responsible for helping with scheduling & making sure the center runs smoothly); and support from the intake, authorizations, and billing teams. These additional supports free up the BCBAs to focus on their clients! 

Working at Stride has been both fun and rewarding, especially being able to make a positive difference in my clients’ lives. The culture is supportive, and the BCBAs I’ve worked with have been great.

However, there have been ongoing concerns with upper management and policy consistency. I do not feel a strong sense of job security, as my hours have been reduced despite being initially guaranteed 40 hours per week. Over the past year, frequent changes seem to be implemented with little communication or structured transition process, which can feel overwhelming to keep up with.

Additionally, staffing and scheduling could be better balanced. There often seems to be overstaffing due to unpredictable client cancellations, which directly impacts employee hours.

Another concern is the work environment among staff. There is often too much gossip, and favoritism can be noticeable at times. Opportunities for raises should also be expanded, rather than being based primarily on attendance.

The PTO accrual policy has also changed in a way that makes it difficult to earn vacation time, especially since it is now based on hours worked. With reduced hours, this directly impacts my ability to earn PTO and affects my financial stability.

Overall, while the work itself is meaningful, I would appreciate more consistency, communication, structure, and fair opportunities for staff. Without improvements in these areas, there is a risk of continued employee turnover.

If you work in healthcare then you’re no stranger to horrible jobs, however Stride has been the exact opposite of previous jobs I’ve had before.
Your sense of purpose is strong and you continuously collect data that shows the change you make in your clients lives. The BCBAs and coworkers are helpful and supportive. The benefits are good (although better health insurance plans would be nice) and we recently even got self care days which is awesome, not many other places care about their employees mental health, so that was a huge awesome surprise.
The schedule and hours are unheard of in the ABA field, all in clinic with set 40 hours a week 8-4 with no weekends or holidays, a huge deciding factor that made me pick Stride over some other ABA companies. The pay is competitive but could still be better.
The downside to Stride however is that it’s hard work. You’re playing with kids all day which is awesome, a chance to get a paycheck while healing your inner child, but 8 hours a day rolling and crawling on the floor, sitting in children’s chairs while in an adult body, and mediating meltdowns can take a toll on you. I’m crawling home into bed by the end of the week. I also wish we had longer lunch breaks, 30 minutes just isn’t enough, 60 would be best or even just 45 would be better. 
Regardless, I feel like I learn something new every day with this job and can really eventually have a career with Stride.

Working with the clients is an incredibly rewarding experience. Each kiddo is so different and has taught me so much about autism and how differently each person learns. However, the upper management is horrible. They have a tendency to choke you out if you don't fit their ideal mold. If you speak up and voice your opinions or bring genuine concerns to them, they turn it around and blame you instead of holding the correct people accountable. Stride is constantly opening new centers, and it feels like the RBTs we are hiring are more about having a physical body in the building instead of a quality, compassionate one. Many people are younger and have no work ethic, and hate hearing constructive feedback from peers and sups. Session quality and integrity are not of the utmost concern, which is disappointing when you're someone who's passionate about this field. There is constant drama and gossip. A lot of the RBTs clearly don't care about client goals and outcomes, and don't follow the BCBAs' protocols or procedures because they don't agree with them. I also don't feel like the training for new RBTS is not anywhere near what it should be for the type of care we provide. 

Typically at Stride in Hiawatha, you will have a schedule to start your week. That schedule will change daily, so don't get comfortable knowing who you have. Management will let the clinical coordinator take weeks at a time off or leave early whenever but then the clinical coordinator will be the one to tell you that you need to come to work. If you are a student in a grad school program you get away with missing work, breaking policies, and sitting around chatting about personal plans with the BCBAs. If you are a good RBT you will be placed on kids that my require more support. If you get burnt out and report that to your clinic coordinator and director you will be scheduled more with that client. If you bring it up again during your Wednesday meeting management will say " If you feel burnt out on these kids this field just may not be for you." None of the management actually knows the policies HR put in place and HR seems like they are not properly training management. Certain RBTs hang out with BCBAs and their families outside of work and are therefore given preferential treatment. Hopefully they make changed but as of right now I would not recommend this place to anyone.

Being in the ABA field for a long time, I’ve seen my share of ABA companies who treat staff poorly and whose priorities are not the clients they serve but revenue. I’ve also learnt that no company is perfect but what is important is to be part of a team that is transparent, open to feedback from employees on all levels, and the commitment to continuously improve. While Stride is not perfect, I feel that they take feedback seriously and immediately take action to address concerns of staff (e.g., most recently giving all employees 5 additional PTO days). As a BCBA I feel supported by clinical leadership via regular 1:1 meetings and weekly group meetings.  I am given the resources (e.g., materials, decent budget for toys etc…) to do my job well. RBTs are guaranteed 40 hours work week with benefits and 10 PTO days and are at the center all day which makes training and supervision a breeze. It’s great to see that Stride values RBTs as they are the foundation of any good ABA company. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Board certified behavior analyst 19 salaries reported	$86,536 per year
Clinical director 9 salaries reported	$93,865 per year
Registered behavior technician 3 salaries reported	$21.67 per hour
Aba therapist 2 salaries reported	$21.75 per hour
Therapy coordinator 1 salary reported	$21.25 per hour

Working at Stride Autism Centers: Company Overview and Reviews

Stride Autism Centers

Stride Autism Centers Ratings

Popular jobs at Stride Autism Centers

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected