ABA in Schools

[u/Kind-Ad4622]

Hey everyone! I just wanted your opinion on ABA being used in schools, especially for our special needs learners or children with social-emotional challenges. I have been working with a SPED teacher since the beginning of the school year and every opportunity she gets, she always mentions that, "ABA isn't the solution" and that "I need to go back to a clinic" as well as not allowing me to practice my ABA interventions (even though that's why I was hired by the principal) and actively discouraging me. Is this just a bad teacher? Should I stay in the school district? Go back to a clinic? Any advice on the matter would be appreciated. 😌

[u/scorchwinters]

I work in as a BCBA schools. 90% of the strategies I recommend are just regular teaching strategies used in schools for years, but implemented more creatively and intentionally. I don’t use a lot of ABA jargon in my day-to-day life, and I think that helps with how people receive the information.

Some teachers get defensive around BCBAs or RBTs because there is a perception that having these letters after our name means we automatically look down on them. Often times it just takes time and getting to know that person’s style.

If you were specifically hired by the principal because of your background in ABA, then maybe you should have a conversation with the principal about this. If the teacher will retaliate and just be ugly about it though, it’s not worth it.

[u/Kind-Ad4622 → u/scorchwinters]

Absolutely agree. And as for the teacher, she does openly oppose anyone that asks questions lol, saying they're "nothing more than a headache" and does not have open conversations with me about implementation with our students whatsoever, just saying to follow her lead. I'm unsure what having a BA in Liberal Arts teaches you, but I hope it's more than what I know because I am definitely leaving for the next school year. 😅