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Purpose
Purpose
My engaged learning experience is at Integrity Learning Center, where I hold an internship as a Registered Behavior Technician. As an RBT at Integrity Learning Center, I work with kids diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder between the ages of 2-7 years old doing early intervention therapies.
Each kid has different end goals, but we ultimately try our best to prepare them for school so they can have an easy transition starting school. I help kids one on one meet their goals of individual day to day tasks that they may be struggling with using play based therapy.
I chose this experience in particular because I am able to help kids achieve regular day to day activities that might be difficult for them to do. This can be both mental and physical struggles. I believe that this is a great opportunity to get involvement and experience in the field, as my career goal is to ultimately become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
Integrity Learning Center logo
Prior Experience
Prior Experience
Through previous educational training, I was granted numerous opportunities to deepen my understanding of my field of study. I took Medical Terminology through Ivy Tech in high school, which confirmed my desire to pursue a career in the medical field. With taking this class, I was able to network with my teacher, who was a nurse working at a local hospital. I also was in a different country finishing my junior and senior year of high school. It was tough finishing school in a different country when my high school was based in Indiana. This strengthened my communication and problem solving skills. It also allowed me to network with people in Mexico, as I have family in the medical field here and my older sister is currently finishing her residency there too.
All these experiences made me more prepared for the professional requirements expected from us through JLN. Talking to people and living through hard situations also made me understand my field in a deeper way, as I saw what was happening second hand in the field through my family members that had to work through it.
Client using an AAC device to communicate, just like we all do! Just because it may look a little different, doesn't mean it's a bad thing.
Community Connections
Community Connections
In my engaged learning experience as an RBT, I am exposed to different types of communities and cultures. Of course, I am exposed everyday to the ASD community and get to work with children diagnosed with it. Though I do mostly work with White Americans, I am exposed to their different types of customs that vary by family. These interactions have shifted my beliefs as to how different people can actually be and vary from family to family, no matter if they grew up in the same town, and are of the same race.
It amazes me how all these parents come together no matter how different their beliefs may be, just for the good being of their children and how much love they have for them. Of course, my beliefs that children with ASD aren’t much different and shouldnt be treated any differently than other children just strengthened more.
An Excellence award I won, due to displaying the core value of excellence and delivering quality therapies to all clients!
New Lessons
New Lessons
An important lesson that I have learned during my engaged learning experience is that it is always better to work together, than trying to do everything on your own. In my job, I work one on one with whatever client I happen to be with. Because I cannot always be with that client, multiple people are trained on that client for scheduling purposes. Though that client is my own responsibility and no one else’s, the people working around me will never hesitate to help me or anyone else with small tasks such as throwing something away for us, or through bigger situations like an escalated behavior/tantrum from the kids we’re with in the clinic. If my surrounding coworkers are witnessing that I might not be able to handle these situations on my own, and they’re able to spare a hand, they’ll do anything possible to de-escalate the child. This can include things such as putting down foam mats to avoid the child hurting themselves, or sharing some tips with me that they learned themselves through working with the specific child.
There have also been instances where they themselves try talking and cheering up the child themselves, as maybe I might not be the child’s best friend at that very moment. There are so many ways that I have been helped when I needed it and least expected it. Of course, I always lend a hand whenever I am able to, as I know how much of a relief it is to know that you’re not alone in those intense situations.
I love that my workplace values and encourages teamwork everyday, even if it is more of an individualized type of work. I hope to use this new lesson of working better together as I continue on with my jobs, and as I get into bigger things whether it’s helping out personally, or in future workplaces.
A client's independent demands to "eat" increasing over time.
Impact
Impact
This engaged learning experience left a huge impact on my career path and decisions. As mentioned previously, thanks to this wonderful experience as an RBT, I discovered that I wanted to dive further into the field to actually become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
I love the fact that I can work with my passions and make an impact on my community. I know I left an impact on the population in served and it feels so good to see all the progress. I’ve had parents tell me that they can physically see the progress their child has made in just a few weeks that they’ve done therapies for. I’ve had a client gone from nonverbal to almost completely vocal in the span of about a month, all because therapists would enunciate words in a way that interested the child. They also had such an impact on me. I feel so happy to go to my job and be able to continue to further my education in the field. They taught me a different kind of patience, and I have so much love for them. It makes me so happy to know we both made impacts in each other’s lives, and these kids mean the world to me.
Career Connections
Career Connections
I now plan to stay at Integrity Learning Center as an RBT long term. My experience working here has been so positive, that it changed my career goals from an Occupational Therapist to a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). As an RBT, I currently work under the orders of a BCBA.
My next step in this would be to finish graduate school, and hopefully be able to complete my clinical and supervision hours. If needed, I will complete whatever certification needed to become a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA). This all depends on what path my current job decides would better benefit my path and better prepare me to become a BCBA.
I hope to be able to continue and further my career specifically at Integrity Learning Center, as I get both clinical and in-school therapy experience. I am so thankful for all the opportunities I now have thanks to the Jaguar Leadership Program and Integrity Learning Center.
A clients graph increasing over time of how many targets they've mastered out of!
Summary
Summary
My overall experience with my engaged learning experience as a Registered Behavior Technician has been wonderful. I was able to verify what I wanted to do in terms of career, and further my passion when it comes to helping people. It taught me that although I can do things myself, it never hurts to work as a team and help others out as well. It taught me so much more patience and strengthened me as a person and a leader.
I am thankful that I had some prior knowledge into the career with some classes such as Medical Terminology. I am also forever grateful for the fact that I am able go continue and further my career at Integrity Learning Center as a future BCBA!
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