At Abacus Therapies, we always strive to get to know our young clients as much as possible, their unique skills, and their way of seeing the world.
Naturally, that curiosity goes both ways, and children and parents often want to get to know more about the people designing and overseeing their ABA sessions: our dedicated BCBA therapists!
Today, we’re talking with Natalie Schad, our Clinical Director and certified BCBA specialist, about what a typical day in the life of a BCBA looks like, so you can see what this role really entails.
But instead of giving ordinary answers, Natalie wanted to express her love and enthusiasm for her work through poetry!
What does a typical day look like for a BCBA?
A typical day for me involves a lot of planning, guidance, and troubleshooting—whether it’s developing a training program, implementing a new behavior plan, modifying a goal, or providing support to our therapists.
Is being a BCBA worth it? What are the biggest benefits?
My favorite part of being a BCBA is being able to put the puzzle pieces together and watch a client reach their goals and milestones. Every day brings a new challenge, and I couldn’t do it without the hard work and compassion of my amazing team of RBTs and caregivers by my side.
A Day in the Life of a BCBA
A typical day, one might want to know,
Is meeting a child where they’re at and watching them grow.
The goals they can accomplish, once only a dream,
I witness come true (while I silently scream with joy!).
So much of the time, living without a voice,
And all of a sudden, having that choice.
Imagine a puzzle with ten missing pieces,
And week by week, seeing small increases
In dressing, requesting, and cooperative play,
Mastering new skills each and every day.
Building confidence and reducing pressure,
And little by little, the puzzle comes together.
Compassion, strength, and session flow —
Each and every day, watching you grow.
We make the best team, “it takes a village,” they say:
RBT, caregivers, and BCBA.
By Natalie Schad, BCBA
We hope you enjoyed Natalie’s heartfelt verses and found her poem as inspiring and supportive as we did!
If you have any questions about ABA therapy for children with autism, feel free to reach out via email, text, or phone, and our team of BCBA and RBT specialists will be happy to help!
