A Registered Behavior Technician as an SLP Undergraduate —interview series

Interviewees deliver new insights in areas I do not have experience with. This week I feature a dear friend and classmate of mine, AMANDA LOPEZ, about her experience as a registered behavior technician (RBT) and a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) as part of my interview series.

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Yusa: Thank you for being a part of the interview series, could you briefly introduce yourself?

"Hello! My name is Amanda Lopez. I am a certified SLPA and RBT with working experience as a paraeducator. Along with a bachelors in speech-language pathology (SLP) from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), I will also attend CSULB's grad program for the class of 2023. I have experience working in a clinic setting, school setting, and behavioral clinics."

Yusa: What drew you in an RBT job opportunity?

Amanda: "I needed a job at the time, and I knew I wanted it to be related to this field. I couldn't work as an SLPA, which is the only way you can work in the field without being an actual SLP. I was researching multidisciplinary clinics when I came across an opening for an RBT position. As soon as I looked into it, I realized that this is what I needed. I did not need a college degree, just a high school diploma. This position in this company had a competitive pay, which was $19/hr. I completed training online beforehand before I worked with my first client and gave me the confidence to keep working on behavior management with clients."

Yusa: What did you learn most as an RBT?

Amanda: "As an RBT, I mostly worked with clients diagnosed with autism in the clinic and their homes. I always had to think quickly and to problem-solve in an instant. Working in behavioral therapy is interesting because it is very black and white, for there is a reason for a behavior. I loved to find the purpose of behavior while being able to reinforce a new preferred behavior. While learning how to be proactive with positive reinforcement, I learned to manipulate scenarios to increase positive behaviors. Because I knew that I would work with clients with maladaptive behaviors in the future, I needed to learn to be proactive and improve my behavior management skills."

Yusa: How did working in a multidisciplinary clinic bring new insights to you?

Amanda: "I enjoyed having clients of my own, which included taking data and filling out session paperwork. Data collection can be tricky during sessions, so it was good practice for me to handle an eloping child while writing down that they eloped. I also enjoyed working with a BCBA as the supervisor that allowed me to observe the behavior itself rather than from a communication standpoint. As a future SLP, I may encounter working in a multidisciplinary team, and that means working with BCBAs. Working as an RBT would allow me to break the barrier that some say may occur between disciplinary members. For example, as an RBT, I know how to observe behavior differently than an SLPA. For a behavior to occur, there is an antecedent, the displayed behavior, followed by the consequence. On the other hand, for communication to happen, there is a desire to express a want or need, the dialogue, succeeded by the desired item."

Yusa: How was performing in-home sessions for your clients?

Amanda: "Performing in-home sessions was also an interesting experience as I worked with supportive caregivers who participated in parent training. However, some parents were not as supportive and became distractions such as when I worked with parents who requested a different RBT due to my ethnicity. I continued to conduct the sessions due to the company being short-staffed. I know what you are thinking, how could I sit there and work with their child when I know that the parents have animosity towards me? Situations like these allowed me to gain humility, as well as the strength because I'm not an RBT for the parents for I was there for clients. I learned to put the child’s needs before my insecurity and that taught me the real passion needed for special education to truly work for what's best for clients."

Amanda may be contacted by email at melolly10@gmail.com.

Thank you for reading my interview series with AMANDA LOPEZ.

Stay Healthy,

YUSA