What it’s like to work on an autism intervention programme and why I have chosen a career as a Behaviour Technician.
Hi, I’m Megan, welcome to my blog! Today, I’ll be taking you through a typical day in the life of a Behaviour Technician (aka BT). As a Behaviour Technician, my job is to work with individuals who have developmental disabilities, challenging behaviours and mental health issues. I help them develop the necessary skills to live a fulfilling life by implementing programmes designed by our Board Certified Behaviour Analysts (BCBA’s). My work involves direct one-to-one therapy with clients, assisting them with their daily activities. The BT team are responsible for data collection to help monitor our client’s progress and communication with families and other healthcare professionals. It’s a challenging but rewarding job that requires patience, compassion and a deep understanding of human behaviour. So, come with me as we explore a day in the life of a BT!
Let’s start off by noting that as a Behaviour Technician, there are no two days that are the same. Each day brings such a variety of activities, interactions and behaviours.
I wake up and get myself prepared for the day that lies ahead of me. When I arrive at the young person’s home, our team and the parents work together on a handover in which we communicate important aspects and updates regarding our young person. It’s important for us to understand how the individual might be feeling – whether they didn’t get a good night’s sleep, for example.
We start off with breakfast, looking for opportunities for the individual to express their needs and wants. We then begin our day, which might include programmes, chill out time, appointments, data entry etc. We also having a rolling schedule of activities booked in on certain days. Examples include, ‘trampolining’, ‘music therapy’, ‘occupational therapy’ or ‘swimming’. So, a routine is in place which assists the young person to familiarise with the schedule, what day it is and what’s on.
A key element of our role is to take data on everything we see, so data based decisions can be made in the best interests of the individual we support. The programmes implemented by our BCBA’s are beyond fascinating to me and these individualised programmes are all focused on improving the young person’s way of life. This is the most important part to me, their wellbeing. The science of behaviour analysis underpins everything we do, mainly focusing on reinforcement procedures to enable our young person to be happy, relaxed and engaged.
It is such a pleasure to work in this role and it certainly does not feel like I’m working, so to speak. This is because I am interacting one-to-one with the individual, implementing the changes in our young person’s programme, working through the plans in place and seeing the progression right before my eyes.
On another (and very important) note, not only are the programmes broadening our young person’s knowledge, certain programmes exist to ensure preventative measures and safety in an occurrence of distressed behaviour and also in unexpected and emergency scenarios. Essentially, the goal is to be able to teach appropriate behaviours and coping skills to increase quality of life. I have grown up with ASD within my friendships and family and, had I known about ABA therapy back then, I can see it would have been of huge benefit.
At present, I am working with my first ever young person with autism and other conditions, and this individual and I hold such a strong, meaningful relationship, whilst maintaining professionalism in working together to have a fulfilling, positive lifestyle.
To really be a part of something ‘Enabling people to live their best lives’ is amazing. Both Skybound and the young person I work with have been a constant source of inspiration, motivating me to be in this field of work for the rest of my life. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for myself, the young person I work with, and my future clients.
In conclusion, a day in the life of a Behaviour Technician is never dull, as every young person presents unique challenges that require an individualised approach. It is filled with a variety of tasks and challenges that require patience, empathy and a strong work ethic. But the rewards are immeasurable, as BT’s have the opportunity to make a positive impact on their client’s lives, helping them to develop new skills and achieve their goals.
Behaviour Technicians play a crucial role in the team, working closely with BCBA’s, families and other professionals to ensure that individuals receive the best possible care. If you’re considering a career in this field, know that your work will be meaningful and that you will have the opportunity to change lives for the better.
If you are interested in becoming a Behaviour Technician and think you have what it takes, then don’t delay! Why not register your interest here on our website today? I definitely recommend it.
