Interested in a career supporting those with autism?

Careers Supporting Individuals With Autism

Earlier this year, the CDC published a new report stating that an estimated 1 in 36 children are identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This is an increase from the 2018 report stating that ASD is prevalent in an estimated 1 in 44.

Children are being diagnosed with autism at very rapid rates, making the need for services and resources at an all-time high. This could be where you come in!

Have you ever considered a career supporting individuals with autism? Maybe you’ve heard of ABA therapy but aren’t quite sure what it is. Applied Behavior Analysis is the scientific approach to understanding and modifying human behavior to improve people’s lives. It focuses on how and why behavior changes, in addition to how learning takes place. It is widely used in education, mental health, and early intervention autism treatment.

If you enjoy tasks such as data collection and analysis, conducting research, and educating others, you would most likely make a great candidate to work in ABA. There are several directions you can go in, depending on what your interests are. If you are passionate about working with school-age children or teaching, a classroom support position (paraprofessional) in the school system could be a viable option for you.

Becoming a special education teacher is another great option. While learning ABA is not necessary for a career in special education, it can be extremely useful. ABA is the study of behavior, and in the classroom, analyzing behaviors can be part of everyday work. Being knowledgeable in the field can support responsibilities from lesson planning to collaborating with peers. It can also provide a strategic perspective when supporting parents and students who often have unique ways of learning and understanding expectations.

There is also a need for helping individuals with autism thrive outside of the classroom. ABA therapy is increasing in demand, creating a need for staff to work in autism centers and the community at large. Therapy is often delivered 1:1 and addresses specific challenges that prevent an individual from functioning successfully in a particular environment or situation. Even without an official degree in behavior analysis, individuals interested in the field can start as a behavior technician.

Behavior technicians conducting ABA therapy receive direct support and supervision from a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst). Behavior technicians are entry-level positions in ABA, but there are opportunities to gain more experience, pursue certification, and increase income.

If being in charge of an individual’s ABA treatment sounds desirable, becoming a BCBA may be something to consider. These master’s or doctorate-level clinicians create and manage treatment plans for a caseload of clients and often work in collaboration with the individual’s family and overall care team (such as speech therapists and occupational therapists, teachers, and medical doctors). They also provide support and supervision to a team of behavior technicians who are implementing strategies to help the individual meet goals. Treatment goals can relate to building new skills, replacing challenging behaviors, strengthening emotional regulation, developing social skills, and improving overall functioning across environments.

The need for strong BCBAs is at an all-time high and, once finished with coursework and certification, can lead to a promising and fulfilling career. The average annual salary for BCBAs is around $70,000 with opportunities for growth and advancement, as well as flexibility in where one can work—at home, in schools, or in autism treatment centers.

Clinical supervisors are needed at most autism centers to oversee the implementation of training plans and act as additional support to behavior technicians and BCBAs. This could be a BCBA who prefers to oversee operations, or someone who previously worked directly with clients and is now looking for a different role in the field. They can help monitor client progress and provide fidelity checks to ensure care is delivered consistently and effectively.

Many ABA therapy companies also need professionals who can monitor clinical outcomes, provide additional family support, assist with transitions to kindergarten (or later transitions into the workforce), lead social skills groups, and work with individuals and families in home-based settings. If any of this sounds like a fit for who you are and what you enjoy, a career supporting individuals with autism is worth pursuing.

There are specialty roles as well—speech and language pathology and occupational therapy directly support individuals and families affected by autism, while also allowing clinicians to work with other populations. Multiple age ranges and settings need specialists in these areas, offering flexibility in who you work with. Similar to BCBAs, qualified SLPs and OTs who specialize in autism are highly sought after because of the integral role they play in helping individuals build essential skills.

Here at Ally, we are passionate about helping young children with autism and their families access quality ABA therapy. To continue doing our part, we’ve established the “Tuition Assistance Benefit.” We believe promoting staff growth and development is essential—so we can build and retain strong clinical teams for children at our centers. Our company offers tuition reimbursement following six months of employment to staff members who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in ABA, speech pathology, or occupational therapy. This is only the start of something much bigger, as we look forward to offering tuition assistance for undergraduate coursework in the near future as well. To learn more about how we support quality, measurable outcomes in our programs, visit our clinical excellence page.

These are a few examples of career options supporting individuals with autism. This diverse field continues to grow and evolve, which is encouraging for professionals eager to help families. If you are interested in ABA career options—or if you are already in the field and looking for a fresh start—visit https://allybehavior.com/join-our-team/ to view our current job openings. If you are curious about what it looks like day-to-day to support kids in a center setting, explore our typical day overview. You can also learn more about our full-service center model and review common questions on our FAQs page.

• https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/aba-therapy-examples/#:~:text=Examples%20include%20communication%20skills%2C%20critical,teachers%2C%20parents%2C%20and%20colleagues.
• https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/jobs-for-applied-behavior-analysis
• https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0323-autism.html