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RBT training in NJ

RBT training provides the skills and knowledge necessary to work as a Registered Behavior Technician. People who work in this position are responsible for working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities to help them reach their fullest potential through different types of therapies. 

The RBT certification is a nationally recognized credential which allows the RBT in various settings including homes, schools, and clinics.

So, who are RBTs and what do they do?

What is an RBT?

An RBT is a Registered Behavior Technician. This credential is awarded by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and requires the completion of a training program that meets specific requirements set forth by the BACB. Once an individual has met all the requirements and passed the RBT exam, they are able to work as a behavior technician. 

Training to become an RBT includes a fair amount of psychological training to help the RBT better understand their clients. They are trained in developmental disorders, de-escalation tactics, and communication, as well as a variety of other scientific techniques in order for them to perform their job to the best of their ability.

What do RBTs do?

An RBT works with individuals with developmental disabilities to help them improve their quality of life. They do this by working on skills that are necessary for everyday life, such as communication, social skills, and self-care. 

RBTs also work on problem behaviors that may be preventing the individual from reaching their goals. This can include helping the individual articulate what is causing the stress, recognize what it is they need to ease that stress, and act accordingly. 

An RBT will also teach self-soothing practices and coping mechanisms to help their clients better self-regulate. 

To carry out these responsibilities, RBTs are always guided by a BCBA®, who has more training and education in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and can assist them in providing the best care possible.

How long does it take to receive an RBT degree in New Jersey?

If you’re interested in studying to become an RBT to help people in need, you’ll need to complete a 40-hour online training course. The course is designed for those seeking to become paraprofessionals or educators who want to work with those who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

Often, parents of children with autism wish to gain a greater understanding of their child’s needs – and as such, the training course is designed with parents in mind, too.

While you can complete this course in as little as 1 month if you want, most people seeking this certification take anywhere from 2 to 4 months to complete the program and pass the examination at the end. 

Who gives RBT courses in New Jersey?

For those of you looking to take both in person and online courses, the Verbal Behavior Institute in South River, New Jersey, offers a 40-hour Registered Behavior Technician Training Program, at the end of which you can take and pass an exam to receive certification. 

You can also receive online training from Beaming Health, located in East Brunswick, New Jersey. This course is entirely online and video-based, if that sort of training is more your style. 

 

How much does an RBT make in New Jersey?

According to Salary.com, the average salary of a Registered Behavior Technician in New Jersey as of August 2022 is $41,311, or approximately $19.86 per hour. The salary range falls between $37,000 and $46,000, influenced by a variety of factors including your education, your qualifications, and the number of years you have worked in your position.

How much does RBT Training Cost in New Jersey?

For both of the aforementioned courses, the cost is around $100 for the entire course. When interviewed, graduates of the Verbal Behavior Institute reported that they paid for their own training fees, as the price of the entire course was completely reasonable and affordable.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a steady job where you can help children in need, Registered Behavior Technician may be the career path for you. Read the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s website or the Verbal Behavior Institute’s website for more information!

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markl
How to avoid back to school meltdowns

It’s no secret that going back to school can be tough for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for children with autism. The new environment can be overwhelming, and the change in routine can be tough to adjust to, especially for kids on the spectrum. 

It’s important that you as their parents do your best to help make the transition as painless as possible – and we’re here to help.

Back-to-School Challenges

Going back to school after spending the summer having fun and relaxing is tough for every child, neurotypical and autistic alike. The changes that they have to deal with once school starts back can trigger meltdowns in any child, but they can be especially upsetting to autistic kids. 

Let’s take a look at some of the most common back-to-school struggles that kids face, and why these can be extra stressful to children on the spectrum.

1. Getting Into a New Routine

This is the single most upsetting part for most kids. After two months of having barely any structure outside of the television schedule or the hours of the day, being thrown head first into a brand new, extremely different routine can be overwhelming. 

The sudden, complete change in routine is even harder for kids with autism, whose brains are wired to detect and enjoy patterns and familiar routines. It can feel like a total and complete upheaval to them, similar to if an adult were to suddenly move to another city with no resources and completely against their will. 

The new routine can feel like a prison and a punishment to all kids – especially when they are too young to understand why school is necessary. Children with autism experience that feeling at a heightened level, and can be easily upset because of this.

2. Settling Down After the Summer Months

Going from spending every day at home with everything they could ever want or need, to spending 8 hours a day in a strange place with strange people is a very upsetting experience for many kids on the spectrum. The amount of new stimuli and new expectations can easily get overwhelming, which can trigger meltdowns even in neurotypical kids. 

What can also be upsetting to kids is the fact that they are no longer able to spend a lot of time outside or playing games or watching TV. Giving up all those ways that they may have used as tools to help regulate their emotions can leave kids feeling helpless and vulnerable. 

3. New Teacher, New Students, New Surroundings

We’ve all experienced the fear that comes with meeting new people and going new places. Think back to your first day of work or your first day at college – not knowing anyone and not even knowing your way around whatever setting you have found yourself in, can be overwhelming even to adults. 

For kids, it’s far worse.

Often, children with autism find themselves getting attached to the teacher they have in one school year, only to have that person yanked away and replaced with a new adult which they have to learn to trust all over again. Combine that with a possible change in friendship circles, and you have a recipe for emotional turmoil. 

Even the new surroundings can contribute to that sensation of total loss and fear that kids can feel that first week or two of school.

4. Sensory Overload

One of the main things that children on the autism spectrum struggle with is sensory processing disorder. This means that their brains have a harder time filtering out certain stimuli, and as a result, they can get overwhelmed very easily. 

The first few days of school can be particularly overwhelming for autistic children. They’re in a new environment with new people and new sounds, and it can all be too much for their brains to handle, as even neurotypical children can struggle in the early days of a new school year.

5. Hard Time Staying Still

One of the most common issues that kids with autism face is an inability to sit still for long periods of time. This can make it hard for them to stay focused during class and pay attention to the teacher. It can also be disruptive to other students if they are constantly moving around or making noise. 

Children with autism may also stim, which is a repetitive movement that they do to soothe themselves, such as rocking back and forth or flapping their hands. Being unable to do this freely can make the entire process of going back to school even more upsetting than it might have been otherwise.

Tips to Help Your Child with Autism Adjust to School

The start of a new school year can be an exciting time for many children. But, for children with autism, as we’ve discussed, it can also be a time of anxiety and stress. 

If your child is starting school or transitioning to a new school, here are some tips to help them adjust and make the most of their educational experience:

1. Introduce Them to Staff

If possible, try to introduce your child to their new teachers before the first day of school. By doing this, your child will have at least one or two familiar faces to look to in an otherwise unfamiliar environment, which will help them settle in a little easier.

You can also ask the school if they can provide you with a tour of the facilities so that your child can get comfortable with their new surroundings. If they know where to go before the school year even starts, they will feel more confident and less lost and scared, which is always a good thing.

2. Let Them Ask Questions

Starting school (or transitioning to a new school) can be overwhelming for any child. But, for children with autism, it can be especially so. 

To help with this, be sure to:

  • Give your child plenty of opportunities to ask questions about their upcoming school experience. 
  • Sit down with them in the weeks leading up to school restarting to make sure they understand everything that will be happening. 
  • Ask questions about what they want or what they are worried about so that you can best prepare them for the upcoming transition. 

The more your child knows about what to expect, the easier it will be for them to handle the change. 

3. Do School Work With Them During the Summer

One of the best ways to help your child with autism adjust to school is to do some school work with them during the summer. This can help them get used to a routine and start to understand what will be expected of them when they start classes. Plus, it might give them a greater understanding of school topics, and help them feel more confident in classes.

Doing school work over the summer is also a great opportunity for you to bond with your child and help them feel more comfortable with the idea of going to school. If they know that working with you is easy, they are more likely to feel like they have a lifeline if they ever have homework that they don’t understand or are struggling with.

4. Start Explaining Their New Schedule a Few Days Before School Starts

If your child is used to staying home with you or attending a special needs school, the start of the new school year may be a big change for them. Help them prepare by explaining their new schedule a few days in advance. Show them pictures of their new classroom, their teacher, and their classmates. 

As mentioned previously, see if you can take a tour of the school together so they can see what their new environment will be like. You can even walk them through their class schedule a few times if they will be changing rooms so that they know where to go, and can feel confident that they won’t get too lost when classes actually start.

5. Help Them Transition With Things That are Familiar

One way to help your child feel more comfortable with the idea of going back to school is to incorporate things that are familiar to them into their routine:

  • If they have a favorite toy or blanket, allow them to bring it with them to school.
  • Packing their lunch with their favorite foods.
  • Let them pick out their own clothes to wear on the first day. 

Giving them some amount of control over what they bring or what they wear will make the change feel less scary, as they will feel less out of control by being able to make some decisions about the day for themselves.

6. Set Up Playdates With Classmates Over the Summer

If your child is attending a new school, set up some play dates with their future classmates over the summer. This will help them feel more comfortable and familiar with their peers before the first day of school. If your child is shy or has difficulty socializing, you can also invite the parents of their future classmates over for a play date so that they can get to know each other better.

Having the play date in a locale where your child is comfortable – at home or perhaps at their favorite park – can help make this experience less stressful as well. If the kids you’re having over are not already their friends, a play date with new people can also be scary, so it’s important that you give them as many familiar things to hold onto as you can.

7. Have School Remain Positive

Where possible, keep the focus on school being a positive experience. This might mean:

  • Attending open houses and orientations together, 
  • Meeting the teacher beforehand, or 
  • Touring the school ahead of time. 

If your child is anxious about starting school, having a positive attitude yourself can be helpful in setting the tone. 

Try to make school work feel fun, and talk about school positively whenever possible. Maybe work out a daily or weekly treat for your child to help them feel like they’re accomplishing something every day and week that they make it through. It can help them associate school with something they like, and make the process a bit more fun.

8. Continuously Work on Social Skills

One of the best things you can do to help your child adjust to school is to work on their social skills. This includes:

  • Teaching them how to communicate with others, 
  • Guiding them in how to make friends, and 
  • Explaining how to navigate certain social situations. 

If they have a script or expectation for how each situation might go, they will feel more in control and less anxious.

There are many resources available to help with this, including books, websites, and social skills groups.

9. Walk Through Your Child’s Anxieties

If your child is feeling anxious about starting school, talk to them about their specific concerns. Is it the new environment? Being around other kids? Not knowing what to expect? 

Once you identify their worries, you can help ease their anxiety by walking through each one and providing reassurance. For example, if they’re worried about making friends, you can tell them about the other kids in their class and how they’ll all be learning together. 

Being open with your child will not only help reassure them before classes start, but remind them that you are a safe space and that they can come to you with any anxieties they have, even after school starts.

10. Get a Good Night’s Rest and Have a Stress Free Morning

A good night’s sleep is important for everyone, but it’s especially crucial for kids with autism. Make sure your child is getting enough rest by establishing a bedtime routine and sticking to it as much as possible. The night before school should be as relaxing as you can make it, because your child is sure to be nervous about the next day.

In the morning, avoid anything that could add unnecessary stress to your child’s day, such as rushing around or having a lot of loud noise. Instead, create a calm environment for them to get ready. Make them their favorite breakfast, help them get dressed in their favorite outfit, and let them know how much you love them. 

Reassure them that they’re going to do great, and that you’ll see them after school with their favorite snacks. You might also consider making them their favorite dinner that night to help make the entire first day as enjoyable an experience as possible.

Conclusion

Changes in routine can cause a lot of anxiety in any child, but for children with autism, this experience can be significantly worse. It’s important to remain calm and loving, and be your child’s reliable source of stability and comfort. 

By following the tips listed in this article, you can help your child make this transition as smoothly as possible. They may still struggle at times, but making sure that they feel confident and secure in what to expect from their school experience can help significantly reduce their stress levels. Reduced stress levels mean that your child will be less likely to be overwhelmed enough to need to regulate through a meltdown.

Overall, you need to be kind, be supportive, and make sure your child feels as comfortable with the upcoming transition as they can.

If you are ready to work with the best ABA therapy provider in Indiana, New Jersey, or New York, give us a call at (732) 402-0297. Our dedicated team is ready to help and we will treat you like family.

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markl
INTERVIEW WITH KIMBERLY PACELLI, BT

I have experience working as a paraprofessional in the public school system in New Jersey. I received my first ABA training in this environment. I very much enjoy working and teaching children, especially children in elementary school. I enjoy working with children that have special needs and find it extremely rewarding. Especially working in environment where you were working with the families, your supervisors and colleagues and supporting the students.

 

Balancing our careers and families, especially during these hectic times, is very challenging. I find that the flexible schedule working as an ABA therapist helps to balance other family obligations. Golden care therapy is very helpful in terms of availing cases to you that you are interested in and during the times that you are looking to work. The families that I have and do work with currently are very flexible in terms of their family obligations and working out times and dates to make up sessions that We need to reschedule.

 

Golden care therapy has a very dedicated team to support the families, the children and the staff. I find that the BCBAs are very available to give feedback and support, especially in all methods such as telephone calls, texts and emails. There is continuing training and monthly meetings that are extremely helpful. It is great to hear and see feedback from the colleagues that you may not have met in person but that you can meet and get information from up during virtual trainings and meetings.

 

If anyone is interested and becoming a behavior technician and or a registered behavior technician, I would highly recommend golden care as they are very supportive And communicative with the behavior technicians that are out in the field. Even during after hours when I needed to speak with someone, I find that even upper management as well as supporting staff are always there!

 

Now golden care therapy I was an extremely professional organization that provides constant support and service to their staff. They are growing and expanding their services and have added additional staff to support the families, staff and the children. The golden care has a strong presence online as well as social media which is very important and critical in digital marketing.

 

After working for golden care therapy, on my understanding of providing ABA as a medical service to the community has grown. There are many variables in helping to have the child’s targets achieved and mastered. A golden care staff is very knowledgeable and has many staff that have many years of experience in the field and they are able to use their experience and skills to help manage the cases and give you a better understanding of working with the families and children to have a win win situation.

 

Oh best advice that I was ever given, do what you love and then it is not a job or work!

 

If I could tell the younger self of me some thing, I would say that I should have gotten involved in education earlier in my career.

 

My favorite part about being a behavior technician and working for golden care is to see when the children achieve their targets! When they smile and or happy; when they make a sound or say a word! The moments when they are imitating an action or or asking for help nonverbally, those are the moments that you cherish!

 

A proudest moment For me, working at Golden care therapy, was when a parent told me that any parent or guardian would be lucky to have me as a behavior technician.

 

The one thing that I would like people to know about how it is to be a behavior technician is that I learn from the children that I work with every day; even if some of these children are nonverbal or have very limited vocalization.

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markl
INTERVIEW WITH Heidi Gebhard – BCBA
I began my journey in the field of special needs in 1996. I started working in group homes for those with developmental disabilities. Then, it progressed to day programs and job coaching. I worked full time in a behavioral unit for individuals with DD and severe behaviors. I continued to work part time in group homes. In May 2000, I began working at a school designed specifically for those with autism while still working at group homes and, on my days off, in the behavioral unit. I quickly became a behavior assistant and loved the responsibilities that came with it. Then, I started working for early intervention which I continue to do to this day. Working with special needs started off as a job and ended up as a lifelong career. I found my passion in helping others. I love(d) seeing the progress that each one of my children went/go through. I saw the need for help from the parents and even had some of my students stay with me so their parents could go away on vacation or take a needed break. My daughter loved what I did, and she became involved in special Olympics as a volunteer. In 2021, I became a part of the Golden Care Therapy (GCT) family. Working at GCT has been amazing. They have become my second family. Everyone is so nice and treats you with so much respect. They listen to our concerns and help us navigate any problems we are encountering. My favorite part, if I have to pick one, is that GCT gives us support as BCBAs. As a BCBA there are many challenging parts and the most challenging part for me is not being able to help everyone. There is such a high demand for therapist and BCBAs and it bothers me so much that we are not able to help everyone that needs it. This is the hardest part of being in this field. The best advice I was given was to get my BCBA because others saw my passion to help those with special needs. I loved what I did and did not want to give up the hands-on part of working with my clients. I realized that I did not have to give that up and went for my BCBA. Going from a therapist to a BCBA made me see how hard a therapist job is. So as a BCBA, I always keep my therapist in mind and let them be a part of my decision making. I will never ask them to do anything I would not do; I will jump in and work with my client since this is the best part of my career.   Being a BCBA is the best decision I made for my career. I just wish people really knew how much work goes on behind the scenes as a BCBA like the tireless research and all the planning that goes into making individuals treatment plan. There are nights that many BCBAs stay up thinking about what else can we do to help, what more can we do, is there new research on this, am I doing enough, the thoughts go on and on. Then, when you see the progress, you realize that it was/is all worth it. If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing it would have been to tell my self to get your BCBA sooner and not to be so scared of getting it. As a single mother, there were a lot of worries and fears. I wish I conquered them sooner but, in the end, it turned out great.  I am now a grandmother 2 two boys and juggling being a grandmother and a BCBA can have its own challenges. Being able to prioritize and make time for both has been my priority and so far, it has been a great adventure that I was able to conquer.
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markl
INTERVIEW WITH Bergica Duran, BT
  • Tell us a bit about your job as an ABA THERAPIST.
I provide ABA at home but also as my main job and this is a way for me to help children in different ways like their life skills, social skills, play etc.
  • What drove you to the ABA Therapist profession?
Something that drove me as ABA therapist was the interest of helping kids. When I first started ABA I saw the difference of one kid and that makes me go for more to help them. I realise that just with a little bit of help they can get better every day. 
  • How do you balance your career and family?
I always say do the best in what you do or don’t do anything. So I work every day, except Sundays and Saturdays I work in the morning so at the moment that I am with my loved one I try to enjoy them to the max. 
  • How has Golden Care helped you in your career development?
The way Golden Care had help me is in a extremely way because now working one to one I can see that I can do better everyday and I have learn a lot in these positions 
  • What advice do you have for prospective Golden Care candidates?
The only thing I can say is that be better every day and make goals not for the kids only but for yourself. Think of what you can do for that kid that can make them better. And never take anything personal and do everything with love. 
  • What do you find the most challenging in your work as an ABA Therapist?
The most challenging part is to keep repetition. A lot of the ABA needs repetition to learn, however I try to keep to the programs and do the best I can. 
  • What drew you to Golden Care originally? And how has Golden Care changed since?
Something that drew me to Golden Care was the big opportunity I could have, to keep learning and expanding my knowledge. 
  • What have you gained from working at Golden Care?
Something I have gained is knowledge. Everyday there is something to learn from you clients and that makes you better everydays. 
  • What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Be better in everything you do or don’t do it let someone else do it. Everyday is a new day and a better day to learn. 
  • What’s the one thing you’d tell your younger self?
I would love to tell my younger self is don’t be afraid of becoming who you want to be. Risk yourself  because the only thing that can happen is you losing and starting again and that’s okay. 
  • What is the favorite part in your work as an ABA Therapist/ of working for Golden Care?
My favorite part is seeing how the connection of you client and the change of you client makes in the everyday. 
  • What is your proudest moment at Golden Care/ in your work as an ABA Therapist?
My proudest moment at Golden CAre is starting with a kid that could know how to talk now talking and asking and saying anything that he needs or want. 
  • What is one thing that you wished people knew about your job?
If people would know that seeing others learning, being better, and the change that they can become is the best satisfaction you can get. 
  • What does the day to day of your job look like?

My day to day looks like fun, challenging and a lot of learning. 

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markl
INTERVIEW WITH Allison Carr– BCBA

So many people think that being a BCBA is all challenges, but I wish that people could feel the rewards of a goal being completed, a challenging behavior decreasing, a positive peer interaction, and a grateful parent.

– I work as a BCBA at a private school for students with multiple disabilities in the Junior High Transition Program full time, and I work as a part time BCBA with Golden Care.

– About 7 years ago, I got a job at the school as a 1:1 aide. The student I was assigned to was considered one of the most “challenging” students at the school. Being a 1:1 to this student was difficult, but we had a strong connection with one another and I loved seeing her make progress because of all the work I was doing with her. After working with her for two years, I pursued graduate school in ABA when I knew I wanted to help other children make meaningful progress.

– Work and home life balance is always hard! My husband and I always make an effort to ask one another, “What was something good that happened today?” and we fill our weekends with fun activities to take our minds off of work for a bit!

– Golden Care has broken me out of my shell. I have worked in a school my entire ABA career, so it has been nice to get to know another side of ABA, work in client’s homes, and work closely with client’s families for the past couple of years.

– My advice to prospective Golden Care candidates is take the risk! I am so grateful to have experience in both home and school settings, and Golden Care has given me so much room to grow in my career!

– I love so much about being a BCBA, but my favorite part of being a BCBA is hearing how happy families are with the progress and watching the clients complete activities their parents never thought they would.

– The most challenging part of being a BCBA is not being able to help everyone! I meet so many families and children, and if I could take them all on as my clients, I would!!!!

– My most proud moment at Golden Care was calling the office to tell them that I had passed my boards and getting an immediate offer to be promoted to a BCBA with the company.

– So many people think that being a BCBA is all challenges, but I wish that people feel the rewards of a goal being completed, a challenging behavior decreasing, a positive peer interaction, and a grateful parent.

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markl

 

  • What drove you to the ABA Therapist profession?  I was always inclined to work with people who were on the spectrum from a very young age. I’ve had an affinity to the people on spectrum being that I have a little brother with autism spectrum disorder, and I know it sounds cliché but I feel like my purpose on this earth is to simply help. I love to help in anyway that I can, whether it be through parent training or directly working with a child in the hopes of providing the child, with a more fruitful future and life.
  • How do you balance your career and family? There is no balance, my career and the children that I work with are my family they are one in the  same.
  • What advice do you have for prospective Golden Care candidates? I would say above anything else practice compassion. And I understand that it’s family that you meet you make a great impact on it’s not easy raising a child on the spectrum so parents may be a little frustrated at times and the child will probably be frustrated. Just go into everything with understanding and compassion.
  • What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? The best advice I’ve ever been given is it’s a marathon, not a sprint we’re not rushing to the end we’re pacing ourselves and working through every single step.
  • What is your proudest moment at Golden Care/ in your work as an ABA Therapist?  My proudest moment while working for golden care as an ABA therapist, would have to be sending my client to school for the first time and her teachers coming back and telling me that she was able to sit in her seat when asked or when a client can make eye contact with me after avoiding eye contacts for many years. It’s all the little things that people take for granted.
  • What is one thing that you wished people knew about your job?  I wish people knew how incredibly inspiring each one of the children that I get the privilege to work with are. When I tell people what I do for a living I’m always thanked for taking on a “challenge” and career path but really, I have the privilege of being taught something new every single day. Me working with a child is not one sided it’s completely reciprocal. Sure, I may teach them how to tie a shoe but they have taught me patients, how to care for someone who can’t express their needs, how to read peoples emotions through a set of eyes and how to have a full blown conversation with little to no words exchanged.
  • What does the day to day of your job look like? Every day is a new experience there’s no two days that are the same. Some days we laugh and play all day and then other days we work through tantrums but each day none the less it’s a beautiful experience.
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