Reese Hough

Responsibilities

During my internship at Ike & Ivy, I had a few different responsibilities. I would be on the floor with clients with ASD or related diagnoses, providing 1-on-1 direct care in the form of ABA- based therapy. I would also laminate, cut, and organize materials for circle time; this includes activities involving numbers, letters, matching, colors, etc. Lastly, I also helped plan an event for the back-to-school event in the town we are based out of!

Accomplishments

I would say that my greatest accomplishment during my internship is finding what I want to do with my future and career. I truly feel like I have found my passion and my calling. Making connections with the children and the adults (coworkers) that I work with has also been one of my greatest accomplishments.

Learning experience

One of the best lessons that I have learned from my experience is that any kind of behavior is a form of communication. Working in an ABA center, this lesson is one that I have thought about daily. Whether it's talking or running, every kind of behavior is a way a child is trying to communicate with me.

What advice would you give?

Never close the door to different career options. I went to college wanting to go into ABA therapy; I then turned away from this career path as there were not many places around my hometown that offered services. During my last semester of college, I found an ABA center in my hometown, I applied for their internship, and now I am a full-time Lead RBT at that exact center. Keeping an open mind on different career paths is great, but do not completely close the doors to different options as well.