Author: Opya BCBA & Autism Mom
As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at Opya, I spend my professional life helping families navigate the world of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Every day, I work with children and caregivers to build meaningful skills, reduce barriers, and create opportunities for growth. But what many don’t know is that after work, I step into another role—one that deeply influences the way I approach my practice: I am also the parent of an autistic tween.
My child has participated in ABA in the past, and living on both sides of the service experience has shaped my perspective in ways that textbooks and training never could. It has made me more mindful, more empathetic, and more committed to ensuring that the ABA we provide truly reflects the values of dignity, individuality, and collaboration.
Seeing ABA Through a Parent’s Eyes
When my own child participated in ABA, I felt the same mix of emotions many caregivers feel—hope, uncertainty, overwhelm, and a profound desire to make the best choice for my child. I learned what it feels like to sit on the other side of the treatment table, to ask questions about goals, to balance therapeutic recommendations with my child’s pace, personality, and comfort.
This experience has helped me recognize how deeply parents think about every decision. It also showed me how important it is for providers to listen, collaborate, and adapt services to the child—not the other way around.
Seeing Parenting Through a BCBA Lens
At the same time, my training has given me tools I’m grateful to have as a parent. Understanding behavior doesn’t make parenting easy, but it does help me see patterns, adjust environments, and celebrate progress—big or small. When challenges arise, I’m able to zoom out and look at what skills need support, what emotions are driving behavior, and how to approach the situation with compassion and clarity.
Most importantly, both roles remind me daily that behavior is communication, and connection always comes first.
Why This Perspective Matters in Our Work
Within my professional role, being a parent keeps me grounded. It reminds me that every recommendation we make touches a real family with real emotions and real hopes. It pushes me to ensure our ABA services are:
- Person-centered
- Respectful and strengths-based
- Collaborative with families, not prescriptive
- Flexible and affirming of neurodiversity
I know firsthand how powerful it is when a team truly listens to a child and their caregivers—and how harmful it can be when they don’t. That awareness guides every treatment plan I write and every conversation I have.
Moving Forward With Purpose
I share this not just as an introduction, but as a foundation for the kind of support our organization strives to provide. Families deserve services that honor their values, celebrate their child’s identity, and work toward goals that genuinely matter to them.
As both a BCBA and a parent, I am committed to advocating for thoughtful, ethical, compassionate ABA—ABA that helps children thrive while preserving who they are.
Thank you for being here. I look forward to continuing to share insights, resources, and reflections from both sides of this journey.
