Real World ABA

06/07/2025

They Took A Hand, and We’ll Never Forget!

On a perfectly ordinary day at the center, something extraordinary happened.

A little boy who usually walked with a lot of adult support reached out and took another child’s hand.

No prompt.
No reinforcer.
Just trust.

And across town, in our staff group chat, phones buzzed. A photo was shared.

In that moment, our staff room became a celebration room.

Because this wasn’t just a milestone for the child who reached out. It was a mirror of everything we believe in.

At RealWorldABA…

We don’t just teach communication
We notice it when it slips quietly between two tiny hands.

We don’t just write behavior plans
We write stories of courage, curiosity, and connection in real time.

We don’t just collect data
We celebrate life-changing little wins with heart emojis and teary eyes.

And maybe most importantly?

We don’t just build skills.
We build relationships, with our clients, their familieses, and with each other

This wasn’t a staged moment.
This wasn’t programmed.

It was pure. Spontaneous. Real.

And it reminds us why we do what we do.

Because when a child reaches out for connection, and a whole team responds with joy,
that’s not just a win. That’s a culture.

At RealWorldABA, we celebrate progress.
We celebrate people. And sometimes, we celebrate a single held hand like it’s the biggest breakthrough in the world.

Because to us…. it is.

27/06/2025

What If Peter Pan Was Right?

Peter Pan said he’d never grow up, and maybe, just maybe, he was onto something.

Not in the literal sense (we’re definitely still brushing our teeth and paying bills), but in the deeper truth behind his story: that joy, wonder, play, and authenticity are not things we “grow out of” but they’re things we should grow into.

We don’t promise pixie dust or fairy tales, but we do believe in creating spaces where childhood is honored, and every child gets to feel like they truly belong.

Not a fantasyland, but a space where children can be silly, expressive, quirky, quiet, wild, curious, cautious, loud, loving, or still discovering who they are… and all of it is welcome.

Because here, joy isn’t the end goal of progress. It’s the starting point.

We believe that when a child feels safe, accepted, and truly seen, that’s when the magic happens. That’s when learning sticks. That’s when communication blooms. That’s when connection is real.

Just like the Lost Boys, some of our kids arrive feeling misunderstood or like they don’t quite belong. But they don’t need to change to fit the world. The world needs to stretch to fit them.

In our center;
• Laughter is a teaching tool
• Curiosity is encouraged, not redirected
• Meltdowns are met with compassion, not control
• And everyone, no matter how complex their needs, has a place to belong

We don’t clip wings. We build safe spaces to try them out.

We don’t treat childhood like a race. We treat it like a story still unfolding.

And we don’t force growing up. We nurture growing into yourself.

So what if Peter Pan was right?

What if staying curious, playful, and deeply ourselves was exactly what the world needs more of?

At RealWorldABA, we believe it is.

22/06/2025

The Glass That Fits: Embracing Our Unique Perspectives

We often hear about seeing the glass as half full or half empty, but what if the real trick is just finding the right glass?

Some of us are like espresso cups, small but mighty, packing a punch in every drop. Others might be like a quirky mason jar, full of charm and a little unconventional. And let’s not forget the giant novelty margarita glasses, perfect for those who live life large and bold.

At RealWorldABA, we celebrate this diversity, knowing that everyone is perfect just as they are. Because in the end, the world becomes a much richer, more vibrant place when we stop worrying about whether the glass is half full or half empty, and instead celebrate that we all have our own unique glass.

After all, it’s not about being stuck in a one size fits all, but celebrating the unique glass that fits us best. So, what kind of glass or cup are you?

Post in the comments!

31/05/2025

11/05/2025

A Tribute to Racheal, A Community Hero

At RealWorldABA, Mother’s Day is more than a date—it’s a celebration of the fierce, resilient, and loving women who shape the futures of our children with every decision, every quiet sacrifice, and every moment of unshakable belief. Today, we celebrate one of our own community heroes: Racheal.

This morning, we received a message that stopped us in our tracks:

“Dante gave a heartwarming Mother’s Day gift!! Only people like you can understand… today, every time he needs my attention, he will assertively call, ‘mom mom mom…!!’. I can’t say he copied it from Ian because Ian calls me ‘mummy’. I am really happy.”

Those words hold so much more than meets the eye. For many parents of neurodiverse children, especially those on the autism spectrum, every milestone is a celebration. And this moment, a simple, intentional call for “mom” isn’t small at all. It is a reflection of connection, growth, and years of effort, love, and unwavering belief.

Racheal moved to Fredericton from Uganda with her family to pursue a PhD in physics, while also raising two remarkable children. Her eldest son, Dante, was diagnosed with autism and from the start, she embraced motherhood with grace, grit, and courage.

Dante is a joyful, energetic young man who brings light into every room he enters. His laughter is contagious, his energy uplifting. He’s learned and grown not despite his autism, but through the safe, supportive, and inclusive spaces his mother helped create around him.

From the moment we met Racheal, she stood as a vision of motherhood: making silent sacrifices and endless compromises, always asking the question, “What does my son need to thrive?” She wore many hats, educator, friend, speech-language pathologist, behavior analyst, chef, cleaner, advocate, but her most powerful role was simply being Dante’s mom.

She believed in him when others didn’t see what she saw. She collaborated with every member of his support team: BCBAs, teachers, social workers, community members, pushing not for Dante to be different, but for the world around him to be more supportive and understanding.

Because of Racheal’s unconditional love, fierce advocacy, and tireless determination, Dante has experienced life in full colour: he’s attended school full-time, learned to swim, play piano, shoot hoops, golf, kayak, ride bikes, cook meals, and camp under the stars. He’s done more in Fredericton than most Frederictonians!

Today, we honour Racheal, and all mothers like her, who redefine what it means to be strong.

To all the mothers walking this journey: your love builds bridges where others see barriers. You see possibility where others see challenge. And in doing so, you change lives, quietly, profoundly, and forever.

Happy Mother’s Day, from all of us at RealWorldABA.

(Posted with permission)

29/04/2025

At RealWorldABA, neuroaffirming care isn’t just something we say — it’s something we live, every day.

Today, we were reminded that connection is the heart of everything we do. Our staff was challenged to a basketball game by some of the incredible autistic youth we support. And you know what? We lost!
But in the ways that matter most, we absolutely won:
We won memories.
We won laughter.
We won moments of pure, unfiltered joy.

Neuroaffirming care means meeting each individual where they are — not trying to change who they are. It means honoring communication in all its forms, celebrating strengths, supporting needs, and creating environments where our youth feel seen, valued, and empowered.

Today, the scoreboard didn’t matter. What mattered were the high-fives, the teamwork, the cheers, and the moments of connection that will stick with us far longer than any final score.

At RealWorldABA, we believe that when we create spaces rooted in acceptance and joy, everyone wins.

30/03/2025

Eid Mubarak from all of us at Real World ABA! ✨ May this joyous occasion bring you peace, happiness, and countless blessings. Wishing you and your loved ones a beautiful and prosperous Eid!

25/03/2025

We believe that strong teams build strong communities—and that starts with us. Taking time to nourish our relationships with each other helps us model what we want for the families and children we support: a sense of belonging, trust, and genuine care.

Because when we know how to show up for each other, we become even better at showing up for our clients and their families.

Here’s to more meals, more memories, and more meaningful moments—both in and outside of work!

20/03/2025

Happy Nowruz from all of us at Real World Aba! 🌸✨

As we welcome the Persian New Year today we join millions worldwide in celebrating this ancient festival that marks the arrival of spring and symbolizes renewal and hope

May this new year bring prosperity, joy, and harmony to all

Happy Nowruz! 🌿🌺🎉

15/03/2025

What do you do when your kiddo’s happiest moments are playing with water, but it’s too cold outside and the pool isn’t an option? You bring the pool to them! When children are fully engaged in what they love, it opens endless opportunities to teach language, build communication skills, model social interactions, and—most importantly—create meaningful shared experiences.

13/03/2025

We went on a mission to Mars in our rocking-ship! 🚀

During these fun played based activities, we take the time to playfully slow down the process before the most fun giving us so many opportunities to practice functional communication! E.g.,” lights off, space lights on, rocking-ship needs to move, music needs turned on!” 321 BLAST OFF!!!

13/03/2025

Today we were visited by a hungry frog swimming in our pond! Good thing we had some friendly helpers to save the day!