08/12/2025
It is Team Tuesday here at CADD. Please meet Charity, one of the program mangers with the Teacher and Paraprofessional Training Program. If you want to learn more about this program, check out our website at https://www.uhcl.edu/autism-center/school-services/
What is your role with the Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities?
I co-manage the Teacher and Paraprofessional Training Program. We provide remote and in-person trainings to teachers and educators all over the state of Texas.
Luckily, I work with the best team!
I also supervise graduate students who work in the local school districts.
What's a fun fact about you that most people might not know?
Originally, I was a music major in college and played flute and piccolo for many years. My goal then was to become a band director.
But luckily, ABA found me!
Describe your perfect Saturday!
A peaceful picnic, a beautiful hike in the mountains on a breezy day, board games with my girls, and then a funny movie with white cheddar popcorn and my cat, Clementine.
What inspired you to work in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and what keeps you passionate about it every day?
My cousin was born with cerebral palsy and fetal alcohol syndrome in the early 1970s. Her mobility and cognition were severely limited and there were no experts at that time in our area to help her lead the life that she deserved.
By my 30s, I had already worked in many industries and wanted a change, though I didn’t know what. When I read an article about ABA and how therapists were able to teach children with disabilities so many exciting skills, I was ecstatic to think of the possibilities. I pursued a masters in ABA, changed careers, and haven’t looked back!
Maintaining my passion for training educators is easy because I’m the lucky one! The teachers and paras we work with always amaze me. They put in the longest hours, and make the most difficult sacrifices for the students they educate. I am also lucky to have supervised many grad students in the ABA program, which challenges me to keep my skills sharp.
I can’t imagine doing anything else!
If you could share one message with a family who is just starting their journey with ABA services, what would it be, and why is that message important to you?
Days on this journey will be hard sometimes, and the nights, too. But your child is so very fortunate to have you. You are the heroes and on days that it doesn’t feel that way, please find one new thing your child has learned and enjoy the fruits of that new skill.
Step by step, exciting progress will come!
What is your favorite ABA principle or strategy to implement, and why do you find it so effective in seeing positive changes?
I am a big fan of group contingencies (class-wide rewards systems) in certain classrooms. Many classes benefit from earning reinforcers all together and it’s a proven system based on sound evidence. I love hearing testimonials from teachers who use the Good Behavior Game or something similar who find their kids working together and excited to come to school each day.
A system like this could be great for siblings or large families, as well!
Beyond the technical aspects, what's one way you bring "fun" and engagement into your ABA sessions to make learning enjoyable for our clients?
I’m most comfortable in light environments with levity and personal connection. Super serious situations can be overwhelming. So when I train teachers and paraprofessionals, there’s usually laughter at some point in our training sessions, which leaves us both in a great mood and looking forward to more work together.
If you could give one piece of advice to a family new to ABA therapy, what aspect would you emphasize to help them feel empowered and optimistic about the process?
Just as I do with teachers, I would recommend redefining success. If our expectations cause us to focus only on the end goal, then we are guaranteed disappointment until we finally reach that goal.
But if we see each step as a gift and acknowledge the successes week by week, then we become empowered to accept every space we find ourselves in along the way.
Sometimes success is an uneventful and calm drive to the clinic or school. Other times, progress is a spontaneous smile from your child. Whatever it is, cherish the milestones, big and small.
How do you use ABA in your life?
I’ll bet every BCBA nerds out and graphs their own behavior. I am definitely no exception. Usually, I break goals down into multiple steps and focus on each separate behavior until I’ve got it down. I also try to set the environment up to help me succeed by asking others to prompt me or check in on my progress.
If all goes well, my favorite self-reinforcer is a pedicure!
