08/15/2025
Last Friday, we had an amazing Staff Development Day. In the morning, we learned about what our Chief ABA Officer Gina’s position entails and had an amazing open forum discussion bringing forth ideas and suggestions on how to make our clinic even better, then watched a video presentation from Dr. Carl Sundberg on the VB-MAPP and its importance in creating our clients’ treatment plans. Then, the afternoon was all about getting to know our fellow therapists better. We played Two Truths and a Lie, and then presented some awards that we voted on in the beginning of the day.
There were five awards, and there was a winner from each clinic, Muncie and Pendleton.
First up, the Speedy Award - “Most Likely to Have a High Response Rate.” For the RBT or BCBA whose latency to task is basically zero. Whether it’s running a session collecting data or grabbing reinforcers faster than a DRO timer, this person responds so fast we’re considering graphing their behavior under a VR1 schedule. They are living proof that momentum is real!
This was awarded to Kayla and Mykah.
The second award was the Clinic Clown Award - “Most Likely to Use Humor as a Natural Reinforcer” This team member is a walking social reinforcer. With impeccable timing and an endless supply of silly voices, they deliver more laughs per minute than a well implemented token board. They turn every session into a comedy routine and have single-handedly shaped laughter into a preferred stimulus.
Kelsey and Savana won this award.
Third was the Silly Goose Award - “Most likely to go off script… In the best way.” This person brings the fun to functional behavior. They turn every SD into an adventure and every NET session into a party. Their goofy antics might not always follow the protocol but somehow the clients love it. The data looks great and we’re all better for it. .
Lex and Abby won this award.
Fourth was the Sunshine Award - “ the ultimate positive reinforcer”For the staff member whose presence is like a non-contingent reinforcement schedule for morale. They deliver smiles on a fixed interval, and hugs on a variable ratio. Basically, if MOs for positivity were observable, they’d be the top reinforcer on everyone’s preference assessment.
Charlene and Jaiden received this award.
Finally, we had the Cleanest Award - “ most likely to engage in maintenance of the cleaning kind” This award goes to the staff member who’s got higher fidelity with disinfecting protocols than a treatment, integrity checklist. They clean like they’re on a fixed ratio schedule and organized like they’re running a generalization probe. If it’s not sanitized alphabetized and color-coded, it’s not their work room.
Brandi and Kayley won this award.