The Centers for Disease Control reported that about 1 in every 59 children born in the United States was identified with having ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is four times more common in males than females and occurs in all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups.
The number of children impacted by autism has risen significantly since the year 2000, in which the CDC reported that 1 in every 150 children was affected. Of course, other impairments, such as speech and language challenges, in addition to other developmental disabilities, like cerebral palsy, are on the rise, as well.
A Rewarding Career Helping Others
How can you help children with these disorders? What kind of care and structure do they need? Do they need help in coping with everyday tasks and help with dealing with the stress of fitting into today’s society? Of course, they do.
Perhaps, if you have a love for helping these special children or adults, a career in Applied Behavior Analysis is for you. By earning your online Doctor of Applied Behavior Analysis degree, you can advance through research and knowledge to genuinely make a difference in someone’s life.
ABA Degree Provides Many Opportunities
Your doctorate degree will afford you many opportunities. Although a higher salary is one of them, it won’t be as important as the help you will provide to those with autism or other developmental disabilities.
As an ABA Therapist, you will teach those with autism how to fit in socially with their peers. They will look to you for advice on successfully interacting with others in their schools or communities. Everyday skills we take for granted can sometimes be quite challenging to those with autism. Coping skills are an important part of everyday life for the autistic child or adult.
Caregivers Need Support, too!
There are many people involved in the life of an autistic child. Actually, that is true for any child; however, for the autistic child, life for parents, teachers, and healthcare providers can be much more stressful when caring for an autistic child since they demand much more attention and care.
As an ABA therapist, you will also be responsible for helping those associated with your patient just as much as the patient themselves. Loved ones must learn their own coping skills when communicating with an autistic family member.
The Benefits
As you earn an online Doctor of Applied Behavior Analysis degree, other benefits will be available to you. Most likely, you can make your own work schedule. Therapists, in this capacity, often do not work the traditional eight to five. They are needed while patients are at school or, perhaps, after hours at home or during weekend activities.
In addition, as autism is on the rise, so is the need for Applied Behavior Analysis Therapists who have the experience and knowledge needed to assist others, as well as do research to expand on treatments and therapies.
Job security is important, and the job growth rate in this field is expected to rise exponentially. ABA Therapists and related professionals are often hired by schools, government agencies, social services, or healthcare facilities.
If you enjoy daily change, working as an ABA Therapist is for you. As behavioral patterns change and growth occurs in your patients, your responsibilities will change, too. You will never be bored with the same day-to-day grind that most jobs entail.
In Conclusion
To summarize, a career in Applied Behavior Analysis with a doctorate degree can afford you many rewarding opportunities to help others. Sure, monetary rewards are appreciated, but for those special individuals who are struggling with everyday life, you can make a sincere and positive impact on them by pursuing a career in this field. You will be blessed, as well.
If you are interested in this field, please see our list of the Best Online Doctor of Applied Behavior Analysis degree programs we have compiled for your review.
Before you go, check this out: How do I earn an online Doctor of Educational Psychology degree?
