Brittany Chan

Brittany Chan, a 2018 ABA MSc graduate, is now a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst at Every Piece Counts. Her career journey has taken her through various roles, from private clinics to in-home ABA services, where she discovered her passion for working with adult learners. Brittany credits her time at Kent for teaching her a compassionate and flexible approach to ABA, which has been crucial in her career. She aspires to open a group home for adults with autism in the future. 

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

Since graduating, it's been a wild ride. As I was still trying to find my place in the field, I tried an assortment of different clinic environments, and working with various age ranges to see where my niche was. My first job was at a small private clinic working with 6-8 year old clients - absolutely disliked it! The company was not only too small, and not a good fit, but the routine was too mundane. After that, I looked for a school, and ended up working at Princeton Child Development Institute (PCDI) for 2 years. Here, I worked  as a job coach with adult learners and accompanying them to their warehouse packing jobs. Most were non-verbal, and needed a lot of supervision, but it was incredibly rewarding to watch them succeed in their roles, and beat production quotas and outperform their neurotypical co-workers. This was my jam, but I ultimately left after a year of receiving my certification. From there, I began work at an in-home ABA agency, where I worked with 2-3 year olds in their homes. The transition from clinician to supervisor was a big jump, but the kiddos were absolutely adorable!

What does a typical work day look like for you?

For the in-home ABA Agency, it really depends on the day and the schedule. I have to bill at least 20 hours a week (indirect and direct supervision) , so I have anywhere from 5-8 clients at a time. Typically I'll wake up around 8am, and leave the house by 8:30am for my first session at 9:00. I'll supervise that client from 9-11:00 am, and then get to my next client by 11:30am. I'll supervise them from 11:30am-1:30pm, and then get a 2 hour break. During this time, I either grab lunch, walk the mall, take a nap in my car, or start driving to my next client. Then from 3:30-6:30 I have my last client! Some days are longer than others, and I can start my sessions at 11:00am and end by 7:00pm.  I also have the ability to re-order my schedule whenever I want!

Can you share a professional highlight from your career so far?

The proudest moment in my career was at PCDI where I had a learner that engaged in a lot of motor and verbal stereotypy while packaging on the assembly line. As his designated job coach, I was in charge of his stereotypy behaviour plan, and educating others on how to implement it. With the guidance of my mentor and really strengthening my instructional control, I was able to decrease the rate of stereotypy to near 0 while working. There were many contributing variables here, but one of the most important, was consistency and relationship building. To see that graph drop from a very high peak, to a flatline zero, was amazing for both me, and my student.

How did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?

Kent really taught me how to see ABA as a tool rather than a strict protocol guide. In my first clinic, all my co-workers went to the same university and practiced a very rigid and black-and-white approach to ABA that I really didn't agree with or feel comfortable with. It seemed cold, inhumane, and very ineffective - no regard for relationship building or understanding the learner. I am so thankful for Kent to provide me with a humane, fluid, and comprehensive understanding of what the science is, how it can be applied, and how to implement it. ABA in combination with so many other things like understanding, compassion, analytical thought process, and a willingness to see the whole picture, is what makes a successful practitioner. I would not have been able to succeed in my career had Kent not pushed for this viewpoint and understanding.

What advice would you give to our current/prospective students who are looking to get into the same line of work?

ABA is an amazing field, and we NEED YOU! It can be very tough, but it is worth it. It is important that you take some time to find what population you really enjoy working with, and where you thrive. You can be an amazing clinician, but really struggle with a certain age-group, or setting, and that's okay. ABA as a science is applicable to everyone, everything, everywhere, but not ABA is not always the only variable contributing to a student's success. Take your time to find out where you thrive the most, and grow there. And always remember, that ABA is not always black and white, because behaviour is not black and white. Variables, expected and unexpected, change all the time, so be flexible in behaviour and skill acquisition planning, and don't take failures too personally. Everyone is doing their best here.

Did you get involved in any extracurricular activities as a student?

Yes, I was the Class Liaison.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Kent?

My fondest memories are strolling to and from the university to the town. I'm a big walker, and ever since moving back to America, I've been really missing that path- the scenery, the one-way tunnel, open pasture of grass, and the river running through town. I look back at pictures of the pathway often.

Is there anything you would do differently if you could repeat your time at Kent?

I would have sent my thesis in for review more often! I wasn't too happy with my final result, so I should have advocated for more guidance.

Are you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?

Yes! I am still friends with some people from my cohort on social media and LinkedIn!