Maria Martinez is a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) with Patterson Behavior Services. In this role, she works directly with children to teach new skills and reduce challenging behaviors.
Maria graduated from The George Washington University in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in forensic psychology at The George Washington University.
How did you find ABA? Was there anything in particular that drew you to the field?
As a psychology major in undergrad, I was always drawn to children’s development. However, when I took care of a child who had autism, I became interested in how I could help. I looked into ABA and I knew that this was the way to do so.
Your job is to teach children new skills, but often the children teach us things as well. What is something you have learned from a child?
I am often taught that life is more simple than what I make it out to be. Seeing children so happy and worry-free makes me appreciate the small things more. Children notice things that adults tend to overlook, and sometimes that is all it takes to be more appreciative of what life offers.
What do you think is your main strength on the job?
My main strength is my ability to convey a welcoming environment to the children I interact with. Since I love working with children, I always try to place myself in their shoes and be understanding of their situations.
If we did a preference assessment for you, which reinforcers would we find?
Definitely iced coffee, milk chocolate and Mexican or Italian food!
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is seeing improvement through the programs that we implement. I also love arriving to a session and seeing the kids greet me with such a warm smile.
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