Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Cwalinski.
Hi Ana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Sure! I graduated with my undergraduate degree right after the Covid shut down in 2020. I needed to work however thanks to Covid my options at the time were very limited. I found myself working in a Covid testing site, making ends meet until things returned to normal and I could follow my passion, helping people. My problem was that I still needed to decide how exactly I was going to do that. While working this odd job a woman came in and she was wearing an Autism Awareness T-shirt. We struck up conversation and she introduced me to the world of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) which is an intensive long term therapy for people with Autism and related disabilities. I soon quit that job to dive into the field of ABA and a few months later I was a Registered Behavior Technician and working directly with children with developmental disabilities. I fell in love with it and decided to go for my master’s and become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. My love for the field grew, working with families and helping people with disabilities learn and grow, while also learning from my amazing mentors and supervisors was a dream come true. However, while the field can be amazing, I learned that there are a lot of people out there who take advantage of vulnerable families who are just trying to get the best services for their kids or loved ones with disabilities. I was saddened by the amount of ABA fraud that is rampant in South Florida. I noticed that many families don’t know when fraud is occurring because the insurance and ABA system can be tricky to understand, especially if you don’t have hours a day to dedicate to it. Despite many people who want to take advantage of the field and all the battles that clinicians have to fight, there are also so many amazing Behavior Analysts, Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Teachers, etc. who just want to help families. When I felt completely defeated by the system I drew inspiration from the caring professionals around me. That’s when I decided to create a free consulting service for families of individuals with severe intellectual disabilities. I want people to be able to reach out to me and ask any ABA or insurance questions they have, and I will try my best to help them. I also want to be accessible to any family that needs consulting services, and I didn’t want financial concern to prohibit services which is why it is all completely free of charge. My goal is to make information accessible, so families know what to expect when receiving ABA and how to spot red flags. I love this field and think it can be so helpful, I never want families to give up hope, even when they feel like they are in a constant battle. I want these families to feel like they have someone to talk to.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Navigating this field can be tricky. Serving people with disabilities can be heavy at times, I want to help people however sometimes that help is out of my reach. There’s nothing worse than having a desperate parent ask you for help and not being able to provide that help. On top of that I have the responsibility of staying up to date on relevant research and resources so I know the information I’m providing is always objective and accurate.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am currently providing free Applied Behavior Analysis consulting for families of those with behavioral challenges. Consulting typically includes discussing interventions, reviewing treatment plans, talking about behaviors and their functions, or providing resources. I have a background in working with individuals with autism and related disabilities from ages 3-28 who typically have communication difficulties which leads to a wide range of behaviors. I am most proud of the free resources I am developing and making ABA consulting accessible.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I think I was extremely lucky to be introduced to the field by a lady I met at a covid testing sight. I don’t even know her name but she changed the trajectory of my life and because of her I have met so many inspirational families and professionals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://YourABAConsultant.com
- Instagram: @yourabaconsultant
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@YourABAConsultant
