Shine Bright Spotlight – Samantha Samaniego, Lead RBT
Samantha recently joined the team as our new Lead RBT. We spoke with her to find out how she began in the ABA space, and on what her first experiences of working at Shine Bright are:
When were you first introduced to ABA?
“In my early career, I trained to be a Respiratory Care Practitioner. I enjoyed healthcare but was mainly working in adult health. I realized I wanted to work with kids still, but in another capacity. In my college years I worked as a special education classroom aid, which was my first experience with autism. I received training that used elements of ABA-based principles. I thought wow, this is so cool. It really works!
“In 2017 I became an RBT at a small practice in Arizona, while beginning a new journey into the ABA field, and knew I wanted to pursue my master’s degree. It was here that I really immersed myself into ABA — I’m very grateful for that experience.”
What excites you most about your new role at Shine Bright?
“I always consider myself to be a lifelong learner. I still have so much to learn in the ABA field; it’s a space that’s growing and ever-changing. I can’t wait to learn more from Dr. Moore and am looking forward to having him as my mentor. My goal is to become a BCBA, and I know that by working at Shine Bright and alongside Dr. Moore I’ll have all the support I need to achieve this goal. Shine Bright provides excellent training and paired with great mentorship it makes all the difference. This field can be challenging at times, but it’s very rewarding. The support is invaluable.”
What professional achievement are you most proud of, and why?
“Being a Peer Mentor and a Team Facilitator. I’ve learned so much more than just clinical skills from the field. I’m very excited and happy to share what I’ve learned through my experiences”.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned recently?
“I’m currently learning so much from Dr. Moore, but I’m finding the refresher on behavior and mentalism to be particularly interesting. It encourages me to assess my own behavior continually. From a clinical viewpoint you don’t always realize that most of us find it hard to preprogram our thought processes. We’re creatures of habit and all have personal preferences; challenging these is hard for anyone. This is helpful to remember in the RBT role.”
What’s the best advice for someone just starting out in ABA?
“Give yourself some grace and be kind to yourself. We all make mistakes — I did in my early career! No one can implement everything with perfection all the time. Realize it’s ok, I might not be perfect, but I can always improve and continue to grow. There is a lot of information that RBTs need to know, and it takes practice. Being open-minded and flexible are great skills to have. Carve out times for yourself to decompress and practice good self-care. Always ask questions.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I grew up taking dance classes and going to dance competitions, so now I really enjoy teaching youth dance classes and choreographing competition pieces. I find myself applying my ABA skills and classroom management techniques to students in the dance classroom. I also love photography, cooking, trying new restaurants, and going paddleboarding when the weather is nice in AZ.”
What would you take along if you were stranded on a desert island?
“Definitely music, it’s a must! And then more practical items – a compass and a flashlight.”