Employee Spotlight: Ruth Gachuhi, RBT

1. Where do you call home? 

I live on the eastern shore of Maryland, specifically in Princess Anne, Maryland. I first moved here to attend college at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. After finishing college, I ended up staying in the area – I love that I am surrounded by beaches, parks, and nature trails.  

2. How many years have you worked in the ABA field? 

I have worked in the ABA field for a little over five years. I stumbled upon this field while looking for a job online. At first, I wasn't sure what ABA was, but upon doing some research, I was surprised at how effective ABA therapy was in helping children with ASD. When I started working and saw firsthand how effective it was, I knew that this was what I wanted to do. 

3. How did you end up working for Applied ABC? 

I found out about Applied ABC through one of the job sites, as I was looking for a job in my field since I had a Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the time. Once I started working as an ABA therapist/RBT, I really enjoyed working with kids by helping them acquire the skills that they needed to become as independent as possible.  

As I continued working, I knew that I wanted to work in the ABA field, which prompted me to do my Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. I’m looking forward to continuing working with kids as a BCBA. 

4. What’s the most fulfilling part of your work? 

The most fulfilling part of my work is seeing my clients make progress. I love it when they make small progress toward a big goal. Mastering a step in a task analysis is just as meaningful as when the client performs the entire task. In addition, seeing non-verbal children start to mand/request preferred items and a decrease in maladaptive behaviors is so fulfilling. 

5. How do you unwind after a long day? 

I like to unwind by taking walks in the evening after work. I live near Ocean City and Assateague, a private beach near Ocean City, so I go to the beach on the weekends, especially during the summer. I also enjoy traveling and sightseeing. I find it very relaxing. Engaging in a hobby, such as cooking, also helps me unwind after a long week. 

6. What are some interesting facts about you? 

An interesting fact about me is that I speak three languages fluently (English, Swahili, and Kikuyu). Some popular Swahili phrases/words, include Hakuna matata, Simba, safari, etc. 

7. Could you talk about a meaningful success story that you had with a client? 

I have had many success stories while working with my clients, but the one that stands out the most is one of my clients who when I first started working with them, were completely non-verbal. Now they mand/request using full sentences. We know how frustrating it can be if one is not able to express their needs. Teaching a child to successfully request their needs and wants is the most meaningful success that I have seen across all the kids I have worked with. When children learn to request their needs, it reduces maladaptive behaviors, such as tantrums, since they can use their own words to express themselves.