What experience do you have working with children on the autism spectrum?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
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Community Answers

It's important for ABA therapists to have experience working with autistic children. Autistic children have unique needs and behaviors that require specialized attention and understanding. A therapist with experience working with this population will be better equipped to provide effective individualized support. Additionally, experience working with autistic children can help a therapist develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for each child's individual strengths and challenges. You want to talk about your contribution as a member of an autism treatment team, case manager, or time spent leading groups of children and parents. If you are right out of school and haven't had a lot of experience working with children with autism, talk about your internship or any volunteer work and how you look forward to learning more by working with children on the spectrum.

"I haven't had the opportunity to work with children on the autism spectrum as I've been working primarily with physically disabled adults for the last three years. I look forward to working with a new group of individuals and learning from them."

"Over the past two years, I have worked in various settings and with a diverse range of individuals. This has included working one-on-one with children and in group settings where I have been able to observe and interact with multiple children at once. Additionally, I have worked closely with private caregivers and family members of autistic children, providing support and guidance as needed. Through these experiences, I have gained a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and strengths of children on the autism spectrum, and I am committed to continuing to learn and grow in this field."

"I have worked specifically with autism and other related brain disorders for the past eight years. Six of those years have been geared strictly toward child-related therapy. I consider myself an expert in the field and am confident that I will deliver the experience you need for a role such as this one."

Anonymous Answer

"For three years, I have worked in a childcare setting and have had the opportunity to work with several different children that were diagnosed with autism. I cared for a total of six children, so two of them had autism. The experience taught me that I thrive working one-on-one with children and collaborating with parents."

Marcie's Feedback

It's great that you have worked with autistic children before in the past since the interviewer will be looking for this type of experience from candidates. Talk more about what exactly your responsibilities were and what kind of interactions you had with autistic children. Give more details about what you loved about working with these kinds of kids. You want your passion and love for these children to shine through in your answer.