#268: From Treatment Rooms to Team Meetings: Becoming a School-Based BCBA with Shalini Solomon

When you move from treatment rooms to team meetings, everything changes, including how you show up as a BCBA.In this episode, I talk with Shalini Solomon about her transition from clinic-based ABA to working as a school-based BCBA. If you’ve worked in both settings like I have, you know they are completely different worlds. In a clinic, you’re often running sessions. In a school, you’re collaborating, coaching, and translating ABA into language that makes sense to teachers and administrators.Shalini shares what helped her navigate that shift, from simplifying behavior intervention plans so they actually work in busy classrooms to minimizing jargon and building buy-in with staff. We also talk about why understanding IDEA, IEPs, FAPE, and district systems is critical if you’re stepping into a school role, especially if you’re one of the first BCBAs in your district.We also discuss her journey toward earning a doctorate in behavioral health and the importance of leadership, mentorship, and representation in our field. It’s an honest, practical conversation for anyone considering or currently navigating a school-based BCBA role.#autism #speechtherapyWhat’s Inside:Key differences between clinic-based and school-based BCBA rolesHow to create simple, usable behavior intervention plansWhy policy knowledge and role clarity matter in schoolsRepresentation and advocacy in the ABA fieldMentioned In This Episode:Elevate & Align BehaviorEarn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech ConnectionABA Speech: Home