Developmental, Relationship-Based Autism Center for Children

Important Notice Before You Apply: Our center does not use ABA and does not hire BCBA, RBT, or any individual whose professional training is based in ABA. This is a core philosophical position. We also do not offer placements, internships, practicums, or volunteer opportunities. Please apply only if your clinical orientation aligns with a developmental, relationship-based approach.

About Our Center

We are a specialized autism center for children built on a developmental, relationship-based, child-led philosophy. We do not believe in compliance-based models, behavior modification, or training children through reward and punishment systems. We believe children grow through connection, safety, emotional engagement, and meaning.

Our work focuses on:

Emotional development
Shared attention and engagement
Two-way communication
Thinking and flexibility
Regulation and participation in daily life

We do not work with behavior plans, drills, or task-based training models. Our sessions are play-based, interaction-based, and deeply intentional, always guided by the child’s developmental profile and emotional readiness.

Our Position on ABA (Please Read Carefully)

We are very clear and transparent:

We do not provide ABA services
We do not employ BCBA or RBT staff
We do not hire practitioners whose main professional training or identity is based in ABA
We do not integrate ABA techniques into our work

This is not negotiable and not a temporary policy. It is a core value and foundational principle of our center.

If your background, clinical thinking, or professional identity is primarily rooted in ABA or behavior modification models, this position will not be a good fit.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for professionals who:

Are deeply interested in child development, emotional development, and human connection
Believe that communication and learning emerge from relationship, not compliance
Are curious, reflective, and thoughtful in their clinical work
Can follow a child’s lead while still working intentionally toward developmental goals
Are comfortable working in a play-based, dynamic, non-scripted environment
Respect neurodiversity and individuality
Value collaboration with parents

You do not need to come from a behavior-based background. In fact, we strongly prefer applicants whose training and mindset are aligned with developmental, relational, or child-centered models.

Example Backgrounds That May Be a Good Fit

We welcome applications from candidates with backgrounds such as (but not limited to):

Developmental or child psychotherapy
Speech-language pathology (developmental / pragmatic orientation)
Occupational therapy (sensory-integration and regulation-oriented)
Developmental psychology
Early childhood development
Special education (developmental, not behaviorist orientation)
Social work or counseling with children

What matters most to us is your way of thinking, not just your degree.

Role Description

As a clinician / therapist at our center, you will:

Work directly with children in 1:1 or dyadic developmental sessions
Build engagement, shared attention, communication, and regulation through play and interaction
Create emotionally meaningful, developmentally appropriate interactions
Collaborate with parents and guide them in supporting their child’s development at home
Participate in clinical discussions, case conceptualization, and ongoing learning
Document progress in a developmental and qualitative (not behavior-counting) way

This is not a technician role and not a protocol-following role. You are expected to think, feel, observe, adapt, and co-create the work with each child.

What This Job Is NOT

To avoid misunderstandings, this position is not:

An ABA position
A behavior technician or RBT-type role
A drill-based or table-work position
A compliance-training role
A placement, internship, practicum, or volunteer opportunity

We are hiring professional team members only for direct clinical work.

Required Qualities and Skills

Genuine interest in children and their emotional world
Ability to play, interact, and be emotionally present
Strong observation and reflection skills
Comfort working with complex developmental profiles
Willingness to learn and grow within a developmental framework
Respectful, warm, and professional communication style
Reliability, responsibility, and ethical integrity

Training and Support

We provide:

In-house training in our developmental, relationship-based model
Ongoing clinical supervision and case discussions
A collaborative, thoughtful, and supportive team environment

We do not provide ABA certifications or behavior-tech style training.

Important Policies

We do not accept students for placements, internships, or practicums
We do not accept volunteers
All positions are for hired staff only
All staff must align with our non-ABA, developmental philosophy

Who Should NOT Apply

Please do not apply if:

You are looking for BCBA, RBT, or ABA hours
Your main professional identity is behavior-based or ABA-oriented
You are seeking a student placement, internship, or volunteer role
You prefer manualized programs, protocols, or scripted interventions

This will save both your time and ours.

How to Apply

Please submit:

Your CV / resume
A short cover letter explaining:
- Your clinical background
- Your way of thinking about autism and child development
- Why a developmental, relationship-based, non-ABA approach resonates with you

Applications that do not address philosophical fit may not be considered.

Final Word

We are building a team of people who believe that:

Children are not problems to be fixed
Development is not something to be forced
Real change happens through connection, trust, and meaning

If this reflects how you think and work, we would love to hear from you.

You can send you CV to jobs@autismcenterforkids.com