BDS Positions Available!

If you are you looking for…

A position with the potential for growth and development,
To make a difference in someone else’s life,
For a potential career and not just a job

Then we are looking for you!

Breakthrough Developmental Services, LLC (BDS) is an independent agency providing home and community based services to people with developmental, intellectual, and learning disabilities. BDS is currently seeking dependable, creative and energetic individuals for Behavioral Technician positions.

The Behavioral Technician provides one-to-one sessions implementing learning programs and behavior management procedures in the client’s home and community. They are responsible for providing documented evidence of work complete under the client’s specific Treatment Plan and Behavior Plan as written by the Consultant. Behavioral Technicians are also responsible for attending monthly Team Meetings and quarterly trainings.

To apply for this position, submit the latest copy your resume and cover letter to [email protected].

In your cover letter, please note which area(s) you are able to work in as we currently have positions available in Columbia, Forestville, and Greenbelt. Your cover letter should also address any experience that you have with people diagnosed with special needs. Particularly discuss your experiences with people diagnosed with a developmental, intellectual, or learning disability. Finally, list your experience with behavior modification (ABA/VB), positive behavior support systems, or other interventions while making sure to include information that addresses any training that you have received.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Visit us on the web at www.BDSHelps.com

Potential Technicians

People may tell you that I am picky (that’s right, I said picky) about the people that are hired to work with our families. I take a lot of time and care in the hiring process to make sure that anyone hired to work here has the passion and drive to “make a difference.” For me, changing the world begins with each person that we work with, so I like to make sure that the people that are working with them really want to be there.

At BDS, we don’t need to have staff members that are just looking for a job. We hire caring professionals that are willing to grow and learn. The current roster of BDS Behavioral Technicians are nothing short of amazing. They have no problems getting in touch with me if they have a question or taking the time to learn about new topics on their own. So, I am always excited when we find new people who would potentially fit into our teams and I wanted to take the opportunity to share some of their information with you, if you would like it. If you would like to receive the current listing of potential technicians, visit the Contact Us page on the BDS website and complete the form to request a copy.

Hugs,

Barbara Erby

President/Education & Behavioral Consultant

Breakthrough Developmental Services, LLC

Employment Follow-up

Hello all,

I truly love how beginning a discussion can bring more resources to the forefront. In yesterday’s blog posting (Employment and Differing Abilities) , I started talking about something that has been in the news as of late – the lower rate of employment for those diagnosed with Autism. Later in the evening, I received my usual newsletter email from the National Center for Learning Disabilities (http://www.ncld.org). I was elated to see information related to employment in the newsletter and thought that I would share the information with you all as well. The links to the pages are listed below. There is a good bit of information on the site, so make sure that you visit some of the other pages that they have posted about jobs as well.

Continued success,

Barbara Erby

President

Breakthrough Developmental Services, LLC

How Can I Get Work Experience? Volunteer and Paid Jobs for Teens
http://www.ncld.org/college-aamp-work/in-the-workplace/finding-the-right-job/volunteer-part-time-a-internships

Tips for Workplace Success
http://www.ncld.org/college-aamp-work/in-the-workplace/finding-the-right-job/job-checklist

Would you like to speak with a BDS representative? Our caring staff will work with you to help your child master skills and move towards greater independence. http://ow.ly/b2HnE

About BDS

We help families, schools, and individuals achieve big results by helping them discover their strengths, develop interests, prioritize their focus, and teach them what to do with their children to get them on the path towards success. Breakthrough Developmental Services’ goal is to provide affordable home and community based services to families in need. Programs are designed to meet the needs of the individual and aim to increase learning as well as foster a student’s greater future independence in society.

Employment and Differing Abilities

“He who enjoys doing and enjoys what he has done is happy.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

There has been a lot of discussion in the last week or so concerning adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and employment. With the recent publication of data showing that approximately 1 in 3 adults diagnosed with Autism are not gainfully employed (see http://ow.ly/aYxPq) and the latest CDC rates of Autism diagnoses at 1 in 88, I can understand why people were alarmed. And while the discussion may have died down for some people, it is one that has been ongoing for the staff members of Breakthrough Developmental Services, LLC (BDS) and the families that we serve.

It is not difficult to grasp that people need to be able to pay their bills and provide a living for themselves. Regardless of ability level this is true. However, I think that people can sometimes forget that work needs to be meaningful to the person performing the task. It is not fair to relegate persons diagnosed with an intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities to do the jobs that no one else wants to do. It is fair to teach people to do jobs that are important to them and that they will enjoy on a daily basis.

Honestly, if you told me that I had to bag groceries on a daily basis (and I have been a cashier at a supermarket), I would lose my mind. I am not a person who is really into spaceships, so working at NASA would probably not the best job for me either. In contrast, there are those students that I work with that love spaceships and space exploration. They can tell you all kinds of facts about the space program. For them, working at NASA might be the perfect job. I have students that are fascinated by languages. Then why can’t we guide them towards being Interpreters or Linguist?

We need to stop limiting students based on what we see them as right now and start thinking about what they could be in the future. There are any number of positions that students regardless of their ability could fulfill, but we need to be providing them with job experience that meets their individual needs just as we do with therapeutic services.

When I look back over the years at the things that I have learned through classes, internships, and employment, I can see how my community supported me. When I look at what brought me to BDS, I can see the encouragement that I received from those that were around me. I want those things for my students too. I want them to be able to live as independently as possible. I want them to have a community of support and encouragement. I want them be able to having a job that is meaningful to them and that they enjoy going to everyday as much as I enjoy what I do every day.

Barbara Erby
President

Breakthrough Developmental Services, LLC

Would you like to speak with a BDS representative? Our caring staff will work with you to help your child master skills and move towards greater independence. http://ow.ly/b2HnE

About BDS

We help families, schools, and individuals achieve big results by helping them discover their strengths, develop interests, prioritize their focus, and teach them what to do with their children to get them on the path towards success. Breakthrough Developmental Services’ goal is to provide affordable home and community based services to families in need. Programs are designed to meet the needs of the individual and aim to increase learning as well as foster a student’s greater future independence in society.