Reena Kalidas

From my earliest days, I felt a strong connection with children and a calling toward the field of education. My ambition to contribute positively to the world led me to pursue a career in shaping and supporting the lives of young learners. Originally, I envisioned myself becoming a clinical child psychologist, but fate had a different plan for me.

Six months shy of completing my undergraduate degree, I found myself embarking on an unexpected journey. Selected for an internship at a private school for children with autism, ADHD, and related disorders, I was immediately faced with a unique challenge: a young boy diagnosed with Down Syndrome. His daily routine was kicking off his shoes, turning off the lights, and sitting in the middle of the room awaiting for an adult to engage each morning.

After three days of observing his behavior, I decided to try my approach by meeting him on his level and creating a connection before giving his instructions. His willingness to engage and cooperate revealed the profound impact of behavior being a form of communication. Just a different approach led to a desired behavior; putting his shoes on.

This pivotal moment ignited my passion for behavior and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). I stumbled upon a job posting for an instructional aide at Inspire Behavioral Services. Here, I found a community dedicated to advocating for children with diverse abilities and promoting full inclusion in educational settings. Through my work at Inspire, I have continued to expand my knowledge of behavior programs, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and collaboration with service providers.