BWIBAAD2025 Recharges ABA Passion
Heyyy BCBA Ruby here,
I just got back from the Black Women in Behavior Analysis Appreciation Day (BWIBAAD) conference in Orlando, Florida and I have to say- it was truly eye-opening. I’m reaching out because whether you’re an RBT starting out or a future/current BCBA, these conferences offer something special that you just can't get anywhere else.
Picture This: a vibrant space filled with genuine conversations, shared laughs, and moments that remind you why you fell in love with ABA in the first place. It wasn’t about rehashing textbook ideas– it was about real people, real challenges, and real breakthroughs. I connected with passionate colleagues who are just as driven to make a difference, and I left feeling recharged and inspired by the collective wisdom and heart in the room.
These events are not just a chance to pick up fresh insights or polish your skills; they're a reminder that we are all in this together. If you ever get a chance to attend an ABA conference like BWIBAAD, grab it. It might just be the spark you need to see your work– and yourself in a whole new night.
Insights That Stuck With Me
💡Did you know that Black women make up only 5% of the field of ABA?
When I heard that statistic at BWIBAAD, it hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting. I looked around the room, saw the brilliance, the passion, and the resilience of the women beside me, and I thought—how is that possible?
The stories I heard weren’t just about the science of behavior analysis. They were about breaking barriers, being the only one in the room, fighting to be seen, heard, and valued. They were about the exhaustion that comes with proving yourself over and over again, but also the unwavering determination to keep going because representation isn’t just important—it’s life-changing.
I felt a lump in my throat more than once as I listened to Black women in ABA share their journeys—the struggles, the triumphs, the moments they almost walked away but didn’t. And standing there, surrounded by that kind of strength and solidarity, I felt something I didn’t even realize I had been missing. Belonging.
One message echoed throughout the conference: We are not alone. In a field where we make space for others, we have to remember to make space for ourselves too. To find each other. To lift each other up. To mentor, to empower, to show the next generation that they don’t have to do it alone.
I left BWIBAAD feeling seen, recharged, and more determined than ever to not just be in this field but to make it better. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong—please know that you do. And if you ever get the chance to be in a room like the one I just left, take it. It might just remind you why you started this journey in the first place.
