Like many college students, Laura Perry wasn't sure what career she would end up in after graduating, but she was certain of one thing: it wouldn't involve children.
Seven and a half years later, however, Perry is the lead teacher of The Little Tree's classrom for 3- and 4-year-old children, and she said she couldn't be happier.
The Little Tree is a nonprofit preschool that prepares children for primary school with a focus on improving everyday functions in those with autism spectrum disorders.
"In college, I knew that I definitely did not want to work with kids," Perry said. "I did not think I could do it. I was going for industrial organizational psychology, then I changed to clinical psychology as the focus I was going to go toward, and then last semester my last year at school I decided I wanted to know more about autism and work with autism.
"In fact, someone earlier had said that I could finish the degree for (applied behavior analysis) in a year and I was like, 'No, I don't want to do that. I don't want to work with special needs kids. What would I do with them?' And then I worked with them and I really liked it. I got to know more about ABA and I really liked ABA. It makes sense, it's effective, and that's why I continued in that direction."
ABA is an autism treatment system based on the theory that behaviors can be taught through a system of rewards and consequences.
"It essentially means that we analyze behaviors," Perry said. "We figure out what's causing those behaviors, whether it's maintaining something that they want or whether it's making something go away that they didn't want around.
"Judging from what's keeping those behaviors happening, we tweak the situation so that we can change the behavior."
Perry has been with The Little Tree since its establishment in August 2005.
The school's program director, Leigh Ann Strain, said Perry's long-term commitment is a testament to her passion for the children she teaches year after year.
"She has a real love for these children and what's here," Strain said. "She's been here for years, and you can tell within the classroom of the excitement that she gets when the children are acquiring skills and incorporating lessons."
Despite her early skepticism, Perry said she now finds joy in helping children.
"I would say one of the best (teaching experiences) is a kid that we started doing in-home services with when he was 2," she said. "When he started, he wasn't able to talk; he didn't look you in the eye; he didn't really have very much receptive language either, like understanding you.
"When he left, he was talking in full sentences. We've got a video of him just having a conversation with the therapist that he was working with."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
