RBT Taylor Talamantes Tells Why Working at Hopebridge is Such a Treat

Making Life Sweeter for Families Living with Autism

From chocolate to children, Hopebridge therapist Taylor Talamantes has worked with some of the world’s sweetest gifts.

Before putting her psychology degree into action and enhancing the lives of children with autism, Taylor took on another role most of us only dream about – serving as a chocolatier! She enjoyed being able to make people and their loved ones smile through her work every day, but once a friend introduced her to Hopebridge, she aimed for a new profession.

Taylor immediately took steps to get back to her roots and become a registered behavior technician (RBT). Her motivation grew from her desire to create better lives all around… not only for the kiddos, but for their families too.

“We’re not just helping the kiddos when they’re here at Hopebridge; we’re giving them tools that will help them with daily life at home too.”

The seemingly small victories get her excited because they mean the world to the kiddos and the people who connect with them every day. While washing oneself in the shower or putting on shoes might seem like simple tasks to most, for someone on the autism spectrum, they can be quite the feat and should be celebrated.

“It’s gratifying to see parents watch their children accomplish what they thought they may never be able to do!”

Applauding those wins and using positive reinforcement to build basic skills is part of why Taylor feels her work in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is so effective. She likes that it’s not about “disciplining” when something doesn’t go as expected. Instead, tasks and behaviors are explained and walked through as independently as possible every day, plus there are daily goals for kiddos to proactively work towards.

In fact, Fort Wayne Center Manager Elizabeth Kindinger remembers a time when that positivity made a huge impact on a Hopebridge family. After serving in some more challenging situations as a front-line therapist for one kiddo, Taylor presented a thank-you note to the family expressing how special he was to her. The note outlined her appreciation for allowing her to treat their child, as well as listed his qualities she valued and the many improvements he made in a short time. By sharing these kind details, she not only helped him, she showed his parents that their child mattered to others.

But why Hopebridge? What does Taylor love about working here that sets it apart from other clinics? As a full-service autism center, she appreciates that Hopebridge360 houses everything in the same place, where the team can cross-pollinate skills and implement various types of therapy into day-to-day routines. Plus, there’s easy access to other therapists, like speech and occupational, to get clarity, if needed.

So while Taylor may miss having a taste of her chocolate every now and then (who wouldn’t?!), working with the kiddos is a treat, and we’re lucky to have her shine a little extra light here at Hopebridge.

Get to Know Taylor

Favorite superhero: The Hulk
Favorite book: There is a Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone
On her playlist right now: “Life of the Party,” by Shawn Mendes
Fun fact: Used to work for a chocolatier!

Interested in joining Taylor on the path to better the lives of children? Check out our open positions to become part of the Hopebridge team.

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