When Miranda Boggan ’23 first started at UTSA in 2021, she wasn’t sure what field she wanted to pursue, let alone what sort of career she would end up in after graduation.
Today, you can find Boggan making a difference in the lives of children and families that go through the Little Spurs Autism Center.
Boggan, a lead registered behavior technician (RBT), is helping children and teenagers with autism gain and build upon a variety of important skills, such as communication and socialization, allowing them to be successful in school and life.
“In the short time I have been an RBT, I have had several kids graduate ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapy to go to school full-time,” Boggan says. “I have gotten to hear so many inspirational stories from parents of different ‘firsts’ they have had with their kids, such as being able to go sit and eat at a restaurant. My favorite impact is seeing kids who are now utilizing coping strategies and communication instead of attempting self-injurious behaviors. It makes every day so worth it as I know it is truly making a difference.”
ABA is research-based behavior therapy for people with autism or other developmental disorders. The main goal of ABA is to increase positive behaviors and decrease harmful behaviors through positive reinforcement. It’s believed ABA can improve socialization, communication and expressive language.
Boggan was first introduced to the behavior analysis field on accident.
“I found out about it from taking a class at UTSA called, Intro to Behavior Analysis, which I thought was going to be about behavioral profiling like they do in the FBI,” she says. “I started the class and realized it was a different type of behavior analysis that is used for people with special needs, especially autism.”
Miranda Boggan presented research at the Texas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol in Austin, Texas in 2023.
Intrigued with the work and ready to play a role in it, Boggan connected with Dr. Hannah MacNaul, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, about gaining real-world experience in the field. Boggan thus began an internship at the Autism Treatment Center in San Antonio.
“I did the internship for a few months, working one-on-one with a client and had already seen such a difference in their behaviors,” Boggan says. “It made me want to look more into becoming a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since they are the ones that create the interventions that the therapists implement. It was the first time I was able to visibly see the difference I was making.”
Since 2010, there has been an increased demand each year for BCBAs. Between 2022 and 2023, there was a 14% increase in the U.S., according to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
During her time at UTSA, Boggan showcased the work she was doing at the Autism Treatment Center at the Fall 2022 Roadrunner Experience Showcase, hosted by the UTSA Najim Center. The yearly event allows students to present the work and lessons they’ve gained in internships, research projects and other leadership projects.
“After the event, I had a mom come up to me and thank me for the work that I was doing,” Boggan says. “She said she had a two-year-old who was recently diagnosed with autism and through ABA had said “mama” for the first time. Seeing her emotions made me get emotional and showed me how much of an impact this field could have not only on the kids but also their family.”
In 2023, Boggan also had the opportunity to showcase the impact of behavior analysis at the state level during the Texas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol.
FAST FACTS
- ABA therapy helps individuals increase communication, social skills, adaptive skills, and executive functioning skills, and decrease problem behaviors by teaching alternative skills.
- There was a 14% increase in BCBAS between 2022 and 2023.
- Texas is one of the highest states in demand for BCBAS.
- As of January 2025, there were nearly 75,000 people in the U.S. with a BCBA certification; 5,249 with a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst certification and 196, 579 with the RBT certification.
Two years since presenting at the Capitol, Boggan is now a lead RBT at the Little Spurs Autism Center after starting as just a behavior technician (BT). As a lead RBT, Boggan still works with clients, but is also a part of the main training program for incoming BTs/RBTs. She works with the BCBAs on creating stimuli, conducting assessments, and programming.
“It’s been two years filled with many learning and growth opportunities. I have learned so much from the BCBAs and the variety of clients I’ve had the opportunity to work with one-on-one,” Boggan says. “Some of my clients have come back to visit and are excellent in school. I have one client who I have worked with for a while and used to bang their head on nearby surfaces when they got upset. I had to carry around a thick pad to block them. Today they utilize coping strategies such as counting, deep breaths, and asking for help.”
Boggan hopes to continue her work as in ABA and become a BCBA after she finishes her online graduate work in 2026 at the University of North Texas.
