A Human-Centered Conversation with Holly Beth Clauser
In this episode of Hi Rasmus & Friends, host Amy Cook sits down with Holly Beth Clauser, founder of ABA C.A.R.E.S. Staffing & Summit and host of the People Contingency Podcast. Holly is a leading voice in helping ABA organizations better support and retain RBTs and BCBAs—and her perspective is deeply shaped by her lived experience as an autistic adult, a parent, and a long-time advocate in the field.
From the very beginning, this conversation goes beyond surface-level discussions about staffing challenges. Instead, it centers on something much deeper: quality of life—for clients, families, staff, and leaders alike.
From “Falling Into” ABA to Finding Her Mission
Holly shares that her journey into ABA wasn’t planned. Like many in the field, she found her way in through her children and early exposure to integrated classrooms. What began as an unexpected opportunity quickly became a lifelong calling. Over the years, Holly worked across multiple roles—direct service provider, recruiter, consultant—and each experience added another layer to her understanding of what works, what hurts, and what’s missing in ABA systems.
That lived experience, paired with her autism journey, has shaped how she views connection, loss, and change—especially when it comes to staff turnover.
Retention Isn’t Just a Staffing Problem—It’s a Human One
One of the most powerful moments in the episode comes when Holly explains how turnover impacts children, particularly those who form deep attachments to their therapists. When staff cycle in and out, children often lose relationships without explanation or support to process the change. Holly asks an important question we don’t talk about enough:
If adults struggle to cope with sudden loss and change, how are children—especially autistic children—experiencing it?
This perspective is what drives her passion for retention. Not just keeping staff longer, but creating systems where people feel safe, supported, valued, and set up for success.
Navigating ABA, Neurodiversity, and the “Middle Ground”
Amy and Holly also explore the often-tense space between traditional ABA and the neurodiversity movement. Holly offers a balanced, thoughtful perspective—acknowledging harm and malpractice where it exists, while also advocating for nuance, intention, and individualized care.
She shares a personal story from childhood that reframes how we think about frustration, crying, and perseverance in therapy. Her message is clear: compassion doesn’t mean giving up, and structure doesn’t mean harm. The key is staying present with the child in front of you and walking through hard moments together.
Why ABA C.A.R.E.S. Exists
ABA C.A.R.E.S. was born out of what Holly saw again and again: a lack of strong people operations and HR support in ABA organizations. From inadequate safety training to unclear expectations, poor communication, and limited leadership development, many issues that drive turnover are preventable.
The ABA C.A.R.E.S. Summit was created to address these gaps head-on. With multiple tracks—executive, clinical leadership, people operations, and career counseling—the summit creates space for honest, actionable conversations that organizations often avoid but desperately need.
This year’s theme, Alignment, reflects a desire to bring voices together, surface challenges, and move the field forward collaboratively.
The Power of Listening
As a fellow podcast host, Holly reflects on how sitting on the other side of the microphone has changed how she listens. Podcasting has helped her slow down, reduce interruptions, and become more intentional in conversations—skills she believes organizations could benefit from practicing more often.
It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most impactful change starts with simply being present.
The Takeaway: Focus on Quality of Life
When asked what she hopes listeners take away from the episode, Holly doesn’t hesitate:
Ask yourself—am I improving the quality of life for the person in front of me?
Whether that person is a child, a parent, a therapist, or yourself, that question can guide better decisions, better systems, and better outcomes.
Because at the end of the day, staffing strategies, data, and systems only matter if they serve the people within them.
And as always, it comes back to focusing on the child in front of you.
