How Dania Tonelli Swapped Snow for Sunshine and Grew Her Career Along the Way

She wanted a change. LEARN made it possible 

Dania Tonelli had spent her whole life in Massachusetts. She grew up there, went to college and grad school there, and started her career there, too. 

But after years of New England winters and the same familiar routine, she was ready for something different. 

“I’d just been there a long time,” she says. “I was ready for something new.” 

She had always loved visiting California and narrowed her options to two places: the Bay Area or San Diego. After a quick scouting trip, San Diego won out. 

“I knew I wanted to keep working with LEARN, I just wasn’t sure if it was possible,” she says. “But I talked to my clinical director, and she reached out. Even though there wasn’t a job posted, the team out here said yes. They told me to come anyway.” 

A long drive and a smooth landing 

Dania packed her car, took a few weeks off, and drove across the country. She stopped at as many national parks as she could along the way. 

“I used my PTO to take time off, which was so helpful,” she says. “When I got here, everything was seamless. My insurance, logins, and systems all transferred. I was able to pick up right where I left off.” 

The San Diego team created a temporary spot for her until she could take over a full caseload. A clinician was about to go on maternity leave, so the timing worked out well. 

Career growth and a new lifestyle 

Since the move, Dania has been promoted twice. She started as a behavior analyst and is now the center director for AST’s San Marcos and Poway locations. 

“There were just more opportunities out here,” she says. “And I’ve learned from so many different people. That helped me grow a lot.” 

The move also gave her room to explore personal passions. Dania is active in animal rescue and has fostered more than a dozen dogs since settling in Southern California. 

“I think I’m on my 15th foster dog now,” she says. “This lifestyle really lets me do more of the things I love.” 

A team that shows up for each other 

From day one, Dania says she felt welcomed. Coworkers helped her adjust and made sure she understood new systems and processes. 

“We have a group text where anyone can ask for help,” she says. “People always jump in, even if it’s not their job. Everyone is focused on helping the kids, supporting each other, and making things work.” 

She also got to shadow parts of the BT training, which helped her understand how services were delivered in her new region. 

Why she encourages others to transfer 

Dania has been with LEARN since 2017 and is quick to support team members who want to move. 

“I always check the job site for them,” she says. “It’s such a relief to know you can move and still have a job, a team, and a path forward.” 

She says transferring is one of the best ways to grow both professionally and personally. 

“You don’t lose progress,” she says. “You just keep going.” 

LEARN Behavioral’s nationwide network offers flexibility for employees to continue their careers across state lines. Dania’s story is just one example of what’s possible with thoughtful planning and a strong support system. 

Want to learn more about internal transfers and job opportunities within LEARN Behavioral? Visit LEARN’s careers page to explore current openings across the country. 

Spotlight on Diversity in ABA: An Interview with Joshua Polanco

A board certified behavior analyst (BCBA), managing technician, at LEARN’s Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST) in California’s Inland Empire region, Joshua Polanco provides supervision and behavioral intervention plans for clients in need of ABA services. He earned a master’s degree in psychology and ventured into ABA because he wanted to use that degree in a more direct and meaningful way. He’s also legally blind.

Here, he shares stories from his journey and experience working with children and young adults with autism—and his take on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA).

 

Q: WHY DID YOU GET INTO ABA?

A: I was working as a behavioral technician and providing one-to-one services with multiple clients. I was about to quit after the first two weeks of working in the ABA setting because I did not have any experience with children with disabilities and felt like I was not helping my clients. Ironically, the clients and their families are what made me stay. To me, nothing can beat the sensation of knowing you have made a difference in someone’s life, and I have had so many fun experiences that helped me realize the importance of ABA, and how prevalent it is in our everyday lives. All of these experiences are what drove me to continue pursuing ABA to the position where I am now.

 

Q: WHAT DOES DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) MEAN TO YOU?

A: Everything. I feel these concepts as a whole are very overlooked at times. It’s not only important to have diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but to also recognize the benefits provided when DEI is incorporated into a work environment. In my case, I may be legally blind, but that does not make me useless in a work environment that relies heavily on vision. I am able to continue to make an impact on peoples’ lives through my work and can actually provide a different perspective and understanding when helping clients or co-workers because of my loss of vision.

Q: IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF WORKING IN A DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT?

A: Trying to comprehend various interactions that take place. Balancing the state of empathy and understanding, while simultaneously needing to support and accomplish work objectives that need to be achieved.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING THE PERSPECTIVES OF COLLEAGUES OR CLIENTS FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS?

A: The short, easy answer is that I take a step back and just listen. Self-awareness and self-control over your own biases and habits go a long way. It’s important to me to recognize the limitations you have in the moment. For example, you may not always be able to truly understand the perspective of others. This is OK—we are only human. I feel like there are ways to still attempt to understand to some degree. Failure to truly understand someone should not give us permission to disregard their perspective.

I’ve relied, to some degree, on multiple psychology books, articles, and notes from when I obtained my master’s degree in psychology, with an emphasis in clinical counseling and marriage and family therapy. When communicating with colleagues and clients, I always try to review and remember the concepts I learned on the dynamics of communication, including those on cognitive distortions and positive feedback loops. Understanding these can play a huge role on how I understand and communicate during a conversation.

Q: WHY IS DEI IMPORTANT IN ABA?

A: Without DEI, we would be refusing to grow ABA as a whole. ABA is a science that expands to more than any one individual population. Part of everything we do is to help, expand, and make a difference in the world. What better way to accomplish this than to recognize the different things people have to contribute.

Q: TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHEN YOU ADVOCATED FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE OR IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE.

A: One poignant instance in which I had to advocate for myself is the moment I was officially diagnosed blind, and I had to reach out to the HR department to figure out some resolutions and next steps forward. Luckily, I was part of a supportive team and was able to continue doing the core work I was educated to do and hired for, with some slight accommodations and adjustments.

Q: WHAT’S SOMETHING MOST COLLEAGUES DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

A: I do not know how many people know that I am legally blind. My condition is called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). There is no treatment. With this condition, my vision will gradually worsen. There is no telling how much vision I will lose tomorrow…or over the next 30 years. I don’t only have to think about how this affects the work I do with clients but how I adjust my everyday life to prepare for this. Through my work with rehabilitation specialists, I am learning to use technology, to read braille, and even to cook without looking.

Q: ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?

A: I was diagnosed legally blind less than a year ago. In that time, I’ve taken and passed the BCBA exam, which was the first test I’ve ever had to study for and take without my vision, while finding ways to balance my work, as I learn a new lifestyle. I hope the message from all of this is one of inspiration—that no matter how bad things may seem, it’s important not to let the events around you, define you. Take control of the things you can, adapt, and persevere through the adversity. Because this is what we ask of our clients each day.

For more from our Spotlight on Diversity in ABA series, read “An Interview with Angela Parker.”

Follow Your Passions: The Vast Areas of Interest in ABA

Dr. Danquah-Brobby is an international psychologist and board certified behavior analyst currently serving as the ABA Chair for the Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s Washington, DC Campus. Paula joins us to talk about a variety of topics related to the education, professional progression, and interests of behavior analysts.  From teaching young learners to working internationally, this conversation highlights the many opportunities to diversify your work and experiences in the field of ABA. Paula and Richie discuss parallels in their careers and the moments that define success for their clients, their students, and themselves. As Paula shared, “I saw the beauty and the science of ABA and I thought – alright, I am going to be in this career for the rest of my life”.

For more information:

https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/
https://www.facebook.com/TCSPPDC
https://www.instagram.com/tcsppdccampus/
https://twitter.com/TCSPPDCcampus 

All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com).