Turn Autism Around: Recent Episodes
Dr. Mary Barbera
Dr. Mary Barbera, autism mom, BCBA-D, RN, best-selling author of The Verbal Behavior Approach, and online course creator discusses autism from several different angles for both parents as well as medical, educational, and behavioral professionals. Each week we discuss autism ideas to improve the lives of your children or clients and also cover how to help you be less stressed and live a happier life. Topics include the early signs of autism, the chances of autism recovery, the importance of autism treatment, especially the use of ABA and the Verbal Behavior Approach in toddlers through teens. In each episode, we discuss problem behaviors including reducing stimming and scripting as well as handling self-injurious behavior and aggression. Some shows also cover the medical aspects of autism including topics such as PANS/PANDAS as well as supplement and medication use for kids on the spectrum. There are financial implications and political aspects of autism that we talk about too. So, whether you're a parent or other relative of a child with autism, or an autism professional such as a behavior analyst, nurse, physician, speech pathologist, or teacher, you’re going to want to listen and subscribe! Learn more at www.marybarbera.com.
Dr. Mary Barbera shares the story of her sons Lucas and Spencer, two boys who looked very similar as toddlers but had very different outcomes. Through their journey, she explains why parents can't predict a child's future with a "crystal ball," but should still take action early when they notice speech delays, autism signs, or developmental concerns. She also introduces her 5 Weeks to More Talking program as a step-by-step way to start helping children right away.
Dr. Mary Barbera interviews Amol Deshpande, creator of the Frontera app and father of a son with autism, about his mission to improve early autism detection and access to care. They discuss biomarker testing that may help identify autism risk as early as birth, the importance of parent support, the role of AI and technology, concerns about misinformation, and why earlier intervention could dramatically improve outcomes for children and families.
Dr. Mary Barbera reflects on nearly three decades in the autism world as both a mom and professional. She shares how denial, long waitlists and limited early support can delay progress for children with autism or developmental delays. She emphasizes the importance of assessment, early action, parent-led intervention and individualized plans, while introducing the free Barbera Early Childhood Assessment (BECA) as a starting point for families seeking clarity and next steps.
Dr. Mary Barbera speaks with Dr. Joseph Cautilli about autism research, including cautious optimism around university-based stem cell studies and stronger evidence for early behavioral intervention. They discuss a 2023 study showing some children diagnosed as toddlers were no longer diagnosable by age five, especially with early intervention and parent-supported engagement. The conversation emphasizes that parents should not wait for a diagnosis to begin helping their child build language, adaptive skills, communication, engagement, and quality of life through fun, child-friendly strategies.
"He'll probably be fine." That's what most parents hear when their toddler shows early signs of autism. After 25 years in the field - and raising a son who looked "mild" at 2 but needs 24/7 care at 30 - Dr. Mary Barbera explains why that reassurance may be the most dangerous sentence in child development.
In this video, Dr. Mary Barbera breaks down:
- Why the question "Can autism be prevented or reversed?" has become politically incorrect - and why it's the most important question to ask anyway
- The river parable: why we can't just keep pulling children from the water without going upstream
- The "golden year" of neuroplasticity - and why almost every autism family misses it
- Why kids who look "mild" at 2 can end up needing lifelong care - while kids who looked severe are graduating college
- Dr. Glenn Dunlap's career-changing advice: "Treat it like the most severe case of autism"
- Why early intervention systems haven't changed since the 1990s - and what parents can do right now
Dr. Mary Barbera is an RN turned BCBA-D and bestselling author of Turn Autism Around. As both a doctoral-level behavior analyst and the mother of a 30-year-old son with severe autism, she bridges clinical credibility with lived experience to empower parents as the lead in their child's progress.
🤔 QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Did someone tell you to "wait and see" when you first noticed delays? What happened next?
Share your story below - we read every comment.
🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
👉 Turn Autism Around book: https://marybarbera.com/new-book/
👉 White paper with Dr. Rick Cabena - Elena's case study (2 words to 180 in 33 days): https://marybarbera.com/whitepaper
👉 2023 Boston study - 40% of early-diagnosed children no longer meeting criteria: https://marybarbera.com/can-you-outgrow-autism-study/
👉 Dr. Ami Klin's eye tracking research: https://marybarbera.com/turn-autism-around-book-owners/
👉 Five-minute questionnaire - find your best starting place: https://forms.gle/KW4TGN1xia4gqsrQ6
👉 Subscribe to the Dr. Mary Barbera Newsletter: https://marybarbera.com/
Monthly deep dives on where the autism field is headed, what the research actually says, and practical strategies you can start using today - from someone who's both a doctoral-level behavior analyst and an autism mom.
🔍 TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Can autism be prevented or reversed? 0:29 The river parable - going upstream to find the cause 1:19 "I'm the person going upstream" 1:42 The most important question in the autism world 2:40 Why prevention became politically incorrect in 2026 3:23 The 2023 Boston study - 40% no longer meeting criteria 3:46 Dr. Ami Klin's eye tracking research 5:25 Waiting for a diagnosis is almost always a bad idea 5:41 The "golden year" of neuroplasticity - and why most miss it 7:08 There is no time to wait and worry 7:32 The danger of "he'll probably be fine" 8:31 Lucas's story - mild signs at 2, preschool with no issues 9:26 Lucas at 30 - and the kids who looked worse but thrived 942 Dr. Dunlap's advice treat it like the most severe case 10:48 Why Mary's approach puts parents in the lead 12:44 The Turn Autism Around approach - what makes it different 14:27 Can autism symptoms be prevented? Mary's verdict 15:11 Never too early, never too late
Joint attention is the shared focus between a child and another person, and it is one of the most important foundational communication skills for children with autism and developmental delays. Dr. Mary Barbera talks with Rose Griffin, who explains why joint attention matters, how it supports language, play, and social interaction, and how parents and professionals can build it through simple daily activities like books, songs, bubbles, and games. They also highlight the importance of collaboration between ABA and speech therapy so children get practical, individualized support that strengthens communication through connection and engagement.
342: The Autism Tipping Point - 3 Trends Changing Everything Autism is now 1 in 31 - and three massive forces are about to reshape everything parents and professionals think they know.
Episode Summary In this episode of Turn Autism Around, host Dr. Mary Barbera breaks down the three megatrends converging to create what she calls the autism tipping point.
You'll learn why rising autism rates represent a real increase (not just better diagnosis), how confusion in the field is costing families critical intervention time, and discover how AI breakthroughs could collapse diagnostic timelines from years to minutes.
Question of the Day Which of these three megatrends do you think will have the biggest impact on your family or practice? Leave a comment or reply to let us know.
Key Takeaways * Autism rates went from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 31 - and the data shows a real increase, not just better screening * The explosion of conflicting advice is causing parents to hesitate during the most critical developmental window * AI studies detected autism biomarkers from blood samples with 93% accuracy * 40% of children diagnosed between ages 1-3 no longer met autism criteria by school age * AI tips without a clear framework create more confusion - structured systems drive real progress
Timestamped Outline 00:00 - Introduction and newsletter series launch 00:26 - Mary's origin story - when her husband first said "autism" 02:06 - From denial to doctoral-level behavior analyst 03:01 - Who this newsletter series is for 04:08 - Megatrend 1: The explosion of autism rates 05:40 - The staggering costs of autism for families 06:53 - Megatrend 2: More confusion and complexity than ever 08:54 - Polarized narratives around autism 09:56 - Laura Clery interview on ABA 11:57 - Research shows early outcomes are changeable 12:42 - Megatrend 3: AI creating opportunities and risks 13:56 - AI blood test study detecting autism with 93% accuracy 16:45 - AI must support a framework, not replace one 18:33 - The autism tipping point - pulling it all together
Links & Resources * Free on-demand workshop - Start making progress this week: https://marybarbera.com/free-training-on-demand-v1b1/ * Laura Clery podcast interview - ABA harmful or helpful?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgL3SaRliMg * Turn Autism Around book - Chapter 1 on the surge in rates: https://marybarbera.com/new-book/ * Dr. Mary Barbera Newsletter: https://marybarbera.com/
Connect & CTA Subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts - it helps other parents and professionals find the show.
Join the Dr. Mary Barbera Newsletter for the latest autism research in plain language, strategies you can start using today, and clinical truth from someone who's both a BCBA-D and an autism mom: https://marybarbera.com/
Credits Host: Dr. Mary Barbera © 2026 Barbera Behavior Consulting LLC. All rights reserved.
ABA therapy is the science of behavior and learning, not just a treatment for autism. Dr Mary Barbera clears up four common myths about ABA, explains why the science is always at work, and shows how quality, child-friendly implementation matters most. Mary also highlights that ABA can be used at home, in school, and in daily life as well so parents can learn practical strategies to increase talking, reduce tantrums, and support meaningful progress without relying only on intensive clinic-based services.
Teaching manners to children with autism is important, but teaching them too early can interfere with communication development. Before focusing on words like "please" and "thank you," children should first be able to request what they want, use simple phrases, and show basic learning skills like imitation and labeling. Dr. Mary Barbera explains common mistakes parents make, why phrases like "I'm sorry" can backfire, and how to teach manners like "thank you" and "excuse me" in natural, meaningful ways that support real progress.
Parent training is one of the most important drivers of progress in autism intervention because parents are with their children far more than therapists are. Dr. Mary Barbera and Leanne Page explain how autism professionals can improve parent training by keeping strategies simple, using clear language, showing empathy, modeling skills, practicing together, and ending each session with a realistic plan. When parents feel supported and empowered instead of overwhelmed, they are more likely to follow through and help their child make meaningful progress across everyday routines.
Children with autism face increased safety risks, including wandering, drowning, fire emergencies, PICA, and traffic dangers. In this podcast, Dr. Mary Barbera and Dr. Amy Foxman explain why safety skills should be a top priority and how parents and professionals can begin teaching them using practical, evidence-based strategies like Behavior Skills Training.
They also highlight the SAFE-T Assessment, a free tool that helps identify a child's most urgent safety risks so families can take meaningful steps to improve safety, independence, and emergency preparedness.
Dr. Mary Barbera sits down with Elissa in this rebroadcast to show exactly how to help a late-talking toddler using a clear 4-step plan. After identifying that Lexi understood more than she could say, Elissa used structured table time, fun materials, and the "1 word × 3" strategy to build imitation, requesting, and labeling. By assessing skills, creating predictable learning routines, and tracking language, Lexi went from babbling to consistent word approximations in just weeks, which is progress any parent can start working toward at home.
Dr. Mary Barbera outlines 10 early signs of autism in toddlers, such as lack of pointing and joint attention, language delays, excessive tantrums, not responding to name and poor imitation skills. She explains how these signs can overlap with speech delay or ADHD, why they matter for social communication, and how parents and professionals can use the Turn Autism Around® approach to take action and start early intervention now.
Imitation is a crucial early skill for language, play and social development. Delays in imitation are common in toddlers with autism or signs of autism. Dr. Mary Barbera breaks down the 4 key steps to building imitation skills: assessment, planning, teaching, and simple data collection. She shares practical tips, real examples, and tools from her Turn Autism Around book and course to help parents and professionals teach this pivotal skill in a fun, gentle, and effective way. Early intervention matters, and building imitation can create powerful learning momentum for young children.
If you're worried that your 4-year-old isn't talking or meeting speech milestones, you're not alone and you don't need to wait. By age four, kids should be speaking in full sentences, asking questions, and using language to solve problems. Speech delays at this age often signal a need for targeted support, not just time.
Dr. Mary Barbera explains key signs to watch for, how to tell if autism may be involved, and what parents can do right now to help. With the right strategies, you can turn everyday routines into powerful opportunities for communication and independence, whether your child has a diagnosis or not.
A Level 3 autism diagnosis means a child currently needs very substantial support, not that their future is fixed or limited. Dr Mary Barbera explains what Level 3 autism is, how it differs from Levels 1 and 2, common traits and evidence‑based treatment options. Autism levels describe present support needs, not intelligence or long‑term outcomes and levels can change over time. With early intervention, effective therapies, and strong parent involvement, many children make meaningful progress. The goal is clarity, realistic expectations, and hope grounded in action rather than fear.
Dr. Mary Barbera shares five "autism rants" based on her 27 years of experience as a mom, nurse, and BCBA-D. These unpopular opinions challenge outdated advice and highlight what truly helps children with autism make progress, like acting early, using one cohesive plan, and empowering parents to lead daily routines. Whether you're overwhelmed by delays, therapy contradictions, or mixed messages, this guide gives you the clarity and tools to take effective action now.
Is your 18-month-old not talking yet? Dr. Mary Barbera shares five essential action steps to help parents navigate early speech delays with clarity and confidence. From checking developmental milestones to understanding early signs of autism and using a free digital assessment, this guide empowers you to take early, effective action without panic or overwhelm. Whether your child has a diagnosis or not, these strategies can spark real progress at home. Early help leads to big gains!
Dr. Mary Barbera and Rachel Smith share a simple, effective 3-step plan to stop toddlers from hitting and throwing things, even when they're overwhelmed or frustrated. Based on positive parenting and behavior science, this approach helps toddlers with or without delays learn calm behavior fast. Rachel used it to stop her son's hitting and throwing in just two days, and it can work for you too.
Dr. Mary Barbera answers the top questions about stimming and scripting in children with autism, explaining why they happen and when to be concerned. Stimming isn't bad, but when it's constant, unsafe, or disruptive, it's time to take action. Instead of trying to stop vocal stimming directly, Dr. Barbera recommends teaching language, play, and daily-living skills so stimming naturally decreases over time. Learn when to let it be, when to intervene, and how to use stimming as a clue to better support your child.
When toddlers show signs like hyperactivity, tantrums, or language delays, it can be hard to tell if it's ADHD, autism, or both. Dr. Mary Barbera shares how to spot early signs, understand the key differences, and take action before a diagnosis. Using her 4-step approach, assess, plan, teach, and evaluate, parents can start meaningful intervention right away. Whether your child has ADHD, autism, or early red flags, early support builds language, reduces problem behaviors, and leads to better long-term outcomes.
Dr. Mary Barbera explains what it means when toddlers are obsessed with the alphabet or numbers but struggle to talk. This pattern, often linked to hyperlexia, can signal giftedness or early signs of autism, especially when paired with delays in communication, pretend play, and social interaction. The key is using letter and number strengths as teaching tools while focusing on functional language, comprehension, and social skills. Learn how to assess your child's development and support real progress with balanced strategies that reduce obsession and promote talking.
If your child has been kicked out of daycare or preschool, you’re not alone, this happens more often for kids with autism, ADHD, or developmental delays. Dr. Mary Barbera shares why expulsions happen, what it means, and how to move forward with confidence.
Learn key steps like tracking milestones, getting evaluations, and using positive ABA strategies at home. You’ll also get tips on partnering with staff, preventing future expulsions, and finding environments better suited to your child’s needs. With the right tools and support, your child can thrive - starting today.
The Barbera Early Childhood Assessment (BECA) is a free, 10-minute digital autism screener designed for parents, physicians, researchers, and autism professionals. Created by Dr. Mary Barbera, the BECA assesses self-care, language, and behavior to provide a quick, reliable snapshot of a child’s development. It’s ideal for early detection, tracking progress, and guiding intervention, without long waitlists or costly evaluations. With over 65,000 users and 3 million data points collected, the BECA is transforming how we screen for autism and developmental delays.
Many children with autism face hidden medical challenges that affect speech, behavior, and sleep. Dr. Richard Frye, a Harvard-trained pediatric neurologist, explains how folinic acid (leucovorin) may help, especially in kids with folate receptor autoantibodies. Backed by research, leucovorin has shown promise in improving communication and behavior. Listen in to Dr. Mary Barbera and Dr. Richard Frye and learn how to identify if your child might benefit, what to ask your pediatrician, and how functional medicine can support deeper healing.
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a profile within autism marked by extreme resistance to everyday demands due to anxiety and a need for control. Though not officially recognized in the U.S., many families find PDA-informed strategies helpful. BCBA Amelia Dalphonse shares signs of PDA, like creative avoidance, surface sociability, and hidden anxiety and offers proven strategies focused on trust, flexibility, and indirect language. Understanding PDA can reduce power struggles and improve support. In this epsideo, Dr. Mary Barbera discusses PDA with Ameila Dalphonse.
Mary Barbera joins BCBA and autism mom Rachel Freedman, as she shares how recognizing early signs in her son Max led to an autism diagnosis at just 13 months, and how early intervention transformed his development. By acting quickly, Rachel helped Max go from nonverbal to thriving in preschool by age four. Her story highlights the importance of trusting your instincts, advocating early, and using compassionate, individualized ABA. Parents don’t need to wait for a doctor’s referral—early action can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
Dr. Mary Barbera shares a proven 5-step approach to help parents and professionals start or restart potty training for children with autism or developmental delays. Assessing readiness, preparing with small steps, gathering the right tools and creating consistency across environments, it's all covered. This method focuses on positivity, not pressure. Whether your child is 2 or over 5, progress is possible with the right support.
Dr. Mary Barbera talks with Suzanne Tucker of Generation Mindful about teaching emotional regulation to kids with autism. They go over how co-regulation, mindfulness, and compassionate routines can help children manage meltdowns and build emotional skills—especially when traditional methods fall short. Suzanne shares practical tools like calming corners, time-ins, and sensory strategies, while emphasizing that emotional regulation starts with the adults. Whether your child is verbal or nonverbal, newly diagnosed or undiagnosed, these science-backed insights offer hope and real-life solutions. Learn more at genmindful.com.
Dr. Mary Barbera discusses how doctor visits can be overwhelming for children with autism, but systematic desensitization can make a big difference. This simple approach uses gradual exposure and positive reinforcement to reduce fear and build cooperation—even for kids with past medical trauma. Start with pretend play, visual schedules, and breaking visits into small steps. For emergencies, prep a go-bag and summary sheet in advance. With the right tools and a little planning, you can reduce meltdowns and make medical visits more manageable.
If your child has a speech delay or signs of autism, you don’t have to wait for a diagnosis to begin helping. Dr. Mary Barbera shares how parents can start speech therapy at home using simple daily routines like meals, getting dressed, and brushing teeth. These moments become powerful learning opportunities that build language skills, confidence, and connection. With tools like the BECA™ assessment and the Turn Autism Around® approach, parents can confidently support their child’s progress—right from home. Speech therapy at home is not only possible—it’s effective, empowering, and starts with your everyday routines.
If you're a parent, caregiver, or professional supporting a child with autism, you've likely asked: can nutrition and supplements really make a difference? Dr. Mary Barbera is joined by Functional Medicine Nutritionist Denise Voigt to explore how diet, nutrient deficiencies, and functional medicine approaches can significantly impact behavior, development, and overall wellness in children with autism. They break down the science behind picky eating, the critical role of zinc, and why a skewed zinc-to-copper ratio may be driving symptoms like agitation, sleep disturbances, and poor focus.
You'll also learn what blood tests to ask for, what to look out for in low-quality supplements, and how to choose safe, high-potency options tailored for neurodiverse kids. With real-world insight and expert guidance, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help you better support your child’s health journey—starting from the inside out.
Is your child ready for autism daycare? In this podcast, Dr. Mary Barbera—autism mom, behavior analyst, and nurse—explains how to tell if your child is ready and how to help them thrive in a daycare environment. With special guest Kelsey General, we dive into how to assess daycare readiness, what core skills to teach at home, and how to reduce anxiety through visual supports and gradual exposure. We also talk about what makes a daycare autism-friendly, how to handle drop-off struggles, and how to advocate for the support your child needs.
Looking for the best toys for children with autism—and how to actually use them to boost communication, play, and social skills? In this rebroadcast, Kelsey General and Dr. Mary Barbera dive into simple strategies and toy recommendations for children with autism or early signs of autism. But spoiler alert: it’s not just about the toys themselves.
It’s about the procedures—how you play, how you teach, and how you engage. Whether you’re a parent or a professional, you’ll learn what to consider before choosing a toy and how to make cause-and-effect toys more meaningful for your child. We’ll share practical ideas for building language using everyday toys and simple ways to organize your play space for success. You’ll also learn what to do if your child doesn’t seem interested in toys at all.
Feeling overwhelmed by behavior challenges in your classroom or at home? In this video, we’re diving into practical, real-life strategies from Behavior Breakthrough by Bailey Payne—a must-read for parents, teachers, and therapists working with kids who have autism, ADHD, or developmental delays.
Bailey, a behavior analyst and clinical psychologist, breaks down 12 foundational ABA principles in a way that’s approachable and impactful. We’ll explore key ideas like the First-Then Contingency (Premack Principle), the difference between reinforcement and bribery, and how to shift your focus to the behaviors you want to see more of. Plus, you’ll hear about Bailey’s journey, how she created this book during the pandemic, and why she’s so passionate about helping families and educators thrive with small, consistent changes.
Join Dr. Mary Barbera for an inspiring conversation with three incredible autism advocates: Kate Swenson of Finding Cooper’s Voice, Adrian Wood from Tales of an Educated Debutante, and Carrie Cariello. We dive into their powerful new book Autism Out Loud: Life with a Child on the Spectrum from Diagnosis to Young Adulthood, where they share deeply personal stories of raising children with autism. Through their diverse experiences, they provide insight into topics like caregiving, anxiety, independence, and the unique challenges of young adulthood. This conversation offers support and valuable strategies for navigating life with autism.
Dr. Mary Barbera discusses practical strategies for expanding intraverbals, feature function class (FFC), and language skills in children with autism or speech delays. Learn effective techniques to improve your child’s conversational abilities, including using songs, real-life objects, and category-based language building. Dr. Mary Barbera also covers fluency training and how to integrate language practice into everyday activities. These actionable steps will help move your child forward in language development.
Dr. Mary Barbera shares five key lessons she has learned from working with high-wealth families navigating autism. These insights are applicable to all parents, regardless of financial status, and offer strategies for managing an autism diagnosis, implementing therapy options, and addressing problem behaviors. Dr. Barbera also explains the creation of her High Touch Coaching program, a personalized, hands-on support system that bridges the gap between learning and real-world application for families seeking individualized guidance. See how you can move forward in your autism journey with proven techniques and expert advice.
Dr. Mary Barbera and Julie Matthews, a leading expert in autism nutrition, discuss the critical connection between nutrition and autism management. With over 22 years of experience, Julie shares insights on how diet can significantly influence behavior, cognitive function, and overall well-being for children with autism. She covers the importance of gut health, inflammation, and mitochondrial function, as well as practical dietary tips for parents looking to make positive changes. Julie also highlights research on therapeutic diets and shares actionable steps for creating a nutrition plan, including eliminating junk food and addressing picky eating.
Dr. Mary Barbera sits down with Kaelynn Partlow, an autistic therapist, author, and advocate, to discuss her inspiring journey from being diagnosed with autism at age ten to becoming a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and public speaker. Kaelynn shares her experiences navigating the challenges of autism, her work at the Project Hope Foundation, and how she uses social media to advocate for inclusion and understanding. She also discusses her new book, Life on the Bridge, her appearance on Netflix's Love on the Spectrum, and her views on ABA therapy. Listen as we explore Kaelynn’s remarkable contributions to the autism community and her ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between neurotypical and autistic individuals.
Dr. Mary Barbera discusses what Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) looks like in 2025, breaking down its definition, rising prevalence, causes, and early signs. She goes over the diagnostic process, common controversies, and the power of early intervention in supporting children on the spectrum. She also touches on the controversial topics in the autism community—such as changing definitions, acceptance vs. awareness, and the lifelong impact of autism.
Dr. Mary Barbera shares her personal journey with autism safety and introduces an incredible tool that has transformed the way families like hers protect their loved ones—AngelSense. Joined by fellow BCBA and mom, Melissa Schiefelbein, we discuss how AngelSense's GPS tracking and safety features help prevent elopement, enhance independence, and provide peace of mind. From real-time tracking to two-way voice communication, AngelSense can support children and adults with autism, special needs, or dementia.
Dr. Mary Barbera covers the role of adaptive skills in creating meaningful futures for individuals with autism. In this conversation with Dr. Peter Gerhardt and Dr. Shanna Bahry, we talk about the importance of focusing on these skills from an early age, especially in the preschool years. We will go over how to set meaningful goals, teach life skills for independence, and balance academic progress with essential self-care tasks. Dr. Gerhardt shares insights on how adaptive skills can pave the way for greater autonomy, while Dr. Bahry explains the pivotal age of 10 as a time to assess developmental paths.
Dr. Mary Barbera discusses how virtual autism evaluations are helping reduce the long wait times for diagnoses, with insights from Dr. Cheryl Tierney, a board-certified developmental pediatrician. Dr. Tierney talks about her work at Meliora Health, which offers virtual autism and ADHD evaluations in multiple states. With waitlists stretching up to two years, virtual evaluations provide a faster, convenient option for families. There is a high importance on thorough assessments, what tools are used, and how to choose the right provider. See how virtual evaluations can open doors to early intervention and better outcomes for children.
Teaching prepositions to children with autism or speech delays can be challenging, especially if introduced too early. Dr. Mary Barbera goes over three common mistakes parents and educators often make when teaching prepositions, like "in," "on," and "under." Learn how to avoid these pitfalls and set your child up for success with clear, structured approaches and practical strategies.
Dr. Mary Barbera is joined by occupational therapist and Feeding Matters’ Director of Strategic Initiatives, Cuyler Romeo. They discuss the connection between Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and autism, and how these feeding challenges impact children and families. Cuyler shares valuable insights from her clinical experience, as well as actionable tips for navigating feeding issues, from picky eating to severe food avoidance and how to identify ARFID and differentiate it from typical picky eating.
Is your child or client not responding to their name? Dr. Mary Barbera shares three essential steps to help teach a child to respond, drawing from her experience as both a parent and professional. Response to name is a key skill for safety, social development, and communication. She'll also discuss a common concern: does this mean autism? Learn practical tips to reinforce name response in a positive way and ensure your child stays engaged and safe.
Dr. Mary Barbera sits down with Dr. Jamie Hughes-Lika, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, to talk about effective strategies for fostering joint attention, social engagement, and motivation in young children with autism. Learn how to meet children where they are, engage them in meaningful ways, and build foundational skills that support their social and communicative development. Implementing these strategies today can help enhance your interactions with children with autism and help them thrive.
Dr. Mary Barbera shares her top 3 pieces of advice for parents and professionals supporting children with autism, from toddlers through teens. Drawing from decades of experience, Dr. Barbera explains the importance of starting with a comprehensive assessment, preventing problem behaviors by fostering positive environments, and building strong collaboration between parents and professionals.
Dr. Mary Barbera discusses the 10 early signs of autism in young children. Drawing from her personal experience as a mom and professional background as a registered nurse and behavior analyst, she breaks down common signs such as speech delays, lack of pointing, repetitive behaviors, and more. She also shares practical strategies that parents and caregivers can use to support children showing early developmental delays, regardless of diagnosis. Tune in to learn how early intervention can make a big difference.
Dr. Mary Barbera explores the growing conversation around virtual autism—a term used to describe autism-like symptoms in young children, potentially linked to excessive screen time. Is virtual autism real, and can it be prevented? She'll share insights from my professional experience and personal journey with my son, Lucas, as well as real-life examples from my clients. She explain the potential effects of too much screen time on children’s development and provide actionable strategies to prevent virtual autism. She will also review screen time guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), offering tips on how to balance screen use with engaging activities that support healthy growth.
Dr. Mary Barbera discusses the controversial cry-it-out method often used in sleep training. As a behavior analyst and mother, Dr. Mary Barbera has seen firsthand how this method can negatively impact a child’s emotional development, particularly for children with autism or speech delays.
She explains why she doesn't recommend the cry-it-out method, explores its potential downsides, and shares alternative strategies that focus on positive reinforcement and building secure attachments. She also discusses how this method can exacerbate separation anxiety and what you can do instead to foster a trusting and supportive environment for your child.
Dr. Mary Barbera reviews the popular parenting book "Good Inside" by Dr. Becky Kennedy, which has gained significant attention in the gentle parenting community. As both a parent and a professional working with children with autism, Dr. Barbera has wanted to explore how Dr. Becky’s insights can be adapted to support kids with autism and speech delays. She'll share the five big ideas from the book that resonated with me the most and offer practical strategies on how to modify these concepts for children with developmental delays.
Dr. Mary Barbera discusses the critical role that parents play in multidisciplinary teams, especially during IEP meetings and autism therapy sessions. As both a parent and professional, Dr. Mary Barbera shares practical strategies on how to partner effectively with parents to create the most impactful IEP goals and intervention plans for children with autism. Learn about the importance of assessing not just the child’s needs but the entire family’s needs across home, school, and community settings and how to train parents to implement evidence-based practices at home, reinforcing the skills their child is learning in therapy or at school.
Dr. Mary Barbera guides you through the essential autism screening process by exploring and comparing key assessment tools, including the M-CHAT, ADOS, Vineland, and her own BECA assessment. She'll discuss how each tool functions—whether it's identifying early signs of autism, diagnosing developmental delays, or crafting effective intervention plans. She also shares how the BECA assessment she developed can help provide a comprehensive view of a child’s developmental baseline, making it easier to tailor interventions that lead to meaningful progress.
Dr. Mary Barbera reviews new research and gives a critical analysis of Gestalt Language Processing (GLP), going over its definition and implications for children with autism. Dr. Barbera discusses what she has learned about the Natural Language Acquisition Protocol (NLA) teaching methods for GLP and evaluates whether these are the best approaches.
Dr. Mary Barbera highlights three common mistakes with teaching pronouns: introducing pronouns too early, using turn-taking pronouns like “my turn” and “your turn” with minimal language skills, and starting with receptive pronouns instead of expressive ones. She provides strategies to avoid these pitfalls, focusing on building vocabulary first, using simple language, and starting with expressive pronouns. By following these steps, children can effectively learn pronouns without confusion or pronoun reversals.
Taking a child with autism to the dentist can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, Dr. Mary Barbera share five steps to make dentist visits positive experiences. Learn why holding kids down at the dentist should be avoided, and strategies for desensitizing dental visits, creating realistic plans, and practicing in familiar settings. With preparation and gradual exposure, dental visits can become manageable and even enjoyable for your child.
Dr. Mary Barbera shares three effective tips for improving sleep issues in children with autism, drawing from her personal experience with her son, Lucas. These tips include preventing bed entry, calmly returning the child to their bed, and using positive reinforcement. She also discusses common sleep problems in children with autism, such as irregular melatonin levels, sensory sensitivities, and behavioral patterns, and emphasizes the importance of consistent bedtime routines and provides resources like her autism and sleep Kindle ebook to guide parents.
Dr. Mary Barbera interviews Nadia, a mother who successfully supported her 2-year-old son Muhammad's speech development and managed his autism-related behaviors using Dr. Barbera’s verbal behavior techniques. Nadia shares her journey from Pakistan to Australia, the challenges of long waitlists, and how her son’s speech and behavior have improved significantly. Dr. Mary Barbera covers strategies for early diagnosis, intervention, using effective reinforcers, and addressing picky eating, highlighting the importance of parental involvement, professional guidance, and consistent application of learned techniques to support children with speech delays and autism.
Dr. Mary Barbera interviews Rose Griffin, a Speech-Language Pathologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, about solving speech articulation errors in children, particularly those with autism and speech delays. They discuss the importance of early identification and intervention, typical speech sound development, and practical strategies for improving speech articulation. Rose emphasizes the need for a structured, individualized approach, integrating playful techniques, and ensuring generalization of skills.
Dr. Mary Barbera goes over the importance of timing and effective methods for teaching colors. Teaching colors too early to children with autism or speech delays can hinder language development, it’s important to wait until children have a solid vocabulary of 50-100 nouns and are developmentally ready (typically around 30 months). You should also be focusing on using sorting activities with construction paper to teach colors separately from nouns, and pairing and labeling colors before combining them with objects.
Dr. Mary Barbera compares her two bestselling autism books, "The Verbal Behavior Approach" and "Turn Autism Around." Mary also touches on which book best fits your needs for supporting children with autism. You'll learn about unique strengths and insights each book offers, discussing their differences.
In this rebroadcast, Dr. Mary Barbera discusses how to use techniques from Miss Rachel's popular YouTube channel, "Miss Rachel Songs for Littles," to support children with speech delays or autism. Miss Rachel's videos, which employ video modeling and proven speech therapy methods, offer valuable resources for language development. While screen time should be limited, using educational content like Miss Rachel's can be beneficial. Creating personalized videos can also help to enhance speech skills.
Dr. Mary Barbera interviews Dr. Erin Michaud, an expert in autism research, discussing early detection and intervention for developmental delays and autism. They cover topics such as recognizing early markers like eye contact and cooing, the importance of parent training, and tailored interventions such as speech and behavioral therapy. Dr. Michaud also highlights the differences between developmental delays and autism, emphasizing early action and continuous support to improve outcomes.
Struggling with picky eating in your child? You’re not alone. In this episode, Dr. Mary Barbera discusses the common causes of picky eating, the link between autism and selective eating, and the potential for serious issues like failure to thrive. Learn seven practical tips to address picky eating, including conducting assessments, creating an easy-medium-hard food list, stopping snacking between meals, introducing nutrient-dense foods, maintaining a consistent feeding schedule, and gradually introducing new foods.
In this classic rebroadcast, Dr. Mary Barbera goes over six strategies based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to manage toddler tantrums and enhance communication. There are three preventative measures focused on positive reinforcement, one-word repetition, and structured interactions to reduce tantrum occurrences. There are also three reactive strategies emphasizing safety, stopping attention, and planned ignoring to handle tantrums effectively. Using these tools to create a positive learning environment and minimize attention to negative behavior, parents and educators can foster better communication and reduce tantrums in kids.
Dr. Mary Barbera covers how to enhance speech therapy goals for children with delays. Learn from real-life experiences, including insight from Lucas’s speech therapy journey. Avoid common pitfalls like generic goal banks and ensure goals are tailored to each child’s unique needs, strategies for toddlers, emphasizing realistic milestones and parental involvement. Use these tips and see how therapy sessions become more effective and empowering for children's development.
Dr. Mary Barbera discusses contrasting methods of gentle parenting and Positive Toddler Parenting™ in addressing toddler behavior, focusing on the response to hitting. While gentle parenting emphasizes empathy and teaching moments, Positive Toddler Parenting™ advocates for immediate intervention and minimal acknowledgment of negative emotions during the incident.Both approaches aim to nurture emotionally intelligent children, yet differ in their strategies for managing challenging behaviors.
Struggling with toddler biting? Dr. Mary Barbera offers a 4-step method to address biting behavior, emphasizing understanding the underlying causes and implementing positive strategies. Learn why biting isn't just a phase and explore assessments to determine triggers and give proactive responses and alternatives to prevent and manage biting incidents, fostering positive behavior in toddlers. Tune in to stop biting and promote a safe, supportive environment for your toddler's development.
Today, Dr. Mary Barbera offers three simple assessments for parents concerned about their toddler's behavior. These assessments include language sampling, baseline video recordings of play, and the Barbera Early Childhood Assessment™ (BECA). By utilizing these tools, parents can gain insights into their child's development and identify potential areas of concern or strength. These assessments empower parents to take proactive steps in supporting their child's development and seeking further guidance if needed.
In today's rebroadcast, learn effective strategies to address toddler hitting and throwing behaviors. Join Dr. Mary Barbera and Rachel Smith, Program Director for Positive Toddler Parenting™, as she shares her experience with her son Everett and discusses child-friendly solutions, prevention techniques, neutral discussions, and attention removal strategies to curb problem behaviors. These methods, adaptable for children with or without developmental delays, aim to promote positive interactions and reduce incidents.
Dr. Mary Barbera and Rachel discusses how to start preparing toddlers for a new sibling. You'll learn about timing considerations, practical strategies, emphasizing safety and smooth transitions. These tips include involving children in preparations, maintaining routines, and fostering a supportive environment. All of these tips should help ease your child into the addition of a new family member more readily.
In this episode, Dr. Mary Barbera announces the end of the Turn Autism Around® podcast, but embraces a new journey as Positive Toddler Parenting™. The transition reflects a broader focus on toddler development and parenting, aiming to support all families. The rebranding introduces the Barbera Early Childhood Assessment (BECA)™ tool and offers practical solutions for various developmental challenges. While still valuable for autism families, the podcast now caters to a wider audience. Join us in this journey, ensuring every toddler reaches their full potential. Together, let's make a difference, one toddler at a time.
Learn about the essence of social skills development with BCBA Kelly McKinnon-Birmingham. She and Dr. Mary Barbera go over the significance of joint attention beyond mere eye contact and its role in transitioning to group learning, effective classroom management strategies and the power of positive reinforcement in fostering a conducive learning environment. Learn about Kelly's unique stress reduction practices, including the transformative concept of non-contingent Sundays for family well-being.
Dr. Mary Barbera explores the intricacies of love and autism with insights from "Love on the Spectrum" Season 2. Learn about the series' portrayal of love, challenges, and misconceptions surrounding autism, highlighting the significance of representation and support in media. The show involves and empowers autistic adults while showcasing the diverse spectrum of experiences.
Dr. Mary Barbera interviews her son Spencer, sharing his experiences growing up with a brother with autism. Spencer, now entering medical school, offers valuable insights and advice for siblings of autism, highlighting resilience, compassion, and the importance of family support. Discover their journey, challenges, and decisions regarding guardianship for Lucas. A touching exploration of sibling dynamics and the strength of family bonds in navigating autism.
Dr. Mary Barbera explores the latest in autism research, focusing on Dr. Karen Parker's study on intranasal vasopressin. Despite challenges, such as translating animal model research to human application, vasopressin shows promise in improving social behavior and reducing anxiety in children with autism. Supported by the Simons Foundation, this research highlights potential breakthroughs in autism treatment. Join the movement through initiatives like the SPARK program, fostering collaboration and hope for a brighter future in autism care.
Mary Barbera and Lisa Houseworth, an ABA expert, mother, and blogger from Cruising with Kruz discuss navigating autism preschool choices. From recognizing early signs to embracing intensive ABA therapy, Lisa discusses the transformative impact of personalized interventions. Discover the challenges of transitioning to school-based programs and the importance of parental advocacy. Lisa's journey offers practical advice and hope for families seeking the right placement for their children with autism.
Dr. Mary Barbera discusses the realities of autism waitlists and steps to navigate them effectively in this podcast. She addresses the emotional toll of waiting, reasons for long waitlists, and strategies for proactive engagement while waiting. Learn how to leverage resources and advocate for your child's needs, transforming waiting time into a proactive path toward support and understanding.
Dr. Mary Barbera goes over the importance of early autism detection and treatment through Dr. Ami Klin's groundbreaking work in this rebroadcast. Learn about the impact of early intervention on a child's developmental trajectory, focusing on the crucial birth to age 3 period. Dr. Klin's insights on preventing behavioral and speech disorders, emphasizes the significance of treating autism early.
Learn the #1 self-care tool for teaching children with autism essential skills like hand washing and tooth brushing. The Turn Autism Around® approach helps showcase the importance of task analysis in breaking down tasks. Embrace consistent practice, positive reinforcement, and personalized teaching methods for effective learning. For anyone supporting the development of self-care skills in children with autism or toddlers showing signs, this episode is a must watch.
Dr. Mary Barbera discusses 5 crucial legal and financial tips for parents of children with autism. From establishing a will and special needs trust to managing finances for social service eligibility, Dr. Barbera covers key strategies to secure your child's future. Learn about the importance of staying within the school system, accessing public benefits, and advocating for your child's education and healthcare needs. Empower yourself with knowledge to make informed decisions and avoid common pitfalls, ensuring a better financial future for your child with autism.
Today Dr. Mary Barbera goes over the essential three autism assessments, providing immediate support for children with autism. These free and user-friendly assessments are crucial for determining the right starting point in intervention. Dr. Mary Barbera emphasizes the significance of baseline videos, language samples, and an online digital assessment to monitor progress effectively. With clear instructions and accessible resources, this episode guides parents and caregivers on leveraging these assessments for a comprehensive understanding of a child's development.
Dr. Mary Barbera addresses the top five questions surrounding a child's recent autism diagnosis. From processing emotions and seeking support to navigating systems and managing expectations, the episode provides essential guidance for families. The discussion emphasizes proactive planning, personalized intervention approaches, and the importance of communicating the diagnosis to family and friends.
Dr. Charles Barbera, autism dad and husband to Dr. Mary Barbera, opens up about their family's autism journey. From breaking through denial to dealing with grief, Charles shares his perspective and the lessons learned. The discussion touches on challenges in setting up the future for their son, pride in unique achievements, and valuable advice for autism dads navigating family dynamics post-diagnosis.
Today, Dr. Mary Barbera shares an interview with author and advocate Carrie Cariello. As a mother to five children, including Jack, diagnosed with autism at 18 months, Carrie shares her journey and insights from her latest book, "Half My Sky." Explore topics like raising children with autism, managing relationships, and sibling dynamics and get valuable perspectives on autism, marriage, and siblinghood. Carrie's authenticity and vulnerability offer support and wisdom to those navigating the challenges of autism.
Michelle C. shares her journey with her daughter Elena's autism diagnosis at the age of two. From initial dismissals to remarkable progress through early intervention and Dr. Mary Barbera's course, Michelle discusses the challenges and successes of transitioning Elena into kindergarten, the decision not to disclose her autism to the school, Michelle reflects on Elena's language development and social skills progress.
Dr. Mary Barbera reveals the top 10 Turn Autism Around podcast episodes in 2023, as determined by listens, downloads, and views. These episodes give helpful insights for parents on the autism journey, covering subjects ranging from the gestalt language processing dispute to toilet training tactics and the influence of curated information. Dr. Barbera questions conventional wisdom about autism as a lifelong condition and investigates fresh studies on autism outcomes.
Dr. Mary Barbera sheds light on the research suggesting that nearly 40% of diagnosed toddlers may no longer meet autism criteria between ages five and seven. Explore the controversies, impacts of adaptive skills, and the critical role of early intervention. Dr. Mary Barbera goes over the intricacies of autism recovery, intervention nuances, and potential long-term effects.
Mary Barbera covers the benefits of early assessment through a free digital assessment tool, the challenges of pacifier addiction, and explore the importance of tackling adaptive skills in autism. My guest Izzy's experience highlights the significance of early intervention, finding the right therapy provider, and the role of parents in creating a supportive environment.
In this episode, I cover the decision of whether to pay for private speech therapy or ABA therapy for children with autism. Going into U.S. regulations, I explore avenues for free speech therapy through early intervention programs and school districts. Emphasizing parental involvement and awareness, I also discuss potential insurance coverage for therapy services.
Today’s topic is on teaching life skills to children with autism featuring Julie Swanson, The Life Skills Lady. Julie shares her personal journey advocating for her son with autism, leading to her expertise in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and special education law. The episode emphasizes the importance of incorporating life skills into Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and addresses challenges faced by individuals with autism in various areas of life.
Dr. Mary Barbera and Rachel Smith discuss practical tips for traveling with children, addressing concerns for parents, including those with children on the autism spectrum. Rachel shares her recent travel experience with her two sons, offering valuable insights into keeping kids occupied during flights. The episode covers desensitizing kids to wearing headphones, essential items for air travel, and engaging activities to make the journey enjoyable. From introducing headphones gradually to packing convenient snacks and activities, the podcast provides a comprehensive guide to ensure a smooth and successful travel experience with children, including those with autism.
Dr. Mary Barbera shares valuable insights about using books to enhance language skills in toddlers, including those with autism or signs of autism, emphasizing the importance of pairing books with reinforcement and provides guidance on selecting the best books for different developmental stages.
In this rebroadcast, Dr. Mary Barbera discusses the importance of building expressive language skills in toddlers with autism. She shares insights from her experience and her books, emphasizing the need to start with one-word utterances and gradually progress to two-word phrases to create a strong foundation for language development.
Dr. Mary Barbera discusses speech development in two-year-olds. You'll learn the crucial milestones children should meet at this age and what to do if a 2-year-old isn't talking. Dr. Barbera emphasizes the significance of considering expressive and receptive language skills, highlighting the impact of prematurity on developmental delays.
In today's episode, Dr. Mary Barbera speaks with Rose Griffin about the innovative ABA Speech Action Builder cards, designed to help autistic learners generalize language skills. The importance of planning and generalization when teaching action verbs is emphasized, promoting independent communication. This episode highlights collaboration between speech therapists and behavior analysts and offers valuable insights into improving outcomes in speech therapy for children with autism.
Dr. Mary Barbera addresses the top five questions regarding teaching self-care skills to children with autism or those displaying signs of autism. Learn about the significance of self-care in child development, debunking the misconception that language is a prerequisite for its teaching.
Dr. Mary Barbera presents three invaluable toys for speech therapy at home including the shoebox program, a hands-on, multisensory learning activity that aids children's language development, Potato Head, a simple yet powerful tool for language and body part recognition and inset puzzles for building vocabulary and fostering engagement.
Dr. Mary Barbera discusses Emily's autism coaching journey with her. Emily shares her touching journey as a parent of a child recently diagnosed with autism and how the Turn Autism Around® approach transformed their lives. They discuss early signs, toddler regression, and the vital role of early identification and intervention. This episode highlights the power of collaboration, communication, and resilience in supporting children with autism.
In this rebroadcast, Dr. Mary Barbera shares personal experiences and common mistakes to avoid when teaching manners, like chaining phrases together and teaching manners too early. Learn about the importance of assessing a child's language abilities before introducing polite phrases like "please," "thank you," and "excuse me."
Dr. Mary Barbera and Kelsey General tackle the task of finding quality therapy for children with autism or signs of autism. They address the top five questions about locating effective therapy, emphasizing the need for early intervention and tailoring therapy to individual needs. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is recommended as evidence-based, but flexibility, collaboration, and positive approaches are key.
In today's episode, the focus is on play skills and natural environment teaching. Discover how to seamlessly incorporate teaching moments into a child's everyday life, both at home and in a classroom setting. Dr Mary Barbera highlights the importance of pretend play and introduces the valuable resource "Playtime Social Time" from the University of Minnesota, offering creative play scene ideas and organization tips for play materials.
Learn about the relationship between prematurity and autism! Jannette shares her journey with her prematurely born son, delving into the challenges of distinguishing developmental delays from autism. We discuss the significance of early intervention and the impact of online courses like Turn Autism Around® on child development. Recognize the signs of autism in premature babies, language delays, and the role of parents in fostering positive changes.
Dr. Mary Barbera shares valuable insights in this episode about teaching language to children with autism. Discover and avoid the top 5 common mistakes parents and professionals make in language instruction, and the importance of shaping joint attention and vocal behavior while focusing on functional language and syllable length. Dr. Barbera's expertise empowers you to help your child or clients thrive and reach their full potential.
Dr. Mary Barbera and Dr. Francesca degli Espinosa talk about the power of joint attention and eye contact in autism. Learn how to foster a deeper connection, navigate milestones, and enhance social engagement. Dr. Espinosa, a seasoned expert in Applied Behaviour Analysis, offers practical tips to enhance these skills in a enjoyable, family-oriented manner. Tune in to empower yourself on the journey of turning autism around, fostering brighter connections for these children.
Dr. Mary Barbera and Kelsey General tackle the top five questions about sensory issues in children with autism. Exploring sensory sensitivities, they clarify the distinction between sensory issues and problem behavior, offering effective strategies for intervention. They delve into sensory seeking behaviors, the complexity of sensory manifestations, and the correlation between sensory issues and autism. Discover practical insights and learn how to create supportive environments for children with sensory differences. Tune in for expert advice and valuable strategies to navigate sensory challenges in individuals showing signs of autism.
Dr. Mary Barbera reflects on 25 years of experience in treating autism and parenting a child with autism. The episode explores significant changes in autism treatment, including the increasing prevalence of autism, improvements in ABA therapy insurance coverage, and the importance of early intervention. We also discuss criticism of ABA therapy and advocates for positive, child-friendly approaches in early intervention, emphasizing the role of behavior analysts and parent training. This episode aims to inspire progress in autism treatment, fostering growth and development for individuals on the autism spectrum.
Dr. Mary Barbera and Monica Coenraads explore the potential of gene therapy to transform the lives of individuals with Rett Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Learn about the similarities and differences between Rett Syndrome and autism, emphasizing the specific gene mutation associated with Rett Syndrome. The episode features Monica Coenraads, co-founder of the Rett Syndrome Research Foundation, who shares her personal journey with Rett Syndrome and her insights on gene therapy's promising impact. This educational and inspiring podcast sheds light on the power of gene therapy in offering hope and advancements for those affected by these conditions.
Dr. Mary Barbera offers practical steps to address speech delays in 18-month-old children. Action Step 1 advises staying calm and objectively assessing the child's development. Step 2 involves understanding typical milestones and language expectations. Step 3 highlights early signs of autism to differentiate between delays and autism. Step 4 introduces a digital assessment tool for valuable insights. Finally, Step 5 urges seeking professional guidance from pediatricians and early intervention services. Together, we aim to support parents, caregivers, and professionals in helping children with speech delays, ensuring positive outcomes for their language development.
I heard from Olga M. on a Q&A call with our community, and I had to have her on the show. Olga M shares her daughter’s ASD diagnosis story and how she got her from under 5 words after a speech regression to speaking conversationally in Russian and nearly fluent in English. Stay tuned for some really great tips to keep working with more advanced learners on stretching those language skills.
Have you heard of ACT - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy? Brian Middleton, BCBA, Father, and neurodivergent human, joins me to share how he uses ACT for kids with autism, even those that are nonverbal and nonvocal.
You don’t have to go out and buy a ton of new toys to help your child play! We talk about common examples you may already have in your playroom! The key is all about how you play with your autistic child. Kelsey and I share the best toys for autism, like cause and effect toys, and ideas for making them fun, engaging, and language enriched.
The Turn Autism Around approach is not just for the early signs and youngest learners; these practices are great for learners of any age. Lauren Emmett is a mother of two, and she sits in the Hot Seat for this episode to discuss her 9 year old son Wilson. This is a great opportunity to walk through a 1 page assessment of an older child and hear how a plan can be developed by really prioritizing their strengths, weaknesses, and needs.
Is autism, or signs of autism, putting stress on your marriage? This episode is a lecture I prepared for a conference for marriage counselors. I talk about my journey through the diagnosis and why my husband and I started counseling. This is helpful information for parents who are considering counseling or even as a resource for professionals who might recommend counseling to their clients' caregivers.
As BCBAs, we are often faced with ethical dilemmas. There is not always one right answer; sometimes it’s gray. Dr. Amanda Kelly, Behavior Babe, returns to the podcast to discuss the ABA code of ethics and some common mistakes behavior analysts make. We discuss scenarios and solutions that are relevant not just to BCBAs and professionals but also to families.
Join us for this new take on the Top 5 questions, where Kelsey and I talk via Facebook Live. We’re answering questions all about stimming and scripting. This episode will help you get clear on what is stimming in autism. Whether you’re noticing stimming in your child and have concerns of autism OR stimming and vocal stimming has become excessive or dangerous, we have some great information to help you move forward.
In this classic rebroadcast, we are talking about a common question, but is it really a concern? I talk all about stimming and the 6 steps to reducing problem causing stimming. If you don’t know what stimming is, where and with whom it occurs, or if you have a child with injurious or disruptive stims, we cover all of that information.
My principles and approach can help any child, not just those with autism. That is the same philosophy guest, Dr. Scott Geller takes with his movement, Actively Caring for People. He shares the 7 principles of this movement and how Applied Behavior Science can make the best difference in anyone's life with positivity and caring.
“Parents are the captain of the ship, but we are the wind beneath their sails.” That was what BCBA and retired special education teacher, Kyle Jones-Sherman had to say about her professional role and empowering parents! Kyle shares her experience after completing my courses and joining our online community and how it completely changed her early intervention work for the better.
Have you wondered how I went from nurse and mother in autism denial to BCBA, two time author, and the creator of transformative courses and community? My friend and Harvard trained writer, Ann Sheybani, interviews me in this special episode where we talk about how I came to write my second book, Turn Autism Around.
Does your young child have a unique interest in letters and numbers? Do they have other signs of autism? Kelsey, the Turn Autism Around community manager joins me for 5 of our most frequently asked questions about hyperlexia. Following up with last week's rebroadcast on this topic, we answer the questions all about hyperlexia and how you can help your child.
Hyperlexia is an intellectual disability in which a child is hyper-fixated and obsessed with letters, words, and reading but has low language functionality. Early signs of Hyperlexia can be linked with early signs of Autism. In this classic rebroadcast of a show I did a couple years ago, I answer questions about identifying the symptoms and signs of Hyperlexia and how to teach children with Hyperlexia and Autism. I share stories of children with Hyperlexia I have worked with first-hand, and more tips and resources on the topic.
In this reverse interview, NSSEO District Coaches from the Coach Me If You Can podcast, Amie and Beth, ask me the questions! During our conversation, they asked me some great questions that I wanted to make sure my listeners got to hear. We talk about my fall into the autism world, the power of a positive teaching environment, ABA and BCBAs in schools, and more.
What if you think it’s behavioral but really the lack of oral motor skills is preventing your child from speaking and eating? Risca Solomon is a BCBA and director of her farm-based center Skybound Therapies. We are talking all about Talk Tools and the transformative and systematic way you can make progress with your child with autism.
Marie L. is a mother to two children with autism. She shares her story and success through applying my books, courses, and our online community. We discuss the legal rights involved with transitioning your child to traditional school as well as the value of teaching self-care and life skills alongside speech. Marie has seen wonderful gains with her children and we are so thankful for her to share her stories and videos.
You have to check out the VB Mapp app and its updated version that’s been released. Co-creator of the app and colleague of mine, Liz Maher joins me on the podcast to discuss the origin of the VB-Mapp app and how much it can help parents, caregivers, and providers. We also share some advice that might help you avoid the top assessing mistakes on any assessment.
Creator of the EESA, the echoics assessment in the VB-Mapp, Dr. Barbara Esch joins me to share her knowledge when it comes to speech therapy for autistic learners. Dr. Esch has the unique certification of SLP, BCBA-D. We discuss common discrepancies in teaching speech to new speakers, like articulation, carrier phrases, and the use of AAC with nonverbal learners.
In early 2020 I recorded this classic episode that became one of our most popular episodes across the show. Enjoy this look back at an important interview with a leader in the field, the creator of the VB-Mapp, and one of my favorite mentors, Dr. Mark Sundberg. Get refreshed on important topics from the VB-Mapp, Intraverbals, and skills such as mands, tacts, and echoic control.
Ms. Rachel is a growing sensation with parents on TikTok and Youtube. Her channel, Songs for Littles, has over 1 billion views. I’m talking about her videos, the proven techniques she uses, and how I’ve used them in my own “Ms. Mary” videos. I cover how these techniques and strategies can impact language for toddlers with autism or showing signs and even tips for creating your own videos.
Receiving a special needs diagnosis for your child is a moment you will never forget. Jillian Benfield Down Syndrome mom and author of The Gift of the Unexpected joins me today for a really great conversation. We talk about Jillian’s journey through grief and parenting, how ableism might affect your vision of a diagnosis, and finding hope despite life’s expectations.
Finding the right placement or program for a child with autism can be a daunting task for your family. Rachel Smith joins me to discuss and answer the top 5 questions from the community about this important topic. We offer tips and advice for parents whether you’re considering in-center or in-home care.
Is it better for your child to have ABA in-home or is it better to have a center? The truth is there are many factors and questions to consider when making this choice for your family. I will go over some of the important things you should look at when choosing therapy and care for your autistic child.
Long-time follower and dedicated listener, Ruth Cassell joins me in this episode. Ruth shares how she discovered my platform and her insights on the podcast as someone who has listened to every single episode. We discuss her son, his diagnosis, and their journey through therapy and at-home support.
Being a parent is a challenge, add in a diagnosis of autism or even other additional diagnoses the challenges seem to never stop growing. Lisa Candera, lawyer, autism mom, and life coach, joined me today to talk about common struggles for autism parents and how she helps support autism moms. You don’t have to be stuck worrying about the future or handling every problem alone, Lisa offers advice and tips for these problems and more.
Ron Sandison is an author, mental health professional, and autistic adult. Today he shares his story and his passion for increasing the rate of gainfully employed autistic individuals. We discuss his upcoming book focusing on jobs for autistic adults while talking about other important topics for autistic adults like marriage and parenthood.
You ask and we answer! Kelsey General joins me for our Top 5 Question series. In this episode we are talking all about potty training, whether they have autism or not, potty training is one of the most critical and essential skills your child will ever learn. We’re covering potty training prep, handling accidents, the important steps in the training process, and more great tips.
Potty training is a critical life skill, but it can be a struggle for every parent especially those with a child with autism. Enjoy this classic rebroadcast from episode 34, originally recorded in 2019, where I cover steps to potty train, as well as possible solutions to common issues and problems that can occur.
Have you heard of Gestalt Language Processing? I’ve been getting questions and SLP-BCBA Sari Risen joins me to help answer them. We discuss how Gestalt relates to Echolalia and Scripting, how these tools apply in teaching language and communication, and evidence and research related to Gestalt.
The 4th annual Top 10 list looking back at the top 10 episodes we recorded this year. Check out episodes featuring parents and professionals with hot seats, success stories, top 5 questions, classic rebroadcasts and more!
Last week featured a classic rebroadcast of episode 4 from 2019, Does my child have ADHD, a speech delay, or autism? Today we continue with our Top 5 Questions on this topic. Kelsey General joins me to discuss diagnosis, getting started at home, and understanding the difference between autism, ADHD, and speech delays.
This is a classic rebroadcast of Episode 4, where I discuss the steps from my free guide: Is it Autism, ADHD, "Just" a Speech Delay, or Typical Toddler Tantrums? I cover what you need to do when you start seeing concerning signs and how to proceed whether you get a diagnosis of autism or not. Next week I’ll be back with my top 5 questions on this important topic.
Katty T and her son Santiago are proof that the Turn Autism Around programs can help any child, with or without an autism diagnosis. Katty shares her journey on catching up with her son's speech delay in her bilingual household using my course, community, and tools!
If you have a young child with autism it can be scary to think about the demands of the future. Denise D is a positive light in the autism community. Her TikTok highlights her adult son Vincent who has severe autism and requires 24/7 care. She shares how she stays positive and navigates the needs of the family.
Kate Swenson and Amanda Deluca return to the Turn Autism Around Podcast to talk about their nonprofit, The More Than Project. This project supports caregivers, siblings, teachers and those that support and provide for special needs children. We discuss how they support initiatives and big events that are so meaningful to caregivers.
Zulekha Williams is a mom from the Autism TikTok community. Today she takes the Hot Seat as we discuss her 4 year old, non-speaking son with autism. In Part 2 of this special episode, we pick back up with the interview discussing self-injurious behavior, meltdowns, tantrums, and some feeding concerns.
Zulekha Williams is a mom from the Autism TikTok community. Today she takes the Hot Seat as we discuss her 4-year-old, non-speaking son with autism. In Part 1 of this special episode, we review key questions from the One Page Assessment and cover topics like potty training, picky eating, table time activities and more.
200 Episodes of the Turn Autism Around podcast! We are celebrating with a special episode in which I am being interviewed by one of our community members, Vikram Panchal! Tune in to hear about my autism journey and the evolution of my career that has not only changed my life but as Vikram said, the lives of families all over the world.
200 Episodes of the Turn Autism Around podcast! We are celebrating with a special episode in which I am being interviewed by one of our community members, Vikram Panchal! Tune in to hear about my autism journey and the evolution of my career that has not only changed my life but as Vikram said, the lives of families all over the world.
I met Dr. Sarah Williams on TikTok, where she has a huge following. She’s a BCBAD with both a master's and a doctorate in applied behavior analysis, and she is also a black woman. We talk about not only social media and her business and supporting families with and without a diagnosis, but also the unique challenges and obstacles of families who are black professionals, and especially BCBAs who might be having some challenges in a mostly white field.
I met Dr. Sarah Williams on TikTok, where she has a huge following. She’s a BCBAD with both a master's and a doctorate in applied behavior analysis, and she is also a black woman. We talk about not only social media and her business and supporting families with and without a diagnosis, but also the unique challenges and obstacles of families who are black professionals, and especially BCBAs who might be having some challenges in a mostly white field.
Introducing my much anticipated software for my new online autism assessment. Learn how you can take this free assessment, whether your child has a diagnosis of autism or not. With this new autism quiz, you can plan interventions for toddlers, young children, or any age with scores based on daily activities, language and learning, and problem behaviors.
I am all about improving the lives of children with autism and autism families. Dr. Ellie Kazemi joins me today to discuss her work, experience, and knowledge with BCBAs, ABA and her focus on improving the world of Behavior Analytics. She shares about national projects with NASA, FEMA, and the accreditation program with the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence.
Following up from last week’s rebroadcast all about desensitization, we are hearing from Michelle C. Michelle talks about her daughter Elena, who is featured in several chapters of Turn Autism Around, and her experience desensitizing bath time, doctors and dentist visits, and other important medical procedures.
In this Classic Rebroadcast Series, we are talking about desensitization. Recorded in 2019, this podcast replay and solo episode has great tips for helping your child prepare and tolerate important tasks for self-care, safety, and medical procedures.
Whether you’re a parent or professional, we never get it right 100% of the time. Sometimes there are going to be tantrums and problem behaviors, especially in the case of limited talking. I’ve put together a list of my 6 most used and trusted strategies for increasing talking and decreasing tantrums. I share both preventive and reactive strategies that will get these behaviors at or near 0 and keep them there.
Are meal times, feeding, and nutrition concerns causing stress in your family? Feeding problems and picky eating are common signs of autism, but many concerns can be addressed. Following up on last week's rebroadcast, Kelsey General joins me with the Top 5 questions from our online community about picky eaters.
Picky eating and autism often go hand and hand and can be a cause of concern and frustration for many families. This episode is a Classic Rebroadcast all about Autism and Feeding, with Dr. Keith Williams of the Hershey Medical Center Feeding Program. We cover Dr. Williams’ parent-centered approach, nutrient deficiencies, and other common problems with picky eating.
Since joining TikTok in June 2022, I have not only been able to create my own videos and reach a new audience, I have been able to find and meet others in the autism field who align with my strategies. Mandy Grass, @TheFamilyBehaviorist, SPED teacher and BCBA joins me to discuss her journey on TikTok and some of her most viewed videos. We cover common problems and strategies for both parents and professionals, including the importance of tone, accepting no, and reducing power struggles.
Since joining TikTok in June 2022, I have not only been able to create my own videos and reach a new audience, I have been able to find and meet others in the autism field who align with my strategies. Mandy Grass, @TheFamilyBehaviorist, SPED teacher and BCBA joins me to discuss her journey on TikTok and some of her most viewed videos. We cover common problems and strategies for both parents and professionals, including the importance of tone, accepting no, and reducing power struggles.
I often talk a lot about data and the importance of data collection in changing and preventing behavior. Data is an important piece of two of my steps in the Turn Autism Around approach. Today I am talking about assessments, 4 easy ABA data collection methods, and some important dos and don'ts when it comes to taking and analyzing data.
Parents and professionals can truly benefit from joining our online course and community. Will Overfelt, a friend and BCBA, shares his positive review and experience of the Verbal Behavior Bundle. This episode is packed with wisdom from certifications in the autism field, CEU information, insight on my online course and community, and some important advice for parents and professionals alike.
If you missed last week's episode, go back and check it out for a refresh on a classic episode about play and social skills. Kelsey General joins today to discuss and answer the top 5 questions about teaching play and social skills from our online community. We cover milestones, sharing, myths about daycare, peer to peer play, why your child isn’t playing with toys, and much more.
In this classic rebroadcast of episode 79, we are revisiting play skills in young children with autism. I share how you might notice delays in play skills, what to look for in play skills development, and ideas for intervention and teaching play skills. This episode is being shared as a refresher before we dive in with some commonly asked questions regarding play and social skills, next week.
Here at Turn Autism Around, we are familiar with denial and other feelings of guilt surrounding autism. Today Shannon Penrod, podcast host, author, and comedian, joins me to share her journey of hope with her son Jem. We discuss her personal stories as well as some important advice surrounding coping with feelings as an autism parent.
We all want to be good parents and good professionals, dealing with problem behaviors can be difficult and have you doubting your skills. You are not alone! Rachel Smith, the Turn Autism Around Program Director, joins me today to discuss her first-hand experience with stopping problem behaviors for her three-year-old son Everett. We discuss real strategies and tips that can help any child with or without Autism.
For the first time ever in a hot seat, we’re hearing from an Autism Dad. Vikram from Melbourne, Australia joins me to discuss his son Nahum’s concerns, his assessments, and his progress since starting my courses and applying the early learner materials. We talk a lot about language skills, as well as meal time concerns, self-care and pottying, and autism denial, something a lot of parents struggle with when working toward a diagnosis.
The War in Ukraine is a serious crisis in today’s world, within that population, there are families with children with autism facing severe struggles due to loss of therapy service and extreme disruption to normalcy and routine for their family. Molly Ola Pinney of the Global Autism Project has been to Poland, spoken with displaced Ukrainian families, and is working to create new opportunities for safety, services, and therapy that these families and children need. Listen for how YOU can help and what the Global Autism Project has planned, make donations at UkraineAutismRelief.com
Manding for information is an important skill for intermediate learners. Today, I am joined by Dr. Sarah Lechago to discuss her research and trials teaching learners to mand for information. We talk about what manding is, the prerequisite manding skills that come before manding for information, how to use autoclitics, how to practice manding in your natural environment, and a lot of other great tips for both parents and professionals.
Last week we circled back to podcast 28 from 2019 with Dr. Michael Murray, talking all about medications and autism. Kelsey is back to feature 5 more big questions on medications for autism that we get in our community. If you’re considering medications for your child, wondering if they will work, and just how to get them to take them, we’ll shed light on these answers and more!
Originally aired in 2019, today’s episode is a rebroadcast of episode 28, and one of my favorite, most referenced podcasts. Dr. Michael Murray, the first medical doctor I had the pleasure of interviewing and whom I actually worked with to successfully find the right medication for my son, Lucas. In this classic episode, he shares great information on autism and medication, and genetic testing that can eliminate the hard work of trial and error that can come with finding the right medication.
If sleep has become a sore subject and a constant struggle for you and your child, you are not alone! Today, Kelsey General and I are answering top FAQs on sleep issues from our online community. We go over important questions to ask when assessing your child’s sleep situation, how to break the cycle of constant night wakings, why up-to-date blood work is important for understanding sleep, and how to build strong sleep routines for your child to last a lifetime.
A Medical SLP specializing in Swallowing Disorders shares her personal story of her son’s autism diagnosis. Theresa Richards is an SLP, Podcaster, Author, and Autism mom of a son with a rare chromosomal abnormality. She shares their unique journey to diagnosis and finding the perfect therapy team. Theresa also shares some valuable knowledge on Medical SLPs and swallowing and how she is contributing to the field.
Table time is an integral part of my Turn Autism Around approach that differs from other providers and approaches. If you’re curious on how to start table time, what it’s all about, or maybe you’re really struggling with it now that you’ve started, you need to listen to these frequently asked questions. Community Manager, Kelsey General, joins me to ask these top questions from our community all about table time.
Last week we re-broadcasted episode 3, where Kelsey General, our community manager, first shared her journey with her two boys and applying my techniques and approach. Now it’s three years later, Kelsey is more involved than ever in our community and is back to share an update on Brentley and Lincoln. If you haven't yet, be sure to listen to last week's episode and then join us for this awesome update on the progress Kelsey and her family have made.
Enjoy this look back at episode 3, where Kelsey General first shared her autism journey with her sons, Brentley and Lincoln. She talks about early signs, the M-Chat, finding therapy, tackling severe safety concerns, and what she did when therapy just wasn’t working. Since discovering our community and courses, Kelsey has become the captain of her ship and seen incredible progress in both her sons, allowing her family to lead a happier and less stressed life.
When grandparents are able to collaborate with their families for the benefit of a child, it is really amazing. In this hot seat, I am talking with Grandma Tina about her 2 and a half year old Grandson Wyatt, diagnosed with Global Delays and Autism Spectrum Disorder before the age of 2. We are going over Wyatt's One-Page Assessment and some of the struggles they are facing despite some great progress already.
The recent changes made to the CDC Developmental Milestones are not a cause for concern as shown recently on social media. This important interview with Dr. Cheryl Tierney explains the research and experts involved in the change, what the change really means, and why this milestone surveillance is so important for identifying delays in young children. Dr. Cheryl Tierney also debunks a viral myth, are COVID restrictions causing widespread developmental delays
A child is only as healthy as their caregiver, this is Jess Ronne’s motivation to support caregivers of special needs families. Jess is an author, documentary producer, podcaster and mother of 8. In this interview, she shares her story and caregiver advocacy journey. Jess has great advice, ideas, and tips on how we can come together to rally around an often unseen community.
Kelsey General, Community Manager, joins me again on the podcast to tackle the top 5 questions on common behavior problems. As a mom of two boys diagnosed with autism, she has great insight and perspective. We provide examples and resources, as we talk about behavior prevention and keeping kids safe among serious behavior concerns.
From the creator of Finding Cooper’s Voice, comes the book Forever Boy. Kate Swenson joins me for the second time on the Turn Autism Around podcast to share her new book, available now. Forever Boy is an autism memoir about Kate’s real experiences navigating parenting and life with her son Cooper, pre-diagnosis and beyond. Kate shares a beautiful excerpt in today’s interview, along with some insight on the inspiration behind the book and the reality of having a large social media following.
Timeouts, punishment, and threats of punishment are an overused and ineffective strategy for changing problem behavior. Today, I am sharing the three big reasons timeouts do not work. I cover the base level problems with punishment, discipline, and why I do not recommend these strategies. You can find out more about this topic in my brand new online mini course, No More Time Out.
"Sign Here", you may have heard your child say with a loose leaf scribbled contract in hand to get something they desire. This is actually a research based tool that you can use to get real change and meet real goals. Today I am interviewing Dr. William Heward and Dr. Jill Dardig, authors of the book, Let's Make a Contract, a family friendly book about changing your child's behavior in a positive way. We get into what a behavior contract is, who it's for, and how you can make it work.
Do you have a toddler who was recently diagnosed with ASD? Elissa M is in the hot seat to share her beginnings of early intervention with her 2 and a half-year-old Lexi. After reading my book, Turn Autism Around, and working on my online Toddler Course, Elissa is ready to review Lexi’s assessments and discuss how her therapy is going and what Lexi’s future therapy may look like for Early Intervention ABA. Not only do we discuss all of the assessments included in my free book resources, we go over tips and new activities to get Lexi talking!
Are there signs that can lead to an early diagnosis of autism? In chapter two of my book, Turn Autism Around, I discuss possible warning signs for autism. I am going over these 10 signs in today's episode. These signs include lack of pointing, speech delays, and many more. Having these signs does not automatically mean autism but even without a diagnosis they can be worked on to help your child with my proven four-step approach, Turn Autism Around.
Research and new research conducted by practitioners working within the field is critical to the development of practice and the betterment of our children. In this interview with Dr. Amber Valentino of Trumpet Behavior Health, we are discussing applied research, the importance of conducting studies, the barriers for practitioners, and getting published. We discuss some of my own peer-reviewed journal articles and other studies I've completed. The goal of the research is to share knowledge, procedures that work, and make the world a better place.
Can language skills truly improve and excel through ABA and my online courses? Michele C of episode 78 returns for a progress update on her daughter Elena. We discuss the improvement that can occur through the effective implementation of my online course, how ABA therapy works with strong parent advocacy, and if it's possible to reverse an autism diagnosis? Michele is the captain of the ship when it comes to her daughters, their learning, and their health and we are excited to share this amazing progress story.
Mandy Mason is a powerhouse mom of two daughters, BCBA, and CEO and Founder of FIT Learning in Australia. In this interview, she shares her journey with her youngest daughter's diagnosis and how that has morphed her career and life. We discuss Australia and how it relates to autism rates, finding a diagnosis, and ABA. This episode has great advice for parents and professionals and unique insight on autism across the globe.
Can an individual have both Down Syndrome and Autism? In this interview with Angela Lee, we discuss how these diagnoses often go hand in hand, the therapies for both, and Angela’s unique approach to encouraging more employment opportunities for this community. This is a great episode from a Mother, BCBA, and advocate in the special needs community.
Safety is a big concern for the Turn Autism Around podcast. Captain Jerry Turning of Blue Bridge Training shares valuable information on the community of autism parents and first responders. Jerry is an autism dad and former police officer, he understands parents' concerns because he is a parent. We discuss a variety of safety issues for children with autism and how parents can approach and trust law enforcement with their child’s safety regardless of age.
Children with autism often present feeding and drinking issues, coupled with weaning off pacifiers and bottles, this can create stress for families surrounding mealtime. In today’s episode, Melanie Potock, SLP and feeding expert, shares some great resources and knowledge surrounding tackling picky eating and weaning. It is her goal to bring joy back to eating and mealtime while promoting positive oral development and motor skills, this is a great listen.
My book The Verbal Behavior Approach is now published in 15 languages. Out for over a decade, this book is reaching all over the world to spread successful strategies for teaching kids with autism. In today’s episode, listen to me share live via zoom with Lithuanian readers all about my background and start with the Verbal Behavior Approach.
For the autism community, potty issues are both common and extremely frustrating. In this interview with pediatric urologist and constipation expert, Dr. Steve Hodges shares how most potty issues are caused or related to missed constipation. We talk about this severe medical issue and the treatments necessary to relieve your child and prevent accidents.
Research in the autism community is crucial to identifying the cause and treatment, especially with so many genetic questions. Dr. Pamela Feliciano is the senior scientist at SFARI and the scientific director at SPARK. These organizations are some of the largest in autism research. Dr. Pamela and I discuss the importance and impact of the studies and how they can support autism families.
It’s hard to believe but 2021 is coming to a close. As I wrap up year three of the Turn Autism Around podcast, I am sharing my top 10 episodes. Each year I like to go over my interviews and solo episodes and pick 10 that really highlight the year. It’s difficult to choose just 10 but tune in for my last episode of the year for what I think made the biggest impact on my goals for this autism podcast.
My online course and community has made an impact on so many, both parents and professionals. Teresa Lyons, has been a member and participant since my very first cohort for the Verbal Behavior Approach. Teresa shares about how the course and community has impacted her both personally and through her work at her FIT Learning Center in Virginia. We discuss the benefits of an online course and a little bit about how to market it.
As the parent of two teenagers with autism, Laurie felt called to share her story. Laurie Hellmann is the host of Living the Sky Life, a podcast with incredible stories and information. She is also the author of Welcome to My Life: A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism. We discuss the resilience required to make it through the challenges of autism and the passion it can bring to some parents to make connections and impact this community across the world.
What does it mean to have severe autism? And what does that mean for future support if the autism rates are truly increasing? Research advocate, Jill Escher, joins me in this episode to answer these questions and more. This is an educational and eye-opening conversation. We discuss her journey as a mother to children with nonverbal autism, her impact on research surrounding the causes of autism, severe autism, and the staggering increase of autism rates.
Are you wondering how to be the best advocate for your child with autism? When entering an IEP meeting even the most educated parents can feel lost, confused, and defeated. Amanda DeLuca and Kirby Morgan created a program called Mastering Your IEP to help. They are both autism moms and IEP consultants and coaches full of all the knowledge you need to ensure your child’s IEP includes all of the services and accommodations they need to be successful.
As both a BCBA and an individual with autism, Armando Bernal is also the host of the podcast, A Different Path. Today we have a truly fascinating and enlightening conversation about Armando’s experiences with being diagnosed in the 90s, all the ways autism impacts his life as an independent adult, and how exactly he approaches ABA therapy as a person with autism himself. Armando is such a joy to talk to and really breaks down some hot topics in the autism and ABA community.
It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are; getting a diagnosis of autism can be tough on the whole family, not to mention the struggle of finding the right help. Melissa Leahy joins me today to talk about her unique challenges as a military family who was stationed overseas when they received a diagnosis for their then 2.5-year-old Mattis. She has excellent insight on tricare coverage and services available on military bases. Melissa also shares her incredible success with my online courses and how she found an in-home BCBA that fit right in!
Over the last month, I participated in a challenge titled: The 25 Days of Autism. This was inspired by Kate for Finding Cooper’s Voice and Autism Adventures with Alyssa. I had such a great time going through pictures and talking about what was going on in our lives or Lucas’s diagnosis or progress. Head on over to my website or Facebook so you can see all the pictures I am talking about in this episode.
Are you wondering how you can shift your parenting strategies to a more positive approach? Victoria Boone’s book Positive Parenting for Autism discusses psychology and ABA-based strategies for building desired behaviors and eliminating problem behaviors. In this episode, we are discussing extinction versus punishment, the benefit of differential reinforcement, and the controversy of ABA.
Navigating Autism: 9 Mindsets for Helping Kids on the Spectrum, is Dr. Temple Grandin and Dr. Debra Moore’s newest book. We are discussing these mindsets and some autism hot topics such as medication for autism and the controversy of ABA. The interesting information they share from their book, are empowering tools that can helpfully develop the full potential in any child.
No therapy is better than bad therapy. Today, BCBA Tameika Meadows, author, and creator of the blog I Love ABA joins me to share her important factors in finding a good ABA provider. We break down the differences between good ABA and bad ABA, highlight some big red flags, and dig into parent resources.
Positive reinforcement is the key to changing behavior in humans and animals alike. Amy Sutherland, author of What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage, shares how she uses the training skills she learned with animals to improve behavior in her personal life in many ways. This interview is full of interesting information on how we use reinforcement to encourage behavior every day, whether we are working with a child with autism or a cougar.
COVID isolation kept us inside our house, but did it make our world quieter? If you’re seeing a speech delay in your toddler, they may have been affected by the lack of exposure due to the lockdown. Rachel Smith, Program Director of Turn Autism Around and mom to Two-year-old Everett, is sharing how she blames covid for her son’s speech delays and how she turned it around. We also give tips on picking the right daycare, reversing activity aversions, and how you can be the best therapist for your child!
FIT Learning Center is a worldwide program founded by Dr. Kimberly Berens. The focus of her center is rooted in using behavior science for direct instruction and precision teaching for rapid growth in students with learning challenges, disabilities, and delays. We are discussing how she emulates importance in order of teaching, utilizes virtual teaching, and teaches students on varying levels to improve past their best in a regular school setting.
Autism affects a diverse array of children and families, whether it be cultural, religious, racial, or language differences. Does diversity in the autism field reflect and accept these individual preferences? Dr. Fumi Horner, Japanese native and doctoral level BCBA, shares her perspective on diversity and its place in the world of autism.
Hyperlexia is an intellectual disability in which a child is hyper-fixated and obsessed with letters, words, and reading but has low language functionality. Early signs of Hyperlexia can be linked with early signs of Autism. Today I answer questions about identifying the symptoms and signs of Hyperlexia and how to teach children with Hyperlexia and Autism. I share stories of children with Hyperlexia I have worked with first-hand, and more tips and resources on the topic.
One of the goals of the Turn Autism Around podcast is to help parents and professionals lead less stressed lives. One way to reduce stress may be to bring in additional income or see the value in online courses. I am interviewing Jeff Walker, my business mentor and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Launch. We discuss how to disseminate information globally, how to find your place in the digital world, how to grow a business, or how to move your current coaching program to the online space.
Just like ABA, positive reinforcement is a science. Dr. Henry (Hank) Schlinger is talking about his book, How to Build Good Behavior and Self-Esteem in Children. The information in today’s podcast is critical for parents and professionals. Dr. Schlinger goes over the five problems any parent faces and the five myths regarding positive reinforcement. This episode is full of great parenting advice, if what you're doing is not working, whether you have a child with autism or not.
Lauren is a married mom of two girls, who found my book and courses and is ready to begin to Turn Autism Around for her oldest daughter, Avery. She is taking the “hot seat” as we discuss their fall into the Autism world, the concerns Lauren has had for Avery since birth, and how to implement the steps of the Turn Autism Approach at home and with ABA therapists.
Often the focus of my podcast and books surrounds the topic of younger children, but our children grow up and it's important to know what options are out there for them. My colleague and friend, Brenda Eaton join us today to discuss how she helps students achieve their post-high school goals. There are many choices for individuals with Autism to continue their education and grow their independence. Brenda shares the programs available and what a College Coach can do to help.
Organization Behavior Management is the science of human behavior, what you know of reinforcement, punishment, and motivating operations applied with staff. Shannon Biagi, BCBA and OBM practitioner, joins us on the podcast today to discuss the gap in HR where ABA businesses are having retention and burnout. OBM focuses on turning the environment around to be productive for both the clients and staff.
I often get asked about the kids I've worked with, that I mention in my book or courses, and how they are doing now. Jocabed is here with me today to give us an update on her son Chino. He is now age 11, we talk about his progress to this point, raising children in a bilingual household, navigating religion for a child with Autism, and safety concerns Jocabed had for Chino early on. Jocabed gives us a relatable perspective on how the circumstances of raising a child with Autism is always changing, they do get better.
We’re back with another Hot Seat. Today I am talking with Swethana, a mom of two girls whose youngest, now age 5, has been diagnosed with Autism. I am looking at some of Swethana’s daughter Richa’s assessment, and we are discussing what these mean and how to enact the 4-step Turn Autism Around approach.
Parents taking charge is really important. You are your child’s lifelong advocate, and you can be their best teachers. I talk a lot about this in my book, and today I am sharing some parent success stories and more information on how you as a parent or as a professional helping parents, can begin to captain the ship.
ABA is a science we all use every day. I will be debunking the 4 myths of ABA and sharing with you the truth and history behind the practice. I also provide information and resources from the book to lead you to quality ABA with the Turn Autism Around approach.
A mom from our community, Kelsey General, joins me in this episode along with Amy Evans, Precision Teaching Practitioner. Amy works with Kelsey’s two boys now 5 and 7, who were diagnosed with autism at 25 months old. We hear the success story and importance of the work they do with precision teaching and fluency instruction.
Today I talk with pediatric physical therapist Dawn Meller. Dawn tells us what she may look for as a PT when working with children with Autism or are showing signs of Autism. We go over motor skills milestones, and habits that may cause concerns, the reasons behind them, and when to see a PT for intervention.
Today I am here solo, talking to you about the importance of building imitation skills as highlighted in my book, Turn Autism Around. We talk about crucial imitation milestones as well as the steps to start building these skills. You will learn the 4 steps in working with imitation skills in toddlers with Autism or showing signs of Autism. I provide you with ideas and resources to work on these pivotal skills with toddlers based on my years of experience and research.
Covid-19 made all aspects of life difficult, and it was no different with diagnosing autism. Dr. Catherine Lord was able to develop an evaluation with her team, the BOSA, that was able to help identify some behaviors that could be pointing toward autism. This evaluation was able to ensure that man-children could stay on the right track to get a diagnosis as well as treatment.
Building trust and rapport with a patient is important, especially if they are new to you. That’s where Compassionate Care comes in. Today I talk with Celia Heyman, a Board-Certified Behavioral Analyst about Compassionate Care, who should learn it, and how to implement it.
PANS and PANDAS are neuropsychiatric disorders caused by infections that can rapidly affect children. Today Beth Maloney, author of Saving Sammy, shares the causes, symptoms, and treatments of PANS and PANDAS, as well as her son’s own experience.
Elizabeth’s young son had just started with an early intervention specialist when the pandemic closed their therapy sessions down, but she knew how vital the therapy was for getting his development back on track. That’s when she went looking for something online that could help him. You’re going to hear how effective my strategies are, even for very young children, how Elizabeth has used my strategies for her older child, and that magical moment when things started to click for Elizabeth’s young son
Amy M.’s son Lucas is navigating young adulthood by working, living independently, and even attending college. 21 years after his initial autism diagnosis, he’s living a life that Amy wasn’t sure would even be possible. Hear how Amy’s built a support system for Lucas using ABA therapy, friends, family, teachers, and professionals.
One of the biggest myths about selective mutism is that it’s just shyness and a child will outgrow it on their own. Chelsea Gamache was diagnosed with Selective Mutism (SM) and Sensory Processing Disorder at 5-years-old, and she has a wealth of information today on how parents and therapists can help children who have this anxiety disorder. We discuss many of the comorbidities of SM, including how it often intersects with autism.
Everyone’s autism journey has a beginning point. And sometimes, it has many new beginnings as you learn new strategies that can help your child communicate their wants and needs. Join Emily R as she starts a new beginning with the Turn Autism Around approach for her six-year-old son Kash.
How did you teach your child to wear a mask to protect themselves from Covid-19? Children, at all different stages in their lives, need to be able to communicate about how their bodies feel when they’re sick, and they need to be able to take medicine or vitamins. Inside this episode, I share some strategies and resources for helping you figure out medical issues for children with autism.
For the fourth step of the Turn Autism Around approach, I’m going to share some easy ways to collect data so that you can begin to identify patterns and trends in a child’s behavior. This vital step should not be skipped since it will help you adjust therapy or even just the child’s environment to improve behavior, health, and speech.
In rapid succession, Jennifer N.’s four children, ages 13, 8, and 3-year-old twins, were all diagnosed with autism. To compound her situation, she was living in Holland, where at the time there was only one BCBA in the entire country. Hear how she navigated this rough beginning to become a BCBA herself, and how she successfully launched all four of her children into adulthood.
All three women on my panel today began as speech-language pathologists before becoming board-certified BCBAs. Armed with this unique combination, they are passionate about bridging the two complementary specialties in a way that empowers parents and benefits children. Listen to their thoughts on how SLPs and BCBAs can better collaborate to improve the lives of children with autism.
Dr. Temple Grandin joins me to talk about her greatest concerns for the autistic community and the benefits of early intervention for children. She looks back on her life to recount the people who were instrumental in helping her turn autism into an asset that’s served her well in her career in the livestock industry.
My husband, Dr. Charles Barbera, remembers how Lucas was diagnosed a little differently than I do, but we have a delightful conversation talking about some of the challenges of navigating an autism diagnosis for our oldest child. As a physician and an autism dad, I appreciate Charles’s perspective on our journey together.
Studies have shown that kids with autism need 20-40 hours of ABA therapy a week. I get it. That sounds daunting to parents. I’m going to show you strategies to create a positive environment so that it’s easier to teach, engage, and connect to your child in your own home.
With only 700 developmental pediatricians in the country, I was glad to connect with Dr. Cheryl Tierney to get her unique insights on how to navigate an autism diagnosis. Cheryl is passionate about teaching parents how to help their children with autism sleep by themselves, and you’ll love her ABA approach to solving common problems people face every day.
Is it possible that your child’s delays are simply part of the “COVID Kid” phenomenon? Casey C wasn’t interested in having her concerns brushed off by her provider, so when they told her that her son’s regression was normal, she started looking for answers herself.
How will you know if your child is making meaningful progress in their therapy program? In this podcast, learn how to make realistic goals that are tailored to meet your child at their level, and that are designed to help them steadily improve.
When parents and professionals collaborate to create a therapy plan, they’re able to powerfully amplify the work that they do alone. Ria and Kristen have worked together to help Ria’s son adjust and thrive with ABA therapy, and in the last year have seen rapid improvements in his language and behavior.
At twenty-three months old, Eileen’s son wasn’t even talking. Concerned about his development, she took him to a pediatric specialist who shrugged off her concerns about OT and speech therapy. Like many parents, Eileen’s insistence on better therapy services immediately has yielded a marked improvement in her son’s speech.
For parents who need advice on how to take the next step in their journey with autism, I offer some insights on how to move forward. It can be tempting to see a child’s progress and then try to move on quickly to the next level, but I want you to avoid mistakes that will hinder your child’s long-term development.
An assessment provides a clear outline of where a child with autism is at, what skills they’re going to work on, and how effective the therapy is for the child. I share my one-page assessment today from my newest book so that you can see how effective assessments can be.
I’m on a mission to change the way autism is detected and treated for millions of people around the world. I wrote Turn Autism Around: An Action Guide for Parents of Young Children with Early Signs of Autism to help empower parents who are waiting for a diagnosis or therapy so that they could stop waiting and start helping their children today.
When Shelley Brander’s son was diagnosed with autism over twenty years ago, it was like the Wild West in the autism world. With no online autism parenting groups, and with no clear standards on ABA therapy, Shelley set about helping her son regain his speech and learn to integrate into the school.
If you’re ready to close the door on 2020 and recalibrate your mindset, then let’s talk about the steps you need to take to release your old belief system and embrace an abundance mindset. Julie Cairns has helped tens of thousands of people all over the world to walk away from self-limiting beliefs and embrace a new outlook on life.
I tackled a lot of issues in this year’s 52 Turn Autism Around podcast episodes, and I interviewed some amazing success stories from the autism community. My top ten list includes my own personal favorites, as well as my listeners’ favorites as well. I am excited for 2021 and the opportunities we’ll have to grow this community even more.
If you don’t know where the disconnects lie in your marriage, the stressors in your life will show you very quickly. Donna Tosky teaches couples how to repair, renew, and sustain marriages and partnerships in families where at least one child has autism.
Turning screen time into constructive screen time that becomes a valuable tool in a child with autism’s speech therapy is one of the goals of Speech Blubs. I talked with founder Mitja Mavsar about the positive role his speech development app has for children who have a variety of speech issues.
There’s a difference between looking at a child’s behavior as a professional behavior analyst and looking at it as a parent of a neuro-diverse child. Holly Blanc Moses has a clear look into both perspectives as she’s both a parent and a professional BCBA. In this episode, Holly shares what it’s like to be both a parent and a professional, how she diagnoses a child who might have ADHD or autism or both and how she copes with the challenge of being a mom of kids with both ADHD and autism.
For this special 100th episode, I am talking with a panel of parents and professionals about how they’ve used and adapted my courses to teach children with autism self-care skills like eating, potty training, getting dressed, chores, and schoolwork. When parents and professionals work together, they can help a child reach their fullest potential using techniques that build on each other.
For Black families, stigma and bias play an outsized role in the diagnosis and treatment of autism, and Maria Davis-Pierre wants to change that by opening up the conversation in Black communities and with health professionals.
There are three common mistakes parents and professionals make when teaching a child with autism manners. It can feel natural to prompt a child with “Say ‘Thank you!’”, but for a child with autism, the timing of when manners are taught matters just as much as the language ability of the child and the prompts that are used to elicit language.
Everyone feels useful and productive through a job, but for the autism community, where nearly 80% of them are unemployed, it can be hard to break through that barrier and enjoy that feeling. Ann Marie Sullivan’s company Spectrum Works seeks to be that bridge between unemployment and productive employment for the autism community.
Deciding on whether an in-home ABA program or a school-based ABA program is the best course of action can be a difficult decision for any family to navigate, especially since the decision can impact the entire family. I’m going to explain some of the considerations you’ll need to take into account as you make this decision for your child with autism.
As the reigning Miss Tampa and the runner-up to Miss Florida, Rachel Barcellona has created a platform for herself to positively share about her own journey with autism. But as a child, Rachel
often felt like an alien from outer space who was sent to visit an Earth middle school. She shares her beautiful story about how she’s used beauty pageants to become a confident ambassador for her community.
How long should you go hiding spinach in brownies just to get a picky eater to eat some kind of vegetable? How much milk or juice should a child consume in a day? At some point, baked goods cannot be the only way your child eats a fruit or vegetable and a quart of juice a day isn’t optimal for many reasons, but making that transition into healthy eating for children with autism is a careful process.
When a child with autism begins to speak for the first time, it can be tempting for parents or professionals to rush ahead and teach them adjectives, verbs, and phrases as fast as they can. Building the speech foundation for a child with autism must be done carefully over time, so today I want to lay out some common mistakes you should avoid because they actually disrupt speech patterns.
One in 54 children is on the autism spectrum today, and nearly one in six has some kind of developmental delay. Ami Klin wants policymakers to stop treating autism as a genetic disease and instead recognize it as a public health crisis. I want to introduce you to some of Ami Klin’s groundbreaking research about how children on the autism spectrum can be identified and treated from a very young age.
Under stressful circumstances, or even under regular circumstances, wanting to escape real life by diving into too much social media, movies, or even substance abuse can cause harm to relationships, jobs, and self-development. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy was created from behavior analyses by behavior analysts as a way to help you reground yourself in your daily life.
It is undeniable that COVID-19 has had an impact on public education, but how exactly does that impact IEPs and school resources for children with autism? Gary Mayerson talks about the CARES Act and other recent policies and their ripple effect on the free access to public education guaranteed to every American child.
When a child can’t speak or speaks poorly, how do you know when it’s apraxia? Speech pathologists and BCBA Tamara Kasper has been working with children with autism for over thirty years, and the intersection of her two specialties gives her a unique insight into how speech therapists and behavior analysts can work together to help children with autism learn to speak.
Teaching non-vocal children to speak in one language is already a challenge, but what happens in countries like India where dozens and dozens of languages are spoken all over? Dr. Smita Awasthi has taken on this challenge with her work in India, and for over 36 years, she’s taught and trained parents and professionals to work with the autism community in India. She shares today how she’s addressed the challenges of bi- and tri-lingualism on the Indian subcontinent.
How do you break free from autism stereotypes? For Dr. Kerry Magro, a TV consultant, public speaker, and best-selling author, you leave behind stereotypes every time you show a realistic portrayal of the many different kinds of people with autism. Representation in media matters to him, and that’s why he works so hard with other self-advocates to share an accurate and varied picture of autism in television and film.
With so many different names for service dogs, it can be hard to decide which one, if any, might be right for your family. Caitlin Bird teaches parents how to train their own service dogs, and she explains to me when a family might decide to invest the time and energy into inviting these animals into their homes.
How do you know when it’s time to explore an out of home placement for a young adult with autism? Lisa C, a fellow autism mom of three, had to make this difficult decision for her 19-year-old son Ethan recently, and she shares her story with me today. Just making the initial decision was hard, but navigating insurance concerns and potential homes hours away made the decision even more daunting. Lisa’s story is one of hope, and I think you’ll appreciate her thoughtful perspective.
How does autism affect other children in a family? If that’s a concern for you as you navigate on this journey, I want to help you by giving you an inside look into my own family. Using the Autism Society of America’s “Source of Stress for Siblings” list, I talk to my son Spencer about how growing up with a brother with autism has shaped his life in a positive way.
Before talking with Ryan in this episode, I had no idea the scope of the Eagles Autism Foundation. Founded just three short years ago in 2017, today the foundation has woven a commitment to the autism community throughout everything they do. From the end zone to employment to community grants, I hope you’ll be as impressed as I was about the possibilities that are available.
COVID-19 has caused all of us to pause and rethink how we do things. For the mental health community, it’s resulted in professionals suddenly becoming more accessible through telehealth. Dr. Ally Patterson talks about how she adapted her practice so that she could stay open during the pandemic, and she shares some tips for how to make telehealth a positive experience for professionals, parents, and patients.
Putting your child in a floatie isn’t always the best way to keep them safe in the water. Being truly water safe means that a child should be able to demonstrate the 8 basic water safety skills. Tenaya Goldsmith, a swimming instructor for over 12 years, shares how you can teach your child, no matter their age or ability, how to be safe in the water.
Knowing when a child with autism is ready to learn how to ask and answer questions is an important step in their language and learning development. That’s why I recommend Dr. Mark Sundberg’s VB-MAPP assessment to help you quickly discover what a child knows and how you can build on that knowledge. In this tutorial, I’ll teach you how I give an assessment, and I’ll share some pointers that I’ve discovered over the years.
Everything in the body works together, like an orchestra, and you need all of these pieces in place. Denise Voight practices Functional Medicine with an emphasis in Human Nutrition, and she brings this whole-body approach to seeing patients with autism and ADHD. By addressing a patient’s nutritional or vitamin deficiencies, Denise is able to help children improve their behavior and diet.
Rather than simply hoping a child with autism picks up social and play skills, I believe that it’s imperative for parents, caregivers, and therapists to purposefully teach these skills. But before a child can run, they have to learn how to crawl. I share the developmentally appropriate language skills, and some strategies to teach them, that can help children with autism develop a language foundation on which to build social and play skills.
In February 2020, Michelle’s daughter was given an autism diagnosis, but while she was lining all of the specialists up, the COVID shutdown occurred. Suddenly without the support, she was counting on to help her, Michelle purchased my online course. In just six weeks, Michelle’s daughter went from only two words to around 500 words. Even I was amazed by the huge progress Elaina had, and I knew I just had to hear her story.
Inserting music into physical therapy can utilize both sides of the brain, and increase the efficacy of physical therapy. For children on the autism spectrum who are engaged in musical therapy, it can improve their motor movements, their language skills, and not only their learning but also their maintenance. Dr. Marlene Sotelo discusses the evidence-based research surrounding music therapy for children on the autism spectrum.
As a dual-language household, Magüi Moreno and her husband intended to teach their son Adrian both Spanish and English. Early concerns about his language abilities were brushed off as a result of trying to teach two languages at once, but an autism diagnosis at the age of 4 led their family on a different path. Language learning is not innate learning, so Magüi had to learn how to teach a language from the bottom up.
In high school, Emaley McCulloch found her passion, and while it was the children with autism that drew her to the field, it was the science that got her hooked. After recognizing how hard it was to travel from place to place training ABA therapists, Emaley started Autism Training Solutions, an online education company that trains professionals and parents in evidence-based autism interventions, no matter where they’re at in the world.
I met Amanda V. about eight years ago when her son was newly diagnosed with autism. Imagine my delight when she contacted me to share that her son was starting middle school in a mainstream classroom, and was on the football team. Early intervention in the birth-to-three program, and the ABA techniques I taught her gave her the support she needed to reach him.
There are many professions in the autism community, and one very helpful person to have on your team is an OT. Dore Blanchet is one of my favorite OTs that I’ve worked with, and today we’re going to cover fine motor skills; the role of an OT; and how Dore continues to work with her clients in the midst of COVID-19.
My ultimate goal is for our children to live their happiest, most independent lives; that’s why language comprehension is so essential. Today I’m going to focus on how to build receptive language abilities; how to assess comprehension; when and how to use visuals, and more!
Medication in the autism community can be a touchy subject. As a professional in the autism community, I feel it’s part of my responsibility to shine a light on autism conditions and medications and give you factual information. That’s why I’m interviewing Dr. Missy Olive, a doctoral-level BCBA and a licensed behavior analyst with experience in the medical autism field.
Today’s guest is a highly requested one, and I finally have the pleasure of interviewing her: please welcome Kate Swenson! Kate is most recognized for her Facebook pages Finding Cooper’s Voice and Coop’s Troops. Kate shares the ups and downs that come with being a mom to three boys, including one with severe nonverbal autism.
It’s safe to say that right now, we are in the middle of a global pandemic; but with so much sheltering going on, this is the perfect time to start working with your children about self-care skills! Today I’m going to cover several skills such as potty-training and hand-washing, and where to begin with introducing these new skills.
I have been good friends with Suzie and Kelly Carpenter for almost two decades, and I’m so excited to introduce you to them! Suzie is an author and coach, and Kelly is an aspiring photographer who was diagnosed with ‘high-functioning’ autism when she was four years old. This mother-daughter duo has had to overcome a lot of challenges, but they have a ton of fantastic stories to share as well as provide a unique perspective.
The Global Autism Project is a nonprofit organization that helps people in 15 countries provide better treatment for children with autism. My interviewee this episode is Molly Ola Pinney, the founder, and EO of the Global Autism Project, and today we discuss why the Global Autism Project was founded; how they help treat autism in other countries; and how the recent Coronavirus has affected their mission.
I’m kicking off autism awareness month with a quick course in autism history; specifically, the mothers to children with autism who went on to become professionals in the field. The autism world has made great strides since the 1940s, and we owe so much of it to the mothers who fought for their children.
It’s my pleasure to introduce you to the ABA Inside Track team: Dr. Jackie MacDonald, Dr. Robert Parry- Cruwys, and Dr. Diana Parry-Cruwys. We cover a lot of topics today, including positive parenting and avoiding coercion. We also discuss the rule of five-to-eight positive comments to every negative comment; a rule that should be applied to anyone’s everyday life.
In part two of my three-part ethics series, I interview Dr. Bridget Taylor. Dr. Taylor is a board-certified behavior analyst, a licensed psychologist, she is also the president of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. In our interview, she shares her opinion on the ethics code and why it isn’t so black-and-white, as well as the challenges that young behavior analysts might face – and how to avoid them.
When you’re first introduced to the autism field, whether you’re a fresh-faced professional or a confused parent, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed. There are so many different autism models to focus on – how are you supposed to know what to choose? My interviewee, Tracy Vail, is an expert on many different methodologies and will be able to lead you through the autism treatment maze.
I’m fortunate enough to have Dr. Amanda Kelly (AKA: Behavior Babe) back on my podcast! As a BCBA and autism ethics expert, she still has much to share with you and readily addresses tough questions, such as: should a BCBA accept gifts from parents?
Teaching real-world skills to children with autism can be very difficult for parents, teachers and even trained behavioral analysts. I, for one, had to teach my son, Lucas, the same and different in 16 different trials. Dr. Janet Twyman is an expert in instructional strategies and shares how reinforcement shaping, critical discrimination, observing and testing helps with effectively teaching academics and real-world skills to kids with autism.
The interview I have for you today is unlike any of my previous interviews: my guest is Eileen. Not only does her son have severe autism and is nonverbal, but she herself has been diagnosed with high-functioning autism. Eileen openly shares her story with me and does not shy away from the truth.
Jim Christy is an award-winning playwright and filmmaker. He is also a husband and the father to a son with autism. Jim bravely shares his fall into the autism world; the diagnosis that changed his life; and the strain that it put on his marriage and his family.
I’ve been sitting on this announcement for a while, but now I can finally share it with you: I’m writing my second book! What’s the premise? When’s the release date? I’m giving you all of the details today!
Ethics sets a parameter of behavior that protects both a patient and a therapist, and Dr. Megan Miller talks with me about the ethical guidelines that she follows in this podcast. In addition, we talk about the alternatives to escape extinction, when you might need to use it and some of its limitations.
Echoic control is when you say a word or phrase, and your child repeats it back to you like an echo. This is the fastest way for your child to build their vocabulary, and thus convey their needs to you. This is also where I see parents and professionals get stuck the most, so today I’m going to share my five tips for building echoic control with you!
Dr. Ilene Schwartz is not only a professor of special education and a BCBA, but she is also an ethics expert. In the field of ABA, it can be difficult to weed through the differing opinions and build your own solid beliefs. That’s why I asked Dr. Schwartz all sorts of questions so that you can take from her knowledge and form your own code of ethics.
I’ve been asked a lot of questions about how to help conversational or almost conversational kids with ABA verbal behavior. In this episode, I discuss the 5 mistakes we make in helping high functioning kids with their language comprehension, the types of assessment you should look into and the ABA strategies you can apply to help your kids reach their full potential.
This is an interview that I’ve been excited about for a long time. I’ve mentioned Dr. Mark Sundberg many times on this podcast, crediting him as the creator of the VB-MAPP as well as a favorite mentor of mine. Now I’m lucky enough to sit down with Dr. Sundberg and be privy to his knowledge, and share it with you! By the time you’re done listening, I promise you’ll have learned something new.
With 2019 coming to a close, I want to sit down and review my top ten favorite episodes from over the last year. These episodes include the most viewed episode, as well as my personal favorites. Did your favorite episode make the cut? Find out now!
When your goal is to help your child live their happiest, most independent life, you can get stuck going over a few obstacles. What should be the first step you take to improving their quality of life? How should you handle autism regression? Today I’m covering five obstacles that I see parents and professionals get stuck on the most – and how you can conquer them!
Julie Hornok is an award-winning author, a nonprofit founder, and an autism parent. And on top of that, she is one of the most encouraging individuals I’ve interviewed on this podcast thus far. Julie is on a mission to inspire other mothers like her, who are battle-scarred and weary, and need to be reminded that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
No matter how long you’ve worked in the autism field, you never know everything. I can vouch for this, and so can today’s interviewee, Kristen Colyer. Kristen is the director of Maryland’s Pieces of Wonder center; she is a BCBA; and she is currently going to school to obtain her PhD. Now, she is going to share her knowledge with you, along with what she believes is the biggest problem that BCBAs are faced with.
If your child has autism, chances are they’re also a very picky eater; there might only be a few foods that they will even consider eating. Furthermore, I know that eating problems are usually connected to problem behaviors. It’s time to turn your child’s eating habits around, and I’m here to tell you how, with my seven tips for picky eaters.
As a parent coach and a father to a son with autism, Len Arcuri is a wealth of knowledge. He shares his abrupt fall into the autism world; how switching to a gluten casein free diet has literally saved his son’s life; why having a growth mindset is so important; and how you and your spouse can become a team and fight autism together.
In the previous episode, I explained what automatic negative reinforcement is, and why it is important. Now it’s time for Dr. Timothy Vollmer’s interview, which ties into that episode. Dr. Vollmer shares his thoughts on automatic negative reinforcement, how to approach it, and gives insight as to what might trigger it.
The four functions of behavior are what every behavior analyst looks for on a daily bases; however, I consider the last function to be the “forgotten function”. Today I’m going to explain all four functions, including the forgotten function, and how they are used to lower extreme problem behaviors.
Although I have talked about stimming and scripting in previous episodes, today I go in-depth on what that really means. Every person has self-stimmed or scripted at one point, but for children with autism, it can become harmful. That’s why I’m here to tell you how to combat it!
Following the previous episode, today I am very excited to interview autism attorney, Gary Mayerson. Gary founded the first law firm in the nation focused on the representation of individuals with autism. After nearly 20 years he has served on some of the most important autism-based cases, and is also the board chairman to the nonprofit organization, Job Paths.
I’ve worked in the autism field for over two decades; that means I’ve been involved in my fair share of legal disputes. I’ve walked away from each situation with new experiences, and from that experience, I've put together five lessons that are sure to help you the next time you find yourself fighting for your child.
Dr. Joanne Gerenser is an SLP who has worked in her field for 38 years. She has watched the autism community grow and change, and with the divide between SLPs and BCBAs worse than ever before, she’s advocating for collaboration. Join us as we discusses where the divide begins, and what we can do to bring it together.
As an autism mother, Megan’s fall into the autism world is relatable and you can find pieces of yourself in her story. Her son was diagnosed with autism when he was three years-old, and she has learned to be his advocate. But as someone who had no idea what autism or ABA was, she had a lot of learning to do. Megan’s initial confusion prompted her to start her own podcast called Adventures in Autism!
Deidra Darst is not only an autism mother, she’s a licensed SLP and published author as well. She is also extremely passionate about ABA and making a difference in the autism community. In this interview, she describes her fall into the autism world; what changed her opinion on ABA; and what she thinks professionals need to do to be most effective.
In this episode, we hear from Ryan O’Donnell about his efforts to communicate about the Behavioral Science field using podcasts and videos. The content he produces is varied; some being directed to parents and other caregivers and some directed to BCBAs. He also gives presentations about autism all over the world, so he’s very knowledgeable about the field and where it’s headed.
There are numerous ways for grandparents of autistic children to be involved in teaching and skill development. Today’s interview is with a very dedicated grandmother who found Mary’s online courses and community at almost the exact time she first heard the word autism applied to her grandson. This grandmother has made great progress with the 30-month-old boy using Mary’s techniques, and plans to continue her autism education.
If your child has autism, then they’re likely prescribed certain medications. But which medications are best for your child, and which ones do more harm than good? Every person responds differently to medicine, so choosing the best one for your child may seem overwhelming. But after decades in the field I’ve developed strategies to keep your medication organized, and warning signs to look for when testing a new medication.
Dr. Coplan is the developmental pediatrician that diagnosed Lucas with mild to severe autism. Now retired, he has decades of experience and wisdom to share with you. Not only does he talk about his fall into the autism world, he also speaks about topics such as waiting lists, denial, and self-care. His mindset is refreshingly compassionate, and will remind you to take your journey day-by-day.
Every parent knows the struggle of toilet training, and that struggle can double if your child has autism. That’s why I share my advice on how to toilet train your child, whether they are three years old or twenty years old, and whether they have autism or not. And if your child isn’t ready to start toileting yet, that’s fine too; I have advice on how to introduce them to the idea so that when the time comes, it makes your job a lot easier!
The more research there is on autism, the better. That’s why I’m so excited to introduce my listeners to Dr. Melanie Pellechia: a full time autism researcher. After working in the autism field for nearly two decades she knows exactly what she’s talking about, and she’s a wealth of information; some of the stats she shares even catch me by surprise!
When your child first displays signs of autism, they are often ignored or completely missed. Sometimes they can be confused as ADHD or a speech delay. Early intervention is key, and so I’m going to go over three steps to help identify and hopefully combat your child’s autism and the next steps you should take.
Lorri Unumb is a professor, lawyer, advocate, and mother of three. When her first born son was diagnosed with severe autism, she was shocked that her insurance didn’t cover ABA therapy. She became an advocate for families who couldn’t afford ABA therapy, and fought for two years to get state funding from South Carolina. Now she travels the country fighting for other states to have that same privilege, and she’s stopped by to share her information with you.
It’s hard enough to get any child to sleep through the night, but a child with autism is much more likely to be diagnosed with a sleeping disorder. For years I gave up trying to sleep and accepted that there was nothing I could do about it—until a fellow behavior analyst gave me some advice that changed everything for my family. Now I want to tell you how you can regain all those lost hours and transform your family’s sleep schedule.
Every parent wants their child to succeed and, for kids with autism especially, being able to speak coherently is a huge benchmark of success. That’s why I interviewed speech and language therapist, Mags Kirk. Mags has been a speech therapist since 2003, and thanks to her Talk Tools certification, she’s more than qualified to share her knowledge with you and point you and your child in the right direction for success in speech.
Dr. Michael Murray is a respected child and adolescent psychiatrist and the Medical Director for the Autism and Developmental Disorders Clinic for Penn State Health. Dr. Murray is sharing great info in this episode that was a game changer for my own family. We're discussing medicine that can be a benefit to your own child, but we're also covering in depth a genetic test, the metabolic pharmacological test, that eliminates a lot of trial and error with other medications. Listen and learn!
Theresa McKeon spent 30 years as a national gymnastics coach and was determined to find a way to speed up skill acquisition for her young gymnasts while decreasing stress and fear in the learning environment. Theresa’s search for behaviorally sound techniques, clean instructions and proper timing of feedback and reinforcement led to the development of the TAGteach methodology. Theresa explains how she eventually
became involved in the autism world, as well as the logic behind her methods.
For a lot of parents and professionals, talking in complete sentences is a major goal for their children and clients. But despite our good intentions, there are a lot of mishaps along the way. I’m going to share the seven biggest mistakes you’re likely to make when teaching a child with autism to speak in complete sentences. Listen and learn so you can avoid some of these pitfalls.
I am interviewing Leanne Page, a certified BCBA, self-published author, and mother of two children. Leanne delves into her background as a special education teacher, her career as a BCBA, but she also shares why ABA methods are not only for children and adults with autism but can be beneficial in any type of family dynamic.
I have the pleasure of interviewing Jenna, my good friend and former client. Jenna is a fellow autism mom and her fall into our world is relatable. From the day of her son's diagnosis before his 2nd birthday to her self-care tips and routine, you’ll surely find pieces of yourself throughout Jenna’s story.
Going to the dentist, using eye drops, or taking a bath might seem like mundane procedures for a typically developing person, but for those diagnosed with autism, these simple tasks can be traumatic and seem quite complex. I'm sharing a few practical steps for desensitizing your children or clients to these sorts of procedures, in order to make these situations go more smoothly for your loved one. Listen to gain valuable info on how to assess, practice, and improve some of these tasks for your loved one.
I’m proud to welcome my friend and colleague, Steve Ward, to the podcast. Steve has over two decades of experience in the autism field and currently works as a behavior analyst. In addition to being an accomplished author, Steve also co-owns his own consulting business, Whole Child Consulting. He has worked with teams and schools around the world, and he’s here to share his experiences with you!
Sasha Long wears a lot of hats in the autism world: she is a full-time consultant, writer, and behavior analyst, plus the host of The Autism Helper podcast. She also manages to find the time to travel internationally as a speaker and consultant. She has already had an extremely interesting career path and now she’s ready to share her experiences with you, to help your child lead their happiest, most independent lives!
Children and adults with severe autism have different needs than those with mild autism, as autism mom and advocate Amy Lutz knows very well. Amy is one of the founders of the National Council on Severe Autism, president of the EASI Foundation and an accomplished writer. Amy is also mom to an adult son with severe autism and is well qualified to educate both parents and professionals on how to better help those with severe autism.
I am a loud voice for children with autism to ensure they receive their best chance to succeed. Over the last two decades, I’ve learned how to be the advocate that the autism community needs, and I’ve condensed my knowledge into five action steps. This info will ensure that YOU are the best advocate for your children and clients.
Ashley Rose is owner and director of Mission Cognition, a social skill development center in New Jersey; she's also a teacher and creator of curriculum and an expert on working with children in social groups. Ashley describes her fall into the world of autism, and explains why she feels so passionately about her career and especially the subject of socializing children.
Social skills are vital to function in this society and I’m covering the three biggest mistakes that most parents and professionals make when teaching their children or clients social skills. We can’t just expect children with autism to develop social skills as they age, or if we continue to throw them in typical situations. We must teach those necessary social skills in the most effective way possible in order for our children to live their happiest and safest lives.
Fellow behavior analyst and author Matt Cicoria comes from a diverse background that includes a work-study job in a pigeon lab and work at Auburn University with mine-detecting dogs. These experiences gave him a unique understanding of the mind; now he's sharing that insight, along with skills acquired from working as a school consultant. Matt goes over some great info about self-care and ACT: acceptance and commitment therapy. Matt is also a member of the podcast club—he’s been hosting his own podcast, Behavioral Observations Podcast with Matt Cicoria, for 3 years.
I’ve been a part of the autism community for two decades. I’ve worked with some of the best, and now I have an approach that I believe is better than any other approach out there. Learn the ten reasons why I believe my approach is different and better.
My friend and former BCBA mentor, Dr. Richard Kubina shares his journey into the world of autism, the young autistic boy that set him on the path of becoming a behavior analyst, and explains why precision teaching is so valuable in our line of work.
Our ultimate goal is for our children to lead their safest lives, and that means we have to do our part to protect them. All children have the unique ability to land themselves in unsafe situations, but you can help protect your child wherever you go, whether that be at home, in school, or out in the community.
Self-care is an important yet oftentimes overlooked subject for families and professionals in the autism world. If you are not in an okay place, then you are not in a position to help anyone. My friend, Dr. Becca Tagg, is sharing how she got started in the autism field, as well as tips for avoiding burnout and how to live your happiest life.
I cannot stress the importance of helping your child develop conversation skills enough. Your child needs to be able to ask and answer questions, and to request help. In this episode I go over my strategies and tips for teaching a child conversational skills.
There are very few dual SLP’s and BCBA’s in the world, and I have the pleasure of knowing and interviewing one of them, Rosemarie Griffin. Rose shares her story about how she fell in love with being a speech therapist, and how that led to working with children with severe autism.
It’s very important that your child or client is able to use their verbal language skills as much as possible. Dr. Mary Barbera shares simple techniques to encourage these skills, along with practical advice and over two decades of Behavior Analyst wisdom.
Dr. Mary Barbera interviews her close friend and fellow behavior analyst Doctor Amanda Kelly, also known as Behaviorbabe, and invites her to share her journey into the world of autism.
Early detection and treatment of autism is key in aiding your child/student’s growth and recovery. Dr. Mary Barbera interviews Dr. Megan Miller, who depicts her journey into the world of autism, and offers valuable insight when traditional methods may fail.
I did a survey of parents and professionals and asked what their challenges were in the autism world. 300 people filled out the survey and within a week, the number one challenge was problem behaviors. I am sharing my four top steps to reducing any problem behavior.
There are key differences between the Lovaas ABA approach and a verbal behavior approach when dealing with treatment of autism. I share my journey to discovering how these two approaches don’t have to be mutually exclusive. This blended method has helped my own son tremendously and I’m on a mission to get this info out to other parents and professionals.
Early detection and treatment of autism is key in aiding your child/student’s growth and recovery. Dr. Mary Barbera explains the difference between high functioning autism verses low functioning autism, and why that’s not always a fair and accurate way to label children on the spectrum.
Dr. Mary Barbera interviews Kelsey General and invites her to share her journey of becoming a single mother and raising two young sons with severe autism. From fighting to get her sons the diagnosis and care they needed, to becoming a professional in the field of autism behavior… she’s learned how to advocate for herself and her children.
Early detection and treatment of autism is key in aiding your child/student’s growth and recovery. Dr. Mary Barbera is sharing advice based on experience for leaving the land of denial and getting on board with treatment as soon as possible.
In this episode, Mary talks about her “fall” into the autism world 2 decades ago and her own transformation from overwhelmed parent to autism advocate, professional, and change-maker. Subscribe to the show for lots more to come!