#150: Early Intervention and Autism with Dr. Mary Barbera

Here we are at episode 150! I am so happy to be here sharing and disseminating this important information with you every week. To celebrate this milestone, my favorite guest, friend, mentor, and colleague, Dr. Mary Barbera, joins me.

If you’re not familiar with her amazing work, she shares her remarkable journey into the autism world. Working as a nurse and starting her family, her world and purpose changed when her oldest son Lucas was diagnosed with autism just before his 3rd birthday. She went from a mom in denial to a BCBA, author, online educator, and podcast host on a mission to create awareness and help parents and families with autistic children get the best outcomes for their children.

We cover a really important topic in early intervention...  Is it a speech delay or autism? She breaks down the procedures necessary to get started when you’re working with a child who is not yet speaking. When it comes to her Turn Autism Around Framework, the first step is Asses. She advises assessing the child’s Expressive & Receptive Language (verbal and nonverbal), as well as feeding and sleeping habits. 

Mary Barbera really encourages parents to be the “Captain of the Ship”. Parents are a child's best advocate, and she has an abundance of tools and resources for parents via her Turn Autism Around book, Online Courses and Community, and her new digital assessment. Her goal is to help every child reach their fullest potential while being as safe, happy, and independent as possible. 

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• How to get started with Early Intervention?
• Tools and Resources for parents of autistic children.
• A new digital assessment for your child.
• What is the Turn Autism Around Framework?
• Tips for parents to take action and become the captain of the ship.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Dr. Mary Barbera
Membership - ABA Speech