Turn Autism Around
Dr. Mary Barbera
Dr. Mary Barbera, RN, doctoral-level behavior analyst, best-selling author, and online course creator discusses autism and speech delays from several different angles for both parents as well as medical, educational, and behavioral professionals. Learn more at www.marybarbera.com.
Each week we discuss Mary’s 4-step proven approach to tackle common parenting struggles including how to improve talking, reduce tantrums, and improve picky eating, sleeping, potty training and so much more for kids with and without autism!
Topics also include what to do when a toddler is delayed and how to identify the earliest signs of autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, or even giftedness! And what to do if your child is diagnosed or requires early intervention or ABA therapy.
So, whether you're a parent of a child or a professional such as a behavior analyst, nurse, physician, speech pathologist, or teacher, you’re going to want to listen and subscribe!
Each week we discuss Mary’s 4-step proven approach to tackle common parenting struggles including how to improve talking, reduce tantrums, and improve picky eating, sleeping, potty training and so much more for kids with and without autism!
Topics also include what to do when a toddler is delayed and how to identify the earliest signs of autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, or even giftedness! And what to do if your child is diagnosed or requires early intervention or ABA therapy.
So, whether you're a parent of a child or a professional such as a behavior analyst, nurse, physician, speech pathologist, or teacher, you’re going to want to listen and subscribe!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 14, 2021 • 31min
#154: Laurie Hellmann on Parenting a Teenager with Non Speaking Autism
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.
Dec 7, 2021 • 54min
#153: Jill Escher: Why Has the Rate of Autism Increased?
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.
Nov 30, 2021 • 1h 1min
#152: Amanda DeLuca and Kirby Morgan: How To Advocate For Your Child with Autism in an IEP Meeting
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.
Nov 23, 2021 • 41min
#151: Armando Bernal on His Journey as a BCBA Therapist with Autism
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.
Nov 16, 2021 • 42min
#150: Autism Success Stories: Navigating Autism as a Military Family with Melissa L.
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!
Nov 9, 2021 • 46min
#149: My Autism Journey with Lucas
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.
Nov 2, 2021 • 31min
#148: Victoria Boone on Positive Parenting for Autism
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.
Oct 26, 2021 • 41min
#147: Dr. Temple Grandin and Dr. Debra Moore on Their Latest Book Navigating Autism
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.
Oct 19, 2021 • 39min
#146: Tameika Meadows from I Love ABA on Finding Good ABA Therapy
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.
Oct 12, 2021 • 38min
#145: Amy Sutherland: What Shamu Can Teach Us About Training
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.
