Turn Autism Around
Dr. Mary Barbera
If you're a parent with a child diagnosed with Level 1, 2, or Level 3 autism or worried about speech delays, tantrums, autism signs, hitting, potty training struggles, picky eating, meltdowns, sensory issues, or toddler behavior that feels confusing or overwhelming, you're in the right place: www.marybarbera.com
Hosted by Dr. Mary Barbera — RN, doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D), best-selling author, and creator of widely used online programs for toddlers and preschoolers — this bi-weekly podcast breaks down complex child development topics into simple, actionable steps any parent or professional can use immediately.
Every other week, Mary shares her proven 4-step approach to help children (with and without autism or ADHD) make measurable progress at home, school, and in the community. Episodes cover highly searched topics such as:
🗣️ Speech & Language Development
How to get your toddler to talk
What to do when your toddler isn't talking
Late talking, first words, echolalia, scripting, and vocal stimming
Strategies to build interaction, joint attention, and social engagement
😭 Behavior & Tantrums
How to stop hitting, biting, throwing, and daily meltdowns
What causes tantrums and how to reduce them
Simple behavior plans any parent can use
Emotional regulation for toddlers and preschoolers
🧠 Autism, ADHD & Early Signs
Early signs of autism in toddlers
What to do if you suspect autism — or if someone told you to "wait and see"
Screening vs. diagnosis
Sensory processing disorder, hyperlexia, giftedness vs. autism traits
Navigating early intervention, speech therapy, OT, or ABA therapy
👶 Daily Life Skills
Potty training for toddlers with speech delays or autism
Picky eating and feeding challenges
Sleep issues and bedtime routines
Safety, wandering, transitions, and managing hard outings
Preparing for doctor, dentist, or haircut visits
👨👩👦 Parent Coaching & Real-Life Stories
Real parent success stories (like toddlers going from 0 words to hundreds)
How to create calm, confident routines at home
Reducing stress for the whole family
Mindset support for overwhelmed parents
This show is designed to help parents, but is also widely followed by behavior analysts, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists, teachers, pediatricians, nurses, and early-intervention professionals who want child-friendly, research-backed strategies that work in real homes.
Whether you're dealing with a diagnosis of autism or a late talker with frequent tantrums, sensory challenges, or early signs of autism… or you simply want a clear, compassionate, step-by-step plan to help your child thrive — this podcast is here to guide you.
Subscribe and learn how to improve talking, reduce problem behaviors, and help your child gain confidence, independence, and skills — starting today.
Hosted by Dr. Mary Barbera — RN, doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D), best-selling author, and creator of widely used online programs for toddlers and preschoolers — this bi-weekly podcast breaks down complex child development topics into simple, actionable steps any parent or professional can use immediately.
Every other week, Mary shares her proven 4-step approach to help children (with and without autism or ADHD) make measurable progress at home, school, and in the community. Episodes cover highly searched topics such as:
🗣️ Speech & Language Development
How to get your toddler to talk
What to do when your toddler isn't talking
Late talking, first words, echolalia, scripting, and vocal stimming
Strategies to build interaction, joint attention, and social engagement
😭 Behavior & Tantrums
How to stop hitting, biting, throwing, and daily meltdowns
What causes tantrums and how to reduce them
Simple behavior plans any parent can use
Emotional regulation for toddlers and preschoolers
🧠 Autism, ADHD & Early Signs
Early signs of autism in toddlers
What to do if you suspect autism — or if someone told you to "wait and see"
Screening vs. diagnosis
Sensory processing disorder, hyperlexia, giftedness vs. autism traits
Navigating early intervention, speech therapy, OT, or ABA therapy
👶 Daily Life Skills
Potty training for toddlers with speech delays or autism
Picky eating and feeding challenges
Sleep issues and bedtime routines
Safety, wandering, transitions, and managing hard outings
Preparing for doctor, dentist, or haircut visits
👨👩👦 Parent Coaching & Real-Life Stories
Real parent success stories (like toddlers going from 0 words to hundreds)
How to create calm, confident routines at home
Reducing stress for the whole family
Mindset support for overwhelmed parents
This show is designed to help parents, but is also widely followed by behavior analysts, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists, teachers, pediatricians, nurses, and early-intervention professionals who want child-friendly, research-backed strategies that work in real homes.
Whether you're dealing with a diagnosis of autism or a late talker with frequent tantrums, sensory challenges, or early signs of autism… or you simply want a clear, compassionate, step-by-step plan to help your child thrive — this podcast is here to guide you.
Subscribe and learn how to improve talking, reduce problem behaviors, and help your child gain confidence, independence, and skills — starting today.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 20, 2020 • 28min
#094: Mistakes to Avoid when Increasing Language Skills in Children with Autism
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.
Oct 13, 2020 • 39min
#093: Autism Detection: A Summary of Dr. Ami Klin's Autism Work
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.
Oct 6, 2020 • 1h 5min
#092: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Training (ACT) | Interview with Dr. Jonathan Tarbox
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.
Sep 29, 2020 • 54min
#091: COVID-19's Implications on Free Appropriate Public Education with Gary Mayerson
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.
Sep 22, 2020 • 54min
#090: Apraxia and Autism: What is Apraxia of Speech | Interview with Tamara Kasper
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.
Sep 15, 2020 • 51min
#089: Autism in India & ABA Training in Multiple Languages | Interview with Dr. Smita Awasthi
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.
Sep 8, 2020 • 34min
#088: Autism in the Media, Dating & Love on the Spectrum | Interview with Dr. Kerry Magro
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.
Sep 1, 2020 • 31min
#087: Autism Service Dogs, Emotional Support Animals & Therapy Dogs | Interview with Caitlin Bird
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.
Aug 25, 2020 • 48min
#086: Autism Living Facilities and Out of Home Placement | Interview with Lisa C
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.
Aug 18, 2020 • 44min
#085: Siblings of Autism: Interview with My Son Spencer Barbera
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.
