The ABA Speech Podcast - Easy Strategies For Parents and Professionals

There is always so much people want to know about AAC. Today I talked with BCBAs, LingLy Tan and Jane Button. LingLy is the CEO of AAC software company Linggo, created to build and encourage language beyond simple requests.As I’ve mentioned many times, keeping up with the current research is one of the largest barriers for providers in the field. AAC is one element that is always changing, and it is so necessary to be aware of the latest information. During our conversation, LingLy and Jane shared some of their favorite research, including from some authors I’ve talked to on the podcast.While software for AAC does matter, LingLy highlights that it is a much smaller piece compared to the training to actually teach and use AAC. In fact, Linggo is working on a new training program, where they streamline the translation and application of current research into implementation with AAC with both live hands on options and self paced recordings.Be sure to take a look at the articles and previous episodes all about the current research on AAC. #autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside:How to stay up to date with current technology and research in AAC?An AAC software focused on expanding language beyond simple requests.Recommended articles for the latest research in AAC.Linggo’s new training to embed research and implementation when teaching AAC.Mentioned In This Episode:Matrix training to teach tacts using speech generating devices: Replication and extensionTransitioning from a low- to high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system: effects on augmented and vocal requestingCore vocabulary lists for young children and considerations for early language development: a narrative reviewExamining core vocabulary with language development for early symbolic communicatorsEpisode #121: Core Vocabulary and Typical Language Development with Allison Bean and Bethany Frick Semmler - ABA SpeechEpisode #111: Matrix Training with Dr. Sarah Frampton - ABA SpeechJoin the ABA SPEECH Connection Membership

I love Summer!!Summer should be fun and functional, which is why I want to kick off this season with ABA Speech Summer Social Skills Resources.The Grocery Store Game - “I Bought ___” Fill in the blank game with visual prompts.Modified Uno - Anyone can play Uno, Check out the video model included in my freebie.Modified Connect Four - This is a fun way to practice and enjoy natural turn taking and game completion.Modified Scrabble - This one is for the older learners with letter recognition! For the rules, don't miss the video model in this link.Modified Memory and Matching - Games don’t have to last an hour; you can shorten them with the modified version I demonstrate in the video model.Paper Plate Ice Skating - Merry Christmas in July! This is an action packed game to get you moving, with a video model provided!Scavenger Hunt - A fun way for natural communication and to get outdoors!Would You Rather Videos - Try these two fun “video” games with a vacation theme and a dessert theme.This resource guide is jam packed with ideas, models, and tutorials to get you working on joint attention and social skills in the fun, summer sun!#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:All about the Summer Social Skills Resource Guide.Ideas and models for fun, functional summer fun.Modified games ANYONE can play!Mentioned In This Episode:Membership - ABA SpeechSummer Social Skills Resources 

This Episode features a pre-recorded ASHA Mini Training on Gestalt Language Processing. Gestalt is a hot topic in the speech therapy and ABA worlds, and today I focus on what research is available, what we do not yet know, AND how we can collaborate with teams when we have opposing views, whatever those may be.Gestalt is a multi word chunk that a speaker hears, uses, and stores as a whole before having knowledge or awareness of its internal structure, sometimes referred to as Delayed Echolalia or Scripting. In this training, you will find resources and guides to the information available on gestalt. The truth is, it’s complicated! But I also provide a guide to being a critical consumer of information.So what do Gestalt and traditional therapy have in common? In their simplest form, good therapy practices. Building a genuine connection with the child and following their lead interestsNoticing and honoring communication attempts and their underlying functionsBuilding on the current language system with individualized, meaningful targetsTapping into caregivers' expertise and working collaborativelyInclusion of self-regulation and sensory strategies as needed for the individualWhere it differs is how we approach assessment and some of the questions left without research or proven studies. At this point in time, there are no criteria for assessments in gestalt, no controlled studies for what therapy practices work best, a limited understanding of what Gestalt connects to in the brain, and no research on Gestalt with AAC. So how do we move forward? Critically consider the implications of shifts in your practice, question our (and others') assumptions, avoid repeating unproven claims as facts, and keep our individual clients in mind. Throughout this training, I shared a variety of resources that you can find online via ASHA including articles from Marge LeBlanc, a team conflict article from Gregory Abell, and the upcoming article A systematic review of gestalt language processing interventions in children or adults with communication disability. If you’d like to hear another episode of Gestalt, you can check out #155 with Sari Risen. #autism #speechtherapyWhat’s Inside:What is Gestalt Language Processing?What is robust research, and how do you become a critical consumer?How to collaborate with teams with opposing views.Mentioned In This Episode:Join the ABA SPEECH Connection MembershipEpisode #155: What Is Gestalt Language Processing? with Sari Risen

In my continued effort to bridge the gap between research and therapy, I had a great discussion with Dr. Elizabeth Biggs, assistant professor of special education. We discuss the power of Literacy in human connection. Even for children with complex communication needs, the need for literacy starts at birth (cue the baby shower gifts of everyone's favorite books), and it never stops!In a study tracking around 40 families through the pandemic school year (20-21), Dr. Biggs and other researchers checked in on their journey of supporting their children's literacy and language learning.  While many families expressed aspirations for their child's communication progress, a significant portion didn't prioritize literacy, perceiving their children as not ready or simply not giving it much thought.Their research found that confidence in literacy acquisition varied greatly, often depending on the support from providers and teachers. They also looked at concerns regarding literacy, especially concerning the acquisition and utilization of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems, with only a single family reporting a positive experience.Literacy is  reading, writing, speaking, listening, and expressing—each learned in intertwined manner and contributing to meaningful human connections. Dr. Biggs encourages a family-centered approach in your therapy whenever you can,  emphasizing the need to equip and support families in nurturing literacy skills in their children. Ultimately, as Dr. Biggs states in our conversation, “Literacy is for ALL kids, not just some kids”.Do you like episodes like this? Do you want to hear more about recent research and how you can implement it in your therapy room? Leave a review and let me know! #autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside:When is literacy and when does it start?Understanding literacy in families, analyzing the research.Who can learn literacy and language skills?How can providers support learners and their families with literacy?Mentioned In This Episode:Join the ABA SPEECH Connection Membership 

As I continue to bridge the gap in research to the therapy room, I also see deficits in pre-service training that can make therapy a better experience for both providers and families.Jessica Rohrer, BCBA-D, joins me to discuss her work with soft skills, using tools to measure and build compassion skills in the therapy room. Her research uses the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy, a tool primarily used to check compassion in the medical field, as a pre and post measurement on the impact of compassionate skills training. Dr. Rohrer developed the Compassionate Collaboration Tool as a checklist for provider self-reflection and a helpful next step to incorporating compassion skills in their therapy. The tool focuses on three skill sets in providers. Basic interview skills: introductions, note taking, nodding, and back channeling.Interest skills: asking and reflecting positivity on client interests and asking and reflecting caregiver priorities.Joining with the family: empathy statements, normalizing skills, and partnering skills.It can be easy to forget the emotional time our clients and their families may be experiencing when entering therapy, which is why it is crucial to focus on empathy and compassion in our basic skills for a positive experience. New clinicians may particularly experience more difficulty. If you’re looking for next steps to include compassion in your therapy, Dr. Rohrer reminds you to self-monitor and reflect, consider group behavior skills training, and remember that every client and every family will have varying needs for compassion.#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:Bridging the gap in research in the therapy room. Why are compassion skills important in ABA?Tools for measuring and reflecting on soft skills.Next steps for incorporating compassion skills into your everyday therapy.Mentioned In This Episode:Soft Skills: The Case for Compassionate Approaches or How Behavior Analysis Keeps Finding Its Heart(PDF) Teaching Compassion Skills to Students of Behavior Analysis: A Preliminary InvestigationJoin the ABA SPEECH Connection Membership 

The title of Joe Veneziano and Dr. Shannon Shea’s research article, They Have a Voice, Are We Listening?, caught my eye and I had to read it. These two BCBAs met at a Journal Club and connected over the need to shed light on the history and nuance of ABA and Behavior Analysis.With the field growing and opinions of professionals being so diverse, educating incoming BCBAs on the history of behavior analysis is crucial. Their paper examines “indistinguishability” and its implications by defining “indistinguishable” in behavior analytic terms. They write about well known studies, such as the Lovaas seminal paper (1987). There are many critiques of ABA in the field and in the in the media today. Is it evil or bad? Is it perfect? Neither is true, but the field and practice of behavior analysis rely on the lens of the research you undertake.Together, we discuss the importance of evaluating research critically and understanding the difference between pseudoscience and robust research. We also highlight the need for an emphasis on the underrepresented voices of autism, including queer individuals, POCs, and women. Research and an open mind are crucial to the success of ABA and the impact it will have on individuals receiving it. As quoted in their article, “Go forward with empathy and cultural humility.”#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:Understanding the history of Applied Behavior Analysis.Evaluating research critically is necessary to get the best understanding.Pseudoscience vs. robust research.Emphasizing underrepresented autistic voices.Mentioned In This Episode:They have a Voice; are we Listening? - PMC Join the ABA SPEECH Connection Membership 

After 2 decades of working in a clinical long term care setting as an SLP, Susan Browning was looking for something different amidst the pandemic. This change led her to her role in pediatric SLP in an ABA setting.We discuss one of my favorite topics, collaboration. Susan, bursting with positive energy for the field, talks about how she worked to find her niche to collaborate and complement the work of the other providers and BCBAs in the clinic. With the large scope that SLP spans in the field, it is such a nuanced science. Susan explains some of her interesting presentations coming up to show this large scope, and she draws comparisons from her long term care patients to her pediatric patients with the importance of blending cognition and language. Enjoy this really positive conversation and check out the link to a special ABA Speech Connection CEU, SLP in an ABA Setting.#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:Featuring a member of the ABA Speech Connection.Translating long-term care experience into an ABA role.Finding your niche when SLPs and BCBAs collaborate.Mentioned In This Episode:CEU Library - ABA SpeechJoin the ABA SPEECH Connection Membership 

Maura Weis is the mother of two, a son and a daughter. The Weis family’s autism journey began when their youngest, Hannah, experienced early life difficulties, and then concerns with delays started occurring at 18 months.Maura shares about their early experiences and her pediatrician visits. Even more concerns grew after a move due to her husband’s coaching career. As they worked through tests and possibilities, Hannah began school with an ABA program and received several diagnoses. Maura wrote Miles From The Sideline: A Mother's Journey With Her Special Needs Daughter when her daughter was 8 years old as a resource for family members of families with special needs children. She also created the Hannah and Friends Family Foundation with her retired NFL and college football coach husband, Charlie Weis. Hannah, turning 29, now lives on the Hannah and Friends property in Indiana. There are 13 residents who have Daily Programs, Summer Camps, and After school activities. It’s a wide, open space to create a life. Among her experiences and family's journey, Maura shares an important sentiment for families to embrace all experiences, even the difficult ones, because they are important learning opportunities for their children. You can find out more about Maura Weis and her foundation by reading her book, visiting the Hannah and Friends website, or on Facebook. #autism #speectherapy What’s Inside:What is Hannah and Friends Family Foundation?Maura Weis’s book for family members of special needs families.A family’s journey through autism and other special needs diagnoses.Mentioned In This Episode:Miles From The Sideline: A Mother's Journey With Her Special Needs DaughterHannah and FriendsHannah and FriendsJoin the ABA SPEECH Connection Membership

If you walk away with anything from today’s episode, let it be: It will get better. My guest, Kelley Coleman, is a mother of 2 and wrote the book she desperately needed when it came to navigating the extensive list of diagnoses for her youngest son. We discuss her book, Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide To the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports and the daunting overwhelm that comes with a disability diagnosis.Being a parent or caregiver is difficult enough, but throw in a medical diagnosis, nuerodivergence, and, in Kelley’s case, many comorbidities and more questions than answers and you’ve got a recipe for distress. Kelley talks about how a big win for her family was the support and openness of their pediatrician, but not every provider is this way, and for many families, it can feel like no one is in your corner. If that's you, you will find so many resources and support in this book. As we bring our talk to a close, Kelley ties up her multitude of knowledge and advice into this tip; Get started with something that will bring an easy victory! It is reassuring to see the fruit of your labor. Do the one thing, get the win and keep that system going.Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide To the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports launched on March 12th. You can find it anywhere you buy books and ask your libraries to carry it too so that this amazing advice can reach as many families as possible.#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:The daunting overwhelm that comes with a disability diagnosis.A book to support parents and caregivers.Advice on how to get through tough moments as a caregiver of an individual with disabilities.Mentioned In This Episode:Kelley ColemanJoin the ABA SPEECH Connection Membership

In the age of smartphones and tablets, video modeling is more accessible than it ever has been before. Dr. Teresa Cardon dives into the research on how effective video modeling is and how to move based on perceived barriers.Video modeling research shows that learners respond faster than with live modeling and you can use it to teach a variety of skills including self help, play, and imitation. Dr. Cardon explains that most barriers providers find for video modeling, time or training, are based on a perception that video modeling is difficult or needs perfection. Studies show that the model in the video can be anyone as long as the desired skill is being modeled correctly, the age or connection to the client has no bearing on the success of the video model.To get started, decide on your target skills or actions to be modeled. Pre-film the action (although Dr. Cardon mentions quick perception filming of your own hands works too), play for the client, provide the necessary items for the action, and the hardest part…keep quiet. Dr. Cardon mentions you can do as many as 5-10 video models per session with videos that are 20 to 40 seconds long. Dr. Cardon’s advice for listeners is to just do the video model! Don’t let perceived barriers stop you from using this super effective evidence based practice. #autism #speechtherapyWhat’s Inside:Research and tips on the evidence based practice of video modeling.What skills can video modeling teach?How to use video modeling in your therapy session today.Mentioned In This Episode:teresa.cardon@unt.edu Dr. Teresa Cardon on LinkedInTeresa CARDON | Speech & Hearing Science; Board Certified Behavior Analyst | Chicago School of Professional Psychology | Ph.D. Program in Applied Behavior Analysis | Research profileVideo Modeling Imitation Training Manual.pdfJoin the ABA SPEECH Connection Membership