The ABA Speech Podcast - Easy Strategies For Parents and Professionals

Linda Thoresen joins me today for a special Member Spotlight. She is an SLP and a member of ABA Speech Connection, and I first met her in her onboarding meeting. During this conversation, Linda shares about her journey from medical therapy to teletherapy. As a seasoned therapist, Linda has been in the field for 20+ years. We discuss the changes in course work from her training to the present day, as well as the change in working with adults to now school-age and autistic learners. She has a great perspective to share on her membership with ABA Speech about her ASHA course library access and the comprehensive education available.  #autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:Membership Spotlight, SLP JourneyMedical therapy vs teletherapyChanges in the field ABA Speech Connection MembershipMentioned In This Episode:Join us in the ABA SPEECH Connection MembershipRegister for our Naturalistic Interventions CourseRose Griffin (@abaspeechbyrose) on InstagramRecoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery StoriesReal talk, real recovery, actually entertaining. Find Recoverycast now.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

There’s been a noticeable shift in the field of behavior analysis, with more BCBAs being hired as full-time employees in public schools. This is a big change from the past, when BCBAs were typically brought in as outside consultants. Schools are now seeing the benefits of having these experts on staff to support students with specialized needs directly in their school environment, rather than sending them out of the district. Today, I spoke with Melissa Connor-Santos, someone I connected with on LinkedIn who is deeply passionate about improving behavior-analytic services for children in public schools. Melissa and I both believe in the power of public schools to provide the least restrictive environment for our learners, and she shared some valuable insights on how BCBAs can make the most impact in these settings.Working as a BCBA in a public school comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities. Public schools are large systems where you might not have much control over certain decisions, so it’s crucial to focus on collaboration and relationship-building across the entire school team, from administrators to teachers and support staff. To thrive in this environment, BCBAs need to refine their skills to fit this setting. Melissa emphasized the importance of finding a mentor, even if they’re not a BCBA, but someone with experience in public schools who can provide guidance. She also warns that while public forums and online (Facebook) groups can be helpful, they need to be used wisely and carefully. And above all, sticking to the ethics code is non-negotiable—it’s the foundation of our work and crucial for maintaining trust and effectiveness in the school community.#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:Why are more BCBAs being employed in public schools?How to navigate ethics as a BCBA in a public school setting.The most important skill for BCBAs is collaboration.Tips for BCBAs in public schools.Mentioned In This Episode:Oceanview Behavior SolutionsOceanviewbehaviorsolutions@gmail.comJoin us in the ABA SPEECH Connection for ParentsJoin us in the ABA SPEECH Connection for ProfessionalsRose Griffin (@abaspeechbyrose) on InstagramRecoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery StoriesReal talk, real recovery, actually entertaining. Find Recoverycast now.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Today we welcome returning guest, Cindy Watson. Be sure to check out episode 115, where we discuss Early Intervention Speech Therapy. Along with Cindy, we are joined by MC, Cindy’s youngest daughter. MC shares about her story, autism diagnosis, and her perspective as a middle schooler.Cindy shares about MC’s life pre-diagnosis and the concerns she noticed along the way. Labeled often as “the easy kid”, MC shied away from social settings and talking with peers. And her mom fought judgment as a provider; everyone saw her as a mom and thought “everyone has autism”. But parents should trust their instincts!We hear straight from MC about her preferences in therapy, like focusing on topics that highlight her interests. As well as her struggles and dislikes from group therapy to handling unkind words from kids her age. An important piece of therapy for older learners is to emphasize naturalistic and discrete therapy styles. Therapy is nothing to be ashamed of, but the reality is that middle and high schoolers do face a stigma when it comes to their peers.This is a great chat opening up about autism in girls, therapy for older learners, and how we can best serve our middle schoolers in therapy!#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:Autism in girls, what does it mean to be “the easy kid”?Middle school therapy: What works? What doesn’t?Helping older learners with the stigma of therapy and services.Using likes and interests to create motivating, engaging therapy.Mentioned In This Episode:Episode #115: Early Intervention Speech Therapy Services - A Talk With Cindy WatsonJoin us in the ABA SPEECH Connection for ParentsJoin us in the ABA SPEECH Connection for ProfessionalsRose Griffin (@abaspeechbyrose) on InstagramRecoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery StoriesReal talk, real recovery, actually entertaining. Find Recoverycast now.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

I love hearing from Autistic Adults, and Paige Layle has garnered quite a following on TikTok and Instagram, sharing her story and creating resonating content for her viewers traveling similar journeys.Paige’s recently published memoir, But Everyone Feels This Way: How an Autism Diagnosis Saved My Life, has been an opportunity to reach her followers on a deeper level, connect beyond the internet, and create a resource for those that relate to her story. Just two weeks before her 15th birthday, Paige received her diagnosis. It was what she calls “Life Shattering”. She describes that she had been internally begging and pleading for an explanation of why life is so hard for her; the diagnosis was just that. She took to social media after becoming comfortable with these platforms across her life, in her second year of university. Paige made her first autism-focused video discussing her anger about “trending sounds” insulting autistic individuals, which pushed her to start educating and sharing the autistic voice. She now creates content full-time, with the bulk of her income coming from public speaking events and consulting with schools and other organizations. Paige reminds parents not to be scared. If you have concerns about delays or other symptoms in your child, just know that whatever information you collect will help you, she says. And for those of us out there consuming content, she informs us that not all autistic people want to be advocates, so be respectful, as well as diversify your resources so that you may hear a variety of voices. You can find Paige on Instagram and TikTok at @PaigeLayle.#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:Who is Paige Layle?Using social media to share the autistic voice.What it's like to receive an autism diagnosis as a teen.Mentioned In This Episode:Paige LaylePaige on TikTokPaige on InstagramJoin us in the ABA SPEECH Connection for ParentsJoin us in the ABA SPEECH Connection for ProfessionalsRose Griffin (@abaspeechbyrose) on InstagramRecoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery StoriesReal talk, real recovery, actually entertaining. Find Recoverycast now.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Lisa is a BCBA and the mom of 3 boys, including Kruz. He is Lisa’s youngest child and has Autism Spectrum Disorder. You may be familiar with their journey as they share it with you through @CruisingWithKruz on Instagram.During our conversation, Lisa dives into the struggles that take place when it comes to advocating for a diagnosis and the other ones that pile on once you do get it! Waitlists can be excruciatingly long, not only for evaluations but for services too. That’s why it’s key to stay in communication with your team. It’s not easy once you enter services either. Lisa talks about the financial weight of high insurance premiums as well as high maximum out of pocket costs.Lisa shares Kruz’s progress in the last year and a half. He has participated in 25 hours a week of ABA, weekly speeches, and been involved with his family, friends, and community. A look at Kruz’s skills in January 2023 would show nonverbal communication and dangerous self-injurious behavior. Now his progress, reflected in June 2024, reveals conversational communication, a blossoming sense of humor, and critically reduced self-injurious behavior. With this great news,  they are able to target other needs and reduce the intensity of services.Parent education and training is something Lisa is very passionate about, as she heeds other parents advice to advocate, advocate, advocate. If you’re noticing a delay or have heightened concerns, do not wait! You will NEVER regret providing support and intervention. But you will regret losing time. Lisa is heading up our brand new parent portal that you can access with an ABA Speech Connection Membershi #autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:Kruz and family, their autism journey.Understanding what it takes to advocate and begin services and support.An update on progress January 2023 to June 2024.Parent Support: Join our parent portal!Mentioned In This Episode:CruisingWithKruz (@cruisingwithkruz) on InstagramCruising With KruzJoin us in the ABA SPEECH Connection for ParentsJoin us in the ABA SPEECH Connection for ProfessionalsRose Griffin (@abaspeechbyrose) on InstagramRecoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery StoriesReal talk, real recovery, actually entertaining. Find Recoverycast now.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Parents are an important piece of the team. Today I am talking with Dr. Janie Funk about parent training in ABA. Caregiver engagement is imperative to an individual's success. Dr. Janie explains how her team at Behaven Kids supports parents through a strong team of clinicians with great interpersonal skills, a referral network for access to services in collaboration with other providers, and ensuring systems are in place to support caregiver concerns and questions.Parental support is a mandated requirement for most insurance payers. Dr. Janie talks through how she meets these requirements by maximizing caregiver engagement from the beginning of the process with families, even when quantifiable minimums of these efforts may not be presented.We also touch on children with dual diagnoses across Autism and Mental Health. At Behaven Kids, Dr. Janie has the opportunity to work within her scope of practice across this demographic and collaborate in a way that isn't often seen in the field. “​​From outpatient therapy services to specialized day programs to medication management, Behaven Kids strives to provide the services a family needs to maximize each child and adolescent’s potential for individual success.”Let’s keep talking about these important topics! Leave a review where you listen to podcasts to let me know what you think or want to hear next.#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:How to plan parent trainingHow to support parents and familiesBarriers in supporting parents and caregiversWorking with ABA and Mental HealthMentioned In This Episode:Behaven KidsJoin the ABA SPEECH Connection Membership Rose Griffin (@abaspeechbyrose) on InstagramRecoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery StoriesReal talk, real recovery, actually entertaining. Find Recoverycast now.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

I always love the opportunity to talk with a parent and hear their story. I feel it really provides an opportunity for learning and growth as a provider. Susanna Peace Lovell, a professional life coach and advocate, joins me to discuss her journey as a parent of a child with autism and her book on the topic, Your True Self is Enough: Lessons Learned on My Journey Parenting a Child with Autism.In her book Your True Self is Enough, Susanna shares her story of being of support and service to parents and families with similar stories. This journey begins at the birth of her first child, Arizona. The difficulties began right away with food allergies and skin issues, and the diagnosis and challenges just kept coming. Susana says that her daughter cried for what felt like nonstop for the entirety of her first 18 months of life. At age 2.5, Arizona was diagnosed with ASD. This was nearly 16 years ago, and for Susanna, this was a challenging and unfamiliar experience. You can find out more about Susanna's journey in her book, which she describes as part memoir, part guidebook, where she finds a balance between honoring her child’s experience while also honoring her own journey and voice. Her daughter, Arizona, wrote the foreword and inspired the title.If you have this feeling that something is different, Susanna says to stay in tune with that feeling, which she calls the “Caregiver Gut." Write everything down; no detail is too little. She reminds us that being an advocate for your child requires tenacity and a help seeking mentality. The doors can be opened just a little bit more when you’re vulnerable to those who can help.#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:A Parent’s Autism StoryNavigating honoring your child’s experience and your experience as the caregiverWhat to do when you're facing challenges with your child and suspect developmental delays?Mentioned In This Episode:Susanna Peace LovellYour True Self Is Enough: Lessons Learned on My Journey Parenting a Child with Autism by Susanna Peace LovellGet our Ethics Course about SLP/BCBA Collaboration in the ABA SPEECH ConnectionRose Griffin (@abaspeechbyrose) on InstagramRecoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery StoriesReal talk, real recovery, actually entertaining. Find Recoverycast now.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

“Well, I guess you better figure it out”. Those are words you do NOT want to hear from your CFY supervisor. Supervision in your Clinical Fellowship Year is so important for setting the tone for the rest of your career. Lynn Dudek shares her experience on both sides of the spectrum, from not meeting any of her expectations to exceeding them all. What makes a positive mentor and supervisor? It all comes down to communication and these qualities Lynn lists for us are: being a good communicator, setting professional goals, building relationships and connections, assessing performance, and providing specific feedback. Ultimately, it's great practice for a supervisor to begin this relationship with this question; “What do you expect from this experience?”. Lynn explains how she interviews her mentees and has gotten her supervision down to a science with standard forms to provide the best possible outcome. Lynn shared her own personal experience of a not so great mentor. What should someone in their CFY do if their supervision just doesn't feel right? The truth is, it might be hard, but you need to discuss it directly with your supervisor with direct, open communication. Lay out your expectations, find compromise, and lean on ASHA and state requirements. If YOU are looking to become a supervisor, Lynn recommends knowing yourself and what you're capable of so that you’re able to give the best mentorship possible. It affects someone's entire career and all the clients they work with subsequently. Check out ASHA for CEUs and assessments for becoming a supervisor, or reach out to your state with questions!#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:Mentorship and supervision in your CFY (Clinical Fellowship Year)What makes a wonderful mentor and supervisor?What breaks a supervision experience?What to do when your supervision isn't what you expected?How to get started as a CFY supervisor.Mentioned In This Episode:Episode #109: The Power of SLP and BCBA Collaboration with Lynn M. Dudek - ABA SpeechGet our Ethics Course about SLP/BCBA Collaboration in the ABA SPEECH ConnectionRose Griffin (@abaspeechbyrose) on Instagram Recoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery StoriesReal talk, real recovery, actually entertaining. Find Recoverycast now.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Enjoy this replay from episode 62.Joint attention is closely linked to receptive and expressive language skills, highlighting the power of communication. To build connection before communication, use shared activities like playing with toys, singing songs, and reading books. Even if students aren't fully engaged initially, tracking their baseline data and progressing with goals can lead to impressive transformations and excitement.Toys: Playing with toys in therapy is all about creating interaction in a semi-structured environment. Remember to use simple language, allow for natural curiosity and play, and not bombard with questions. Toys I personally love to use include: cars and car tracks, mini objects, and farm sets.Literacy: Build excitement around the book, use books with repetition, and if your kids like it try an animated voice, which can be really fun. A few books I love to keep in my therapy bag that are a great success for joint attention are: Pete the Cat and his White Shoes, Brown Bear, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.Music: Students love songs because they are familiar and create engagement. I also love to use visuals, which can be just laminated pictures or little toys that match the activity of the song. It can also be engaging to sing songs that have motions for the words. My favorite songs to use are Old Macdonald, Wheels on the Bus, Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.It can be difficult to keep data and set goals around these abstract ideas, be sure to check out my goal bank on ABA speech. I hope you love these ideas, and I can’t wait for you to try them out in your next therapy session!#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:How to increase learner engagement?What is joint attention?How to embed joint attention across a student's day.Where to start with joint attention.Integrating shared activities into therapy.Why should you focus on the connection before communication?Mentioned In This Episode:IEP Goals for Students with Autism - ABA SpeechGet our Ethics Course about SLP/BCBA Collaboration in the ABA SPEECH ConnectionRose Griffin (@abaspeechbyrose) on InstagramRecoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery StoriesReal talk, real recovery, actually entertaining. Find Recoverycast now.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Conflict is part of what we do as a provider in this field. When it comes to helping the most difficult learners, it's no surprise we might find ourselves contentious at IEP meetings, I’ve definitely had my fair share in my 20+ year career. But you CAN get through them with the best interest of the learner at hand. Here are my top 5 tips for navigating contentious IEP meetings:Know the guest list. Who's gonna be there? Lawyers, advocates, etc., you need to know so you can properly prepare.It is not okay to be verbally abused at work. Whether it's admin or parents, come in with boundaries and confidence. Set the tone at the beginning of the meeting!Prep with your team prior to the meeting and take time to debrief after. There will always be conflict. *Check out the ethics course with ABA SPEECH Connection for more about the article I discuss here.*Try to understand the motive of the conflict. When you can understand how the team member is feeling, you can work toward a solution together!We all want to help maximize outcomes for our learners; we are all there for the benefit of the learner! You can get through these difficult, contentious, and often conflict filled meetings if you keep these 5 tips in mind.#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:How to navigate contentious IEP meetings.5 tips for getting through IEP meetings.Mentioned In This Episode:Take our ASHA and ACE approved course about Navigating Contentious IEP Meetings Ethically With ConfidenceRose Griffin (@abaspeechbyrose) on Instagram