Lindsay Watson, PT, CEO, and Co-Founder of Augment Therapy, is on a mission to blend augmented reality (AR) and virtual care to transform therapy. Augment Therapy offers interactive AR rehabilitation exercises and fun wellness games designed to encourage movement and improve outcomes at home and in person. With their ARWell PRO app, therapists can use the software during sessions and give patients free access at home, all while tracking progress through a customized, gamified platform.

While Augment Therapy is currently used primarily by OTs and PTs, Lindsay shares exciting plans to expand into speech therapy. We also discuss the benefits of telehealth when applied intentionally and how leveraging technology can enhance repetition, generalization, and engagement—turning a tool that’s often seen as a negative into a powerful ally for therapy success.

#autism #speechtherapy 

What’s Inside:

• What is Augment Therapy?
• How can Augmented Reality impact therapy.
• Blending expertise and virtual care.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Augment Therapy
Join the aba speech connection  
ABA Speech: Home

All your family’s pressing concerns and questions, answered in one place. Mike...

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Thinking about becoming a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)? There are now over 200,000 certified RBTs, and in this episode, I’m joined by Jackie Jung, an RBT currently pursuing a career in speech-language pathology. A Registered Behavior Technician is a paraprofessional who works directly with individuals receiving ABA services, implementing treatment plans under the supervision of a BCBA.

Jackie shares her journey into this role and walks us through the steps to becoming certified: completing a 40-hour training course, passing an exam, and demonstrating skills through a competency assessment—all of which may be covered or supported by your employer.

We also discuss the essential skills RBTs need, including play-based strategies and de-escalation techniques, and Jackie highlights the growing need for well-trained professionals in the field. Starting in 2026, RBTs will be required to complete CEUs every two years—a change we’re ready to support at ABA Speech Connection with high-quality continuing education.

 #autism #speechtherapy 

What’s Inside:

• What is an RBT?
• How can you become a Registered Behavior Technician?
• Transitioning in the ABA field.
• New requirements for RBTs coming in 2026!

Mentioned In This Episode:

Speech Join the aba speech connection, learn more about our RBT membership tier.  

ABA Speech: Home

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What is Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT), and how can it support social communication skills? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Jessica Osos, BCBA, to explore the definition and application of RIT—a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBI) designed to teach learners to imitate spontaneously through ongoing, play-based social interaction. Unlike structured drills, RIT is child-led and play-focused, helping to build social skills that go far beyond imitation.

For many SLPs and BCBAs, this is a new approach. Dr. Osos explains how the back-and-forth of imitation highlights the value in what the child is doing and how strategies like Sports Casting (narrating the interaction) can enrich play. Expanding play might mean introducing more toys, exploring new play schemas, or creating deeper sequences.

Key factors for successful RIT involve simple language, emphasizing important words, being repetitive, and expanding language by copying and adding. Focusing on goals beyond imitation? RIT doesn’t have to be a “this or that” choice. This child-led expansive approach works with a variety of social communication, like joint attention and more!

 #autism #speechtherapy 

What’s Inside:

• Naturalistic Intervention using Reciprocal Imitation Training.
• What is RIT?
• Expanding play for a variety of social, communication, and leisure skills. 

Mentioned In This Episode:

Episode #146: Early Intervention and Project Impact with Anna Dvortcsak and Dr. Brook Ingersoll - ABA Speech
Speech Membership - ABA Speech 
ABA Speech: Home

All your family’s pressing concerns and questions, answered in one place. Mike...

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Is this intervention going to make a client’s world bigger?

That’s the guiding question for today’s guest, Cindy Mrotek, BCBA and LBS, founder of a.c.e therapies—a center offering Speech, OT, and ABA services, along with options for adult learners. With three locations across Illinois, a.c.e therapies focuses on skills that truly matter across the lifespan.

In our conversation, Cindy shares why focusing on meaningful skills and goals is so important for increasing quality of life and “making the world bigger” for learners and their families. Without access to leisure skills and other essential life skills, a learner’s world can feel very small—and that impact extends to their loved ones too.

Cindy also highlights the unique benefits of a multidisciplinary clinic, where collaboration across disciplines creates a holistic approach to building a better life, rather than working on skills in isolation. As a clinician-owned center, she may not compete with private equity on pay or scale, but she offers something different: collaboration, flexibility, and an individualized, learner-centered model that supports both therapists and families.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Setting goals critical to the lifespan.
• The importance of Adult Services in clinics.
• A widespread value in a multidisciplinary clinic. 

Mentioned In This Episode:

a.c.e. Therapies

a.c.e. therapies (@acetherapies_) on Instagram

Cindy Dougherty-Mrotek on LinkedIn

Speech Membership - ABA Speech  

ABA Speech: Home

All your family’s pressing concerns and questions, answered in one place. Mike...

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Do you feel like most CEUs aren’t very beneficial? You’re not alone—60% of my audience across the field feels the same way.

That’s why I created The ABA Speech Connection CEU Membership—a program designed to foster collaboration, provide access to current research, and deliver engaging, practical CEUs that actually help you support your learners in communicating with the world.

ABA Speech Connection is both ASHA and ACE approved, with a strong focus on meaningful outcomes. Since launching, more than 500 professionals have joined. Each month, members can attend at least one live course (often more) and access our growing catalog of CEUs. Whether you’re an SLP, RBT, or BCBA, you’ll find everything you need to earn your continuing education in one place.

Membership is just $25 per month or $247 per year, with group pricing available as well.

What’s Inside:

• ASHA and ACE approved CEUs.
• A space for collaboration for SLPs, RBTs, and BCBAs.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Speech Membership - ABA Speech  

ABA Speech: Home

Dr. Erin Michaud, SLP and BCBA-D with over 20 years of experience in communication development and ABA, joins the podcast to share the groundbreaking work of The Early Markers of Autism Project—a program changing the landscape of early autism identification and intervention.

This hands-on, in-person research and treatment study works with infants from both high-risk populations (siblings of children with autism, with a 20% recurrence rate) and low-risk populations. By tracking social interaction, shifting attention, joint attention, and social behaviors from infancy through age five, the project identifies and responds to early markers far earlier than the current AAP screening recommendation of 18 months.

The impact? Earlier diagnoses, earlier interventions, and fewer families waiting for services. Dr. Michaud shares how this project is creating validated assessment tools, expanding parent training, and building strong research to push for insurance coverage—bringing meaningful change for high-risk infants and their families.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• What are the early markers of autism?
• What is the Autism Sibling Project?
• Supporting parents and our littlest learners.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Talking First Words — Coming Soon
​​Early Markers of Autism Project | The New England Center for Children
7 Investigates: Autism Intervention - Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News
NECC Infant Sibling Research Project 2023
Speech Membership - ABA Speech  
ABA Speech: Home

All your family’s pressing concerns and questions, answered in one place. Mike...

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Cindy Watson, celebrating 30 years as an SLP and making her third appearance on the podcast, returns with BCBA Ashley Snavely to share how their clinic blends multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary care.

“We were missing something,” Cindy reflects. Already offering PT, OT, and Speech, their team recognized therapists needed tools to address challenging behaviors. Adding ABA was the evidence-based solution. In this episode, Cindy and Ashley discuss the early stages of collaboration—how large group trainings, comprehensive education, and the creation of the BILT (Behavior Intervention Leadership Team) empowered therapists to problem-solve before BCBAs step in. They also dive into AAC in a collaborative setting, emphasizing curiosity, data-driven decisions, and open communication as key to success.

Together, they show how a “we want to learn from you” mindset builds trust, resolves disagreements, and ultimately leads to what matters most—meaningful progress for every learner.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Integrating ABA into a multidisciplinary clinic.
• How to collaborate with ACC
• Handling disagreements across providers.
• Fostering open communication and learning among therapists and providers. 

Mentioned In This Episode:

Episode #115: Early Intervention Speech Therapy Services – A Talk With Cindy Watson
Episode #191: Autism in Girls- A Conversation with Cindy and MC
Speech Membership - ABA Speech  
ABA Speech: Home

All your family’s pressing concerns and questions, answered in one place. Mike...

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Ron Demuesy joins me to unpack the vital and often nuanced role of school-based BCBAs. Unlike outsourced consultants, in-house BCBAs provide consistent presence, accessibility, and a deeper connection with students and staff.

Ron shares key insights for success:

• Mind your language: Be technically accurate without drowning in jargon.
• Ditch the forms: Gather meaningful information through conversation, not paperwork.
• Focus on skill-building: Address behaviors by teaching replacement skills, not just stopping actions.
• Find and be a mentor: Growth doesn’t end with certification—keep learning and connecting.

In addition to his school-based work, Ron serves as a lead consultant at FTF Consulting, teaching others to analyze and build skills for individuals with severe problem behaviors, while also contributing to research initiatives.

And don’t forget—our School-Based BCBA Startpack is there to help you hit the ground running, and we’d love for you to join us for a live Q&A with Ron on September 9th from 7 to 8 PM EST. You deserve to feel supported in the critical, transformative work you do every day.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Ron’s must-knows for school-based BCBAs.
• Resources for school-based BCBAs.
• What is FTF Consulting?

Mentioned In This Episode:

Purchase the School Based BCBA Starter Pack
ABA Speech Membership
ABA Speech: Home

All your family’s pressing concerns and questions, answered in one place. Mike...

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On today’s episode, I’m joined by Allyson Wharam, BCBA, instructional designer, and founder of Sidekick Learning. Allyson is the creator of one of the most comprehensive and thoughtfully designed 40-hour RBT courses I’ve come across. Her background in instructional design brings a fresh and interactive approach to RBT and BCBA training.

We talk about how the RBT certification has grown rapidly and why quality training is more important than ever. Allyson explains what goes into becoming an RBT and how her course supports new professionals with engaging, person-centered content. We also dive into how BCBAs can feel unprepared when stepping into supervisory roles and how her supervision curriculum fills that gap.

Whether you're a clinic owner, new BCBA, or someone supporting trainees, this conversation is full of helpful insight on training, supervision, and compassionate care.

Allyson also shares details on our upcoming collaboration. On August 19, I’ll be presenting a free live CEU course on joint attention through Sidekick Learning, and I’d love for you to join us.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• What makes Allyson’s 40-hour RBT course unique
• The steps to RBT certification and required competencies
• Why supervision is a challenge for new BCBAs and how to support them
• Integrating compassion and social validity into training content

Mentioned in this episode:
Sidekick Learning
Supervision Sidekick on Instagram
Allyson Wharam on LinkedIn
ABA Speech Connection
Free CEU on Joint Attention – August 19
RBT Training Use coupon code: ABASPEECH

All your family’s pressing concerns and questions, answered in one place. Mike...

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Jennifer Houston joins me to share her journey from speech‑language pathologist (SLP) to dual‑credentialed SLP/Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)—a rare “unicorn” duo found in fewer than 500 professionals worldwide. After more than two decades of diverse SLP roles, Jennifer found herself increasingly drawn to addressing challenging behaviors across her caseload. Motivated by this evolving passion and a push from her boss, she pursued BCBA certification, blending her communication expertise with applied behavior analysis to better support her clients.

In our conversation, Jennifer tackles common misconceptions about both fields and describes her thoughtful approach to professional introductions. She emphasizes the importance of gently educating colleagues about the shared foundations of speech‑language pathology and behavior analysis, fostering collaboration rather than competition.

Jennifer is also an active member of ABA Speech Connection, our community that provides science‑backed resources on the latest developments in ABA. She explains how this network helps her stay current and deliver evidence‑based interventions. Highlighting that education doesn’t end at graduation, Jennifer contrasts what she loves about our live courses—robust chat interactions—with the flexibility of ABA Speech’s comprehensive course library, underscoring her belief in lifelong learning.

 #autism #speechtherapy 

What’s Inside:

• Becoming dually certified: SLP to SLP/BCBA.
• Common misconceptions cross the fields of Speech Pathology and ABA.
• Finding common ground across professions.
• Utilizing ABA Speech Connection to bolster learning across the career.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Speech Membership - ABA Speech  
ABA Speech: Home

All your family’s pressing concerns and questions, answered in one place. Mike...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify