The ABA Speech Podcast- Easy Strategies for Speech Therapists, BCBAs, and RBTs

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 Daughter
Hannah and Friends
Hannah and Friends
Join 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 #speectherapy

What’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 Coleman
Join 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 #speechtherapy

What’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:
[email protected]
Dr. Teresa Cardon on LinkedIn
Teresa CARDON | Speech & Hearing Science; Board Certified Behavior Analyst | Chicago School of Professional Psychology | Ph.D. Program in Applied Behavior Analysis | Research profile
Video Modeling Imitation Training Manual.pdf
Join the ABA SPEECH Connection Membership

Whether you’re a keynote speaker or you’re attending a small group team meeting, front of the room speaking opportunities are abundant in the autism healthcare field. And they are mutually beneficial. Dr. Breanne Hartley is BCBA-D who is passionate about public speaking. These opportunities create an environment of learning, collaboration, and sharing ideas and thoughts. 

Public Speaking Strategies for SLPs, BCBAs, and anyone with a front of the room opportunity:

• Conceptualize any opportunity as a “front of the room” opportunity.
• Be prepared. Consider what ideas you want to convey, plan key points with supporting material and real world examples
• Ask yourself questions: How do you want the audience to think and feel?
• Know your audience. Who are you talking to SLPs? BCBAs? Parents? 
• Study other public speakers in your field. What do you want to emulate and what do you want to avoid?
• Have a back up plan. (Dr. Hartley’s pro tip - PRINT YOUR SLIDES!)
• Sound and Memorable Concluding Remarks. Consider a quote or a call to action for your audience.

Along with these great tips, we also discuss Dr. Hartley’s work as the Chief Clinical Officer at UNIFI Autism Care. UNIFI is on a mission to level up autism care and create a unified experience between providers and clinicians for the benefit of the patient.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Finding opportunities for public speaking, big and small, as a provider
• The mutual benefits of public speaking opportunities for providers and speakers.
• Strategies for public speaking for anyone!
• What is UNIFI Autism Care?

Mentioned In This Episode:
ABA SPEECH Connection Membership
C.A.R.E. Autism
Breanne Hartley, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA - Chief Clinical Officer - UNIFI Autism Care | LinkedIn
Join the bootcamp here

Do you hear the word parent advocate and immediately anticipate a contentious IEP meeting with an US vs THEM mentality? It doesn’t have to be that way. April Rehrig is an advocate with over 20 years of experience as a school psychologist, teacher, and parent in the public school system.

In our conversations, April explains how her philosophy is about reaching across the table to work together and resolve concerns. She is a virtual advocate working with clients across the country and offering an embedded coaching model with on-demand online courses, letter templates, and parent training. This model goes beyond advocacy and helps parents learn and understand how they can themselves advocate for their child.

Not everyone can afford an advocate, April affirms, which is one reason she provides coaching and training to empower parents for future IEP meetings. Most advocates are fee-based, but you can also find low-cost and sliding-scale options too. She shares some great insight when it comes to looking for an advocate, like understanding the difference between advocates, attorneys, and coaches. It’s important to know what you need and want with this support. April provides examples of questions to be sure to ask when finding the right fit.

There is a lot of value for parents and families as well as provider teams when it comes to providing advocacy support, especially when the goal for all is positivity and collaboration. If you like this episode and want to see more of this type of content, be sure to rate and review on Apple Podcasts.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• The value an advocate can bring to an IEP meeting.
• How to resolve core concerns of the parents.
• What’s the difference between an advocate, attorney, or coach?
• How to find an advocate near you.

Mentioned In This Episode:
ABA SPEECH Connection Membership
Rise Educational Advocacy
Join the bootcamp here

When it comes to teaching comprehension to autistic learners, it can be difficult to know where to get started. This is an important skill leading to independent communication, and it’s crucial to have a robust system for teaching the skills.

I’m going over some of the foundational skills leading to comprehension. Labeling is a progressional skill that should start with the preferred terms of the learner, then onto more functional beyond the therapy room for their day to day life. Intraverbals and (to keep things simple) filling in the blanks are another skill that is a cornerstone of conversation and a foundation of comprehension learning. Don’t forget to check out Dr. Sundberg’s supplement that I discuss in this episode.

WH questions are a specific target to get started with in comprehension. You can get very specific with criteria and data when creating learning targets and IEP goals for this skill. You can teach this skill with visuals (I share a resource for this today too!) and very importantly, you can use WH questions to teach and generalize personal safety questions: What is your name? What is your guardian's name? What is your phone number? Etc.

There are great links and resources for you to check out today, so don’t miss those! And if you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to leave a review or reach out to me at ABAspeech.org with any questions.

#autism #speectherapy

What’s Inside:

• How to support a learner with struggling comprehension skills.
• A robust system for teaching comprehension with autistic students.
• Creating functional IEP goals for comprehension with WH questions.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Dr. Sundberg Intraverbal Supplement: Intraverbal Subtest V.6.0
ABA SPEECH Intraverbal Printable: Speech Therapy Activity: Focus on Comprehension & Expressive Language
Boom Cards for Comprehension
Join the ABA SPEECH Connection Membership - Membership ABA Speech
Join the bootcamp here: Dynamic Content Joint Attention Bootcamp 

*Alexa play Get Along by Kenny Chesney*

Rachel Stotts wrote the article, Accepting Different Opinions About Autism in the Nov/Dec issue of ASHA Leader. It is bright positive energy in a space that really needs it. She is an SLP and a mother of 4.  Rachel’s passion for autism is so important professionally and personally, as she has her adult autistic son at home.
 
Rachel shares her thoughts on the controversy surrounding the autism puzzle piece. For her, autism is a puzzle—figuring out all the right support, services, and needs. When it comes to different opinions and information, she reminds us to listen, stay informed, and evaluate based on our values and knowledge.  One person, one therapy, one anything—it just doesn't work in the autism population.

There is always someone offended, a trending opinion, or a hot button topic. So how do we navigate all of the information and opinions online and on social media?
-Remember who you are in this industry for: It’s not about likes and validation; it's about making a difference in the child’s life.
-Be cautious about the content you’re consuming.
-Find community away from negative online spaces.

Unfortunately, not everyone is going to see eye to eye on interventions, but as long as we support people and the people supporting the people, we can find positivity and make a difference!

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• ASHA Leader Article: Accepting Different Opinions About Autism by Rachel Stotts.
• Thoughts on the Autism Puzzle Piece.
• How to navigate online information.
• Finding support from negative spaces.

Mentioned In This Episode:
ABA SPEECH Connection Membership
Join the bootcamp here: https://aba-speech-llc.ck.page/38b4953816

Today we’re featuring more accessible research! We’re talking about a topic I am really passionate about; Modified Leisure with play, social skills, and joint attention all mixed in. 

Dr. Erin Barton explains the research involved in her study, Teaching Board Game Play to Young Children With Disabilities. Her work focused on expanding play research from pretend play to play with peers, with an emphasis on the least amount of adult intervention. Dr. Barton makes an important note that every child deserves a 100% chance that they will have at least 1 chance for a positive interaction with their peers. Board game play is a naturally occurring chance for small group play with functionality that applies beyond the therapy room.

The children involved in the study had limited speech, developmental delays and required no peer aversions, specific motor skills related to game play, and the ability to follow one-step directions. They generalized board game play with visual cues and step by step guides among an array of games that were picked daily by rotating student choice. In the study, they found that after between 5 and 10 sessions, children were able to generalize and maintain the skill. 


Dr. Barton also shares some tips that everyday clinicians can use today in the therapy room. 

• Cooperation focus: change games so they meet the needs of the child, they don't have to be the original win/lose function.
• Adaptations: create visual cues and prompts that can become a part of the game and do not need to be faded.
• Student interests: use games and interests the students enjoy to reinforce the process.

Did you like this episode? Let me know if you’d like more like this, and I'll keep bridging the gap between research and practice!

#autism #speechtherapy


What’s Inside:

• Increasing chances for positive peer to peer interactions.
• Generalizing board game play with cues and adaptations.
• Supporting peer to peer interactions with play and limited adult intervention.
• How to teach board game play for the everyday clinician. 

Mentioned In This Episode:
ABA SPEECH Connection Membership

“We have to see learners as a part of their community.” Brittany Schmidt, BCBA-SLP, explains a major point of the AAC Trial process, having the device be effective across all of the learners' environments and communication partners.

It’s hard to stay up to date and fully understand AAC when you’re not working with it on a regular basis. In this episode, Brittany shares some specific points and ideas when it comes to finding the right AAC device for a learner and avoiding device abandonment.

Over the years, there has been an incredible evolution of access. There is more affordability and availability of devices and applications with unique features that can be programmed for diverse learners. Ease and functionality, response and consequence changing, power words, and realistic goal setting are among some of the great points Brittany and I discuss.

You can find out more about Brittany through Thrive Clinical Solutions or reach out to her via email. Be on the lookout for her talk and CEUs on AAC through ABA Speech Connection.

#autism #speectherapy

What’s Inside:

• Understanding the varying modes of intent to communicate, including problem behaviors.
• Helping learners communicate across environments and partners.
• The evolution of access to AAC.
• Unique app features that can help a variety of learners needs.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Thrive Clinical Solutions
[email protected]
ABA SPEECH Connection Membership

As a fellow busy SLP-BCBA, I know it's hard to keep up to date with research. That's why I’ve been combing through articles and inviting these researchers in our field on the podcast! I am on a mission to bridge the gap between research and practice.

Stephanie Gonzalez is a BCBA doctoral candidate at the University of Florida and the author of the article, Teaching Children to Respond to Questions About the Past: A Preliminary Analysis. While her research into this topic is ongoing, Stephanie and I had a great conversation about recall skills and how some may not see them as an available skill for their learners. The work she has done shows how this skill can be worked on alongside other important targets.

What did you do at school today? What did you do this weekend? What movie did you see? What toy did you play with? These are all valuable questions that recall the past and unlock conversations, especially for parents who want to know what their child is up to.

Using probe fading, Stephanie gradually builds a delay in recall, using differential reinforcements every time a learner correctly recalls. In fact, with the learners she's worked with, she has surprisingly built the 30 minute recall very quickly. Stephanie explains the base skills her learners have and how others may build this into their treatment package.

Be sure to read Stephanie’s article and stay tuned for more important research made accessible!

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Bridging the gap between research and practice.
• Research making recall skills available to learners.
• How to use probe fading to increase recall conversations with clients.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Autism Outreach: #107 The Importance of Comprehension Skills with Dr. Merrill Winston
Teaching Children to Respond to Questions About the Past: A Preliminary Analysis
ABA SPEECH Connection Membership