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

Today I had the pleasure of talking with my BCBA supervisor and trailblazer in the field. Kelle was introduced to the world of autism at a really young age, which led into special education and continued on to her large body of work. In this episode she is sharing with us, from her wealth of knowledge, about how to work with students with problem behavior and what to do to support learners when it becomes a barrier to therapy.

The first step, with any therapy case, is to understand your learner. You can do this by reading the files, interviewing the parents, teachers, and other providers, and talking to the learner. You really want to know who this child is, what they like, and how they work so that you can pair your environment and therapy up to these things. Take a deep breath, take your time, and just build that relationship.

If you've built that rapport and problem behavior is still occurring, you can analyze the appropriate next steps. When tier 1 or non-dangerous behavior is occurring it is important to move forward with therapy. Note it, track data on it, but keep doing what you're doing. Try to avoid accidentally reinforcing that negative behavior. But what if it's more?

What is an FBA?
A Functional Behavior Assessment, is a formal assessment process that must be requested as a part of an IEP. This process is worked through the team of providers, parents, and anyone who works with the learner. Next, a direct observation occurs to track patterns and antecedents. Finally, an actual analysis may be necessary where the learner will be tested. We do all this to guide us to an accurate behavior intervention plan.

What is the BIP?
A Behavior Intervention Plan written into an IEP to guide and shape therapy. A BIP can not be created without an FBA. Whoever develops the BIP needs to be the one to train and support staff on how to support the learner.

When it comes to these plans and conversations, they are often occurring because things are not going well which can cause some contention between professionals. Kelle and I both discuss how we find it helpful to remind the team that we are in fact on the same team and that the common goal is to help the learner!

To close out this awesome interview, Kelle shares a little bit about her upcoming conference, The Verbal Behavior Conference. This began in 2018, became virtual throughout COVID, and is occurring both live and virtual this year. There are a ton of great speakers and leaders in the field and so many trending topics on the billet.

#autism #speectherapy

What’s Inside:

• What is the FBA?
• What is a BIP?
• What can you do when problem behavior becomes a barrier to learning?
• How can speech therapists support students with problem behavior?
• Why does problem behavior occur?

Mentioned in this Episode: 

ABA Speech: Home
ABA SPEECH Your Autism Resource
Verbal Behavior Conference

There is a strong bond between joint attention and both receptive and expressive language skills. When we work on joint attention, we are showing that our learners' communication is powerful! I am sharing a few tips and ideas that I use to build connections before communication while working on joint attention goals.

These activities involve shared activities through playing with toys, singing songs, and reading books. It is okay if your student isn't ready to fully engage when you introduce these activities, note their baseline data, and move forward with goals. You will be amazed to see the transformation and excitement over these simple activities.

Toys:
Playing with toys in therapy is all about creating an interaction in a semi-structured environment. Remember to use simple language and allow for natural curiosity and play and not bombard with questions. 
Examples of toys I love to use:

• Car and car track 
• Mini Objects
• Farm Set

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 is 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, they are familiar and create engagement. I also love to use visuals that 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.
Songs I love:

• 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 get used to them in your next therapy session!

#autism #speechtherapy 

What’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 Speech
ABA Speech: Home
ABA SPEECH Your Autism Resource 

I am excited to share my top 10 tips and strategies for supporting middle and high school-aged students. This is an area where I feel not a lot of information is available. I am very fortunate to work with kids across the lifespan from preschool ages in my private practice to middle and high school in the school setting. While I generally focus on helping autistic learners, these tips can be great for anyone working with older students.

1. Build rapport.
This can be difficult and likely won’t happen overnight but it will greatly affect your relationship and effectiveness with the learner.

2. Analyze your service delivery options.
Your students likely have a large array of needs, how can you change the environment, setting, and therapy approach to meet those needs?

3. Know who is on the team.
Do your students see other therapists or other providers? Keep communication open and available for all the team members for your learner’s success.

4. Focus on independence.
Independence looks different for every learner and encouraging this can be done in a variety of big and small ways.

5. Create shared goals.
It’s great to collaborate with other teachers and share goals, these can be developed together and supported across settings.

6. Analyze the function of your goals.
Always ask, how are these goals important across the lifespan? Know why you’re working on something and the scope of sequence to accomplish these goals.

7. Consider working on communication as it relates to vocation and leisure.
As we get older, vocation and leisure become increasingly important, students should feel really comfortable in these areas.

8. Analyze data collection.
Use a variety of data collection related to goals in different forms. Self-monitoring can also be a great tool for data collection.

9. Go over goals with your students.
At the middle and high school, students become part of their goal-setting team, encourage participation in IEPs and keep them aware of the why behind their therapy goals. This is a great time to share how you're going to support them and what to expect.

10. Reach out with any questions.
Utilize resources available to you! I would love to help and share the resources I’ve created as well as support through a Discovery call.

I hope you found these tips helpful. Please reach out if I can support you!

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• How can you support middle and high school, autistic learners?
• Can build a rapport affect therapy?
• Why should older students focus on independence?
• Should older students be involved in their goal planning?
• What resources are available for older autistic learners?

 Mentioned In This Episode:

—Double Up Vocabulary and Leisure Game - ABA Speech
—Vocational Binder
—Discovery Call
—ABA Speech: Home
—ABA SPEECH Your Autism Resource 

Apraxia is something a lot of my listeners are really interested in learning about. I had Dr. Edythe Strand on the two-part episode, number 44. Today Dr. Jennifer Moore, SLP, and co-owner of Brave Wings Therapy brings us some strategies on understanding Apraxia with autism and applying the interventions to autistic learners.

What is Apraxia and is it common in autism?
Childhood Apraxia Speech is when the brain has difficulty planning and directing the muscles in a sequence to produce speech. Students with Apraxia might have difficult transitions from one syllable to another, you might see oral groping, vowel distortion, or errors in prosody. Autism rates have risen, current studies show approximately 1 in 44 children is diagnosed with autism. Although research does vary, within that subpopulation there is a coexistence of Apraxia in about ⅔ of those cases.

How can Apraxia interventions be applied to autistic learners?
Many SLP’s struggles because there are great evidence-based assessments such as DTTC and REST for apraxia. However, with these approaches, there are many prerequisite skills required for an authentic, best practice result that do not align with the “box” our autistic learners need. Effective assessments for these learners will require outside-of-the-box thinking using a mix of these approaches with modifications unique to each learner.

When assessing an autistic learner, we really have to be dynamic in our approach. This means looking at sensory differences, current communication style, AAC use, receptive language, and cognitive ability and assessing each of these areas. Jennifer suggests structuring the therapy environment and before therapy, activities to be conducive to the learner and the assessments.

Picking functional targets for autistic learners?
Jennifer uses the term “Power Words” as an important start for learning targets. This means words that are of high use for them in their everyday life that are going to be heard and used often with a big impact. With these functional words, SLPs can look at what the student already has in terms of the sounds and oral motor skills and how to shape it. The Principles for Motor Learning guides instruction, practice, and retention for learners with apraxia and Jennifer provides great guidance on this.

This was such an informative episode on modifying assessment and treatment for Apraxia in autistic learners. You can find out more about Jennifer and her work on Instagram, Facebook, and on the Brave Wings Therapy website.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• What are Apraxia assessments?
• How sensory differences that may affect autistic learners.
• How to pick targets for autistic learners.
• Communication when working on interdisciplinary teams.

Mentioned in this episode:

Don’t miss Pyramid Educational Consultants’ Second Annual FUNctional Behavior Conference on April 4th and 5th, 2022! Pyramid’s international team of behavior analysts, and dually certified speech pathologists, led by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost, the developers of PECS, have created all new and expanded content that includes a broad range of practical information related to the field of behavior analysis. Day one will focus on content related to educational programming and program development. Day two of the virtual conference will present information related to behavior analysis and communication. Earn up to 8.0 BACB CEUs including one ethics and one supervision credit when you attend the full virtual conference. To learn more about attending the FUNctional Behavior Conference on April 4th & 5th,  visit pecsusa.com!

— Dr. Moore on Instagram
— Brave Wings Therapy

I often get requests for how therapists can help students who are engaging in problem behaviors that create a barrier to learning. In this interview, my colleague Sasha Long of The Autism Helper shared her “Five Favorite Antecedent Strategies”.

If you’re not sure what antecedent means, Sasha gives a great explanation. For the purpose of this list, antecedent means to be proactive. This is a list of best practices that when used to their fullest potential can help teachers, therapists, and even parents become proactive instead of reactive in the face of problem behavior.

1. Evaluate the Physical Environment. Remove elements of distraction or possible sensory overload. We might not always be able to remove it all together, but we can minimize or be aware to be of support to the learner.

2. Routines. Kids and adults thrive off of routine and knowing what to expect. Be sure to include several grounding activities throughout the day. We’re all human and things come up but how can you plan ahead to maintain a routine even when there is a change in the day?

3. Schedules. We often have schedules for the whole day but mini schedules are the secret sauce. Try to break down the steps into every group and activity. If you can associate each activity with a visual cue in the order it happens. Keep it simple and applicable to the receptive language skills of the learners.

4. Visuals. We all use them, but, why are you using them? Take a look at the receptive language skills of your learners and figure out what kind of visuals they need. Make visuals a purposeful strategy as opposed to pictures used for the sake of taking up wall space.

5. Reinforcement of replacement behaviors. When you build up good behavior, you’re not going to need to be reactive. Provide praise when students are engaged in positive replacement behaviors. Find the good even if it's small!

Our end goal when working with students and implementing this list to see an increase in communication and a decrease in problem behaviors. Sasha is a wealth of information. You can find out more about her and her work through her blog and podcast, The Autism Helper.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Proactive strategies for students who engage in problem behavior. 
• What to do when problem behavior becomes a barrier to learning.
• How to help students who engage in unsafe behavior during therapy.
• What are Sasha Long’s Top 5 Antecedent Intervention Strategies?
• How  to set up your therapy environment for the safety of your students.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Don’t miss Pyramid Educational Consultants’ Second Annual FUNctional Behavior Conference on April 4th and 5th, 2022! Pyramid’s international team of behavior analysts, and dually certified speech pathologists, led by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost, the developers of PECS, have created all new and expanded content that includes a broad range of practical information related to the field of behavior analysis. Day one will focus on content related to educational programming and program development. Day two of the virtual conference will present information related to behavior analysis and communication. Earn up to 8.0 BACB CEUs including one ethics and one supervision credit when you attend the full virtual conference. To learn more about attending the FUNctional Behavior Conference on April 4th & 5th  visit, pecsusa.com!

The Autism Helper
ABA Speech: Home
ABA SPEECH Your Autism Resource 

I am announcing a huge upcoming event, the Autism Connection. If you are an SLP, BCBA, teacher, or even a parent, this is going to be a great event. I partner with Sasha Long who’s also a BCBA and she’s got really great strategies that are actionable and applicable.

This is a live PD in which participants will receive CEUs and certificates of attendance. Be sure to check out the talking points, event schedule, and get registered!

Learn about the Autism Connection. The inaugural LIVE PD event is taking place on March 12th. Brought to you by ABA SPEECH and The Autism Helper. A LIVE ASHA approved and ACE event!

Schedule: (Eastern Time)

Time: 9:45 am -10:00 am
Topic: Welcome
Presenters: With Rose and Sasha

Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Topic: Make the Environment a Tool not an Obstacle
Presenters: Sasha Long M.A. BCBA

Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm 
Topic: The Performative Power of Language in Therapeutic Spaces: Steps Towards Neurodivergent Affirming Practices
Presenters: Mari Cerda BCBA LBA

Time: 12:00 pm -12:15 pm 
Topic: Break
Presenters: Break

Time: 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
Topic: Modified Play and Leisure Skills For Preschool and Elementary Aged Students
Presenters: Rose Griffin M.A. CCC/SLP BCBA

Time:  1:15 pm - 2:30 pm
Topic: LUNCH BREAK
Presenters: LUNCH BREAK

Time:  2:30 pm- 3:30 pm 
Topic: AAC Intervention: Supporting Communication Partners and AAC Users in Naturalistic Communication Environments
Presenters: Kate Grandbois, MS, CCC-SLP
BCBA

Time:  3:30 pm - 4:30 pm   
Topic: The Best Kept Secrets of Collaborative IEP Goal Writing
Presenters: Stephanie DeLussey and Rose Griffin M.A. CCC/SLP BCBA

Time:  4:30 pm - 4:45 pm 
Topic: Wrap Up and CEU Reminders
Presenters: Rose and Sasha

Get Registered for the Autism Connection Now!

Thank you to our sponsor: 

Don’t miss Pyramid Educational Consultants’ Second Annual FUNctional Behavior Conference on April 4th and 5th, 2022! Pyramid’s international team of behavior analysts, and dually certified speech pathologists, led by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost, the developers of PECS, have created all new and expanded content that includes a broad range of practical information related to the field of behavior analysis. Day one will focus on content related to educational programming and program development. Day two of the virtual conference will present information related to behavior analysis and communication. Earn up to 8.0 BACB CEUs including one ethics and one supervision credit when you attend the full virtual conference. To learn more about attending the FUNctional Behavior Conference on April 4th & 5th, visit pecsusa.com!

What’s Inside:

• What is the Autism Connection, Live PD event?
• How can you attend this live event?
• Can you receive CEUs or other certificates by attending the Autism Connection?
• All about a great live event for SLPs, BCBAs, teachers, and parents.

 Mentioned In This Episode:
Get Registered for the Autism Connection Now!
ABA Speech: Home
ABA SPEECH Your Autism Resource 

We focus a lot on therapy for young learners, but what about when they grow up? Support for older autistic learners and adults is so important. In this episode, I interviewed Jared Stewart, autistic adult, professional, and BCBA.

For many, characteristics of autism may not be apparent until life demands exceed their skill set. He shares his experience in the school system, how bullying, and the skill demands affected him. He finished his 7th-grade year with a refusal to return to school and spent the next year doing correspondence school from his bedroom. He began school again at the start of 9th grade with the realization that everything he wanted to do was on the other side of education.

Jared talks about a calendar planner one of his teachers helped him create that really changed the way he managed school, giving him a new sense of control. At that point, he learned that he could learn the systems of success. Creating systems is a really great tool for autistic individuals and with the mastery of these, anyone can learn to do bigger and better things.

From his first-hand experience as a high school student to college student, Jared has excellent insight on the needs for public school support and beyond. Focusing on strengths and building up the confidence of your autistic learners is key to their success as they move from school to the real world. Additionally, helping learners understand their unique challenges and working on them is important too. Masking is a hot topic in the autism world today, Jared shared his take on what he calls authentic masking as an important skill to connect your authentic self with your neurotypical community.

Jared pointed out that we often forget that autism is a developmental delay. As autistic individuals get older, brain development begins to catch up to neurotypicals and they can really do some powerful things. He sees it first hand with his work at the Scenic View Academy, a residential academy in which autistic adults live, work and get paid for their work. The school customizes plans for students that last on average about 2-3 years. In this program, they learn all the skills to function and keep themselves safe in daily life physically, mentally, emotionally, and sexually.

This was a great chat about focusing on the transition mindset when preparing autistic learners for beyond public school.  Jared is so knowledgeable and passionate about helping others. If you’re interested in the Scenic View Academy you can find out more information online or if you’d like, you can get in touch with Jared who is happy to help in any way he can.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Making school more impactful for all learners.
• How to help older students understand their strengths.
• How we can frame how we will support older students.
• How to identify the areas students might need support after school and why.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Don’t miss Pyramid Educational Consultants’ Second Annual FUNctional Behavior Conference on April 4th and 5th, 2022! Pyramid’s international team of behavior analysts, and dually certified speech pathologists, led by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost, the developers of PECS, have created all new and expanded content that includes a broad range of practical information related to the field of behavior analysis. Day one will focus on content related to educational programming and program development. Day two of the virtual conference will present information related to behavior analysis and communication. Earn up to 8.0 BACB CEUs including one ethics and one supervision credit when you attend the full virtual conference. To learn more about attending the FUNctional Behavior Conference on April 4th & 5th,  visit pecsusa.com!

ScenicView Academy

As Speech-Language Pathologists, it can be overwhelming to create a therapy plan for learners with no speech at all. Where do you get started? In this episode, I talk with Terri Smith. She is an SLP and the founder and owner of Bluebird Speech Therapy and Consulting Services.

Help Me Find My Voice and Start Communicating Now are two courses I offer online for professionals and parents. Terri shared with me how she found ABA Speech and has attended and utilized these resources. She describes her takeaway from these courses as a “Road Map” for therapy with autistic or nonverbal learners. These courses provide real actionable tips, step-by-step ideas for therapy, and most important assessments that focus on communication skills that are crucial for nonverbal learners.

Requesting is an important skill that Terri focuses on in her therapy. She finds that this gives her learners power by realizing their communication means something! Additionally, it's all about the fun, child-led activities built into social and gameplay that make a big difference, especially when working with nonverbal students. One rule she works by is planning therapy based on learners' developmental age, not their chronological age.

Terri works with students with autism to support functional communication and behavior strategies through play-based activities. As a consultant, she also supports other professionals in the field. Oftentimes, SLPs and BCBAs work together simultaneously with families and clients. Even myself as both can sometimes disagree on treatment plans. It’s important to remember when it comes to speech that the SLP is the expert, but also to continue to have that professional dialogue. Regardless of the points of disagreement when a professional is passionate about something it is obvious that their intention is just what's best for the learner.

Every student we see is very different with very different needs, it is important for therapy to match that and change client to client. This is such a great interview in which Terri and I talk about some great tips, tools, and guidelines for getting started with therapy, as well as the big difference my online courses can make!

What’s Inside:

• How can ABA Speech online courses help SLPs and other professionals?
• Where to get started in intervention.
• How you can help your students communicate.
• How to bring fun into therapy.
• The assessments and roadmap for beginning therapy.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Thank You To Our Sponsor:
Don’t miss Pyramid Educational Consultant’s Second Annual FUNctional Behavior Conference on April 4th and 5th, 2022! Pyramid’s international team of behavior analysts, and dually certified speech pathologists, led by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost, the developers of PECS, have created all new and expanded content that includes a broad range of practical information related to the field of behavior analysis. Day one will focus on content related to educational programming and program development. Day two of the virtual conference will present information related to behavior analysis and communication. Earn up to 8.0 BACB CEUs including one ethics and one supervision credit when you attend the full virtual conference. To learn more about attending the FUNctional Behavior Conference on April 4th & 5th,  visit pecsusa.com!

Pecsusa.com
[email protected]
Bluebird Speech on Facebook
Facebook: @TerriSmithSLP
Instagram: @BlueBirdSpeech
ABA Speech: Home
ABA SPEECH Your Autism Resource 

I always love to get parents' perspectives but it’s not often I get to hear the unique view of a parent turned professional. In this episode, I interview Emily Estades, my friend, graduate student, parent, and SLP.  Emily is the mother of two children, her daughter, the oldest, has a dual diagnosis of Autism and Rett Syndrome, and her son with Anxiety and ADHD. Her journey started with her daughter's many appointments, meetings, and therapies, eventually inspiring her career as an SLP.

Prior to dealing with speech therapists for her daughter, Emily remembers speech therapy as something kids got pulled out for in the middle of class but not much else. Through attending therapy with her daughter, she got an inside look at what it really was and she began to question and learn. She feels that the time period in which they were first attending therapy with their new diagnosis was a transitional time for the profession and her initial experience was really affected by this. Everyone was working in the best interest of her child, but it felt like they were learning right alongside them. That has really influenced how she works with families now as an SLP. Trying to keep an open mind, provide support wherever she can, and provide information and resources if they are wanting to learn too.

Emily really gets it as a parent and SLP. As someone who attended IEPs on the other side of the table long before she became a professional, I wanted her advice on how providers can keep parents as a vital part of the team. She had some great tips!

How can providers lead parent-inclusive IEP meetings?

•Be mindful of the perspective and language you are using with the parent.
•Be compassionate and be empathetic, parents are doing the best they can.
•It is the professional's job to build the bridge between home and school or home and therapy.
•Not everyone likes to be called mom and dad. Give them their identity, use their name or ask for their preference.
•Do not doubt parents when they talk about positive behaviors that are happening at home. •Take that opportunity to learn and build rapport.
•Encourage parents to take part in the team, provide videos, write in the daily notebook, etc.
•Build rapport and be gentle. Diagnosis is only the beginning for a parent, this is the hardest thing for them to talk about.

These are some great things to keep in mind for professionals out there wanting to be sure their parents are included. And for parents, remember these are things you and your family deserve, be sure to advocate for them during IEP meetings. Emily is a dear friend and it was great to hear her perspective on this. You can learn more about her and her practice at The Inspired SLP.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

•  A unique parent perspective at the IEP table.
• Tips for professionals on leading a parent inclusive meeting.
• Tips for parents from diagnosis to advocacy.
• The parent and professional journey of Emily Estades, The Inspired SLP

Mentioned In This Episode:
www.theinspiredslp.net
[email protected]
ABA Speech: Home
ABA SPEECH Your Autism Resource
FREE Masterclass- Best Strategies in 2022 To Reach Your Autistic Students

Is ABA therapy the right choice for your autistic child? Today Rebecca Shellito, mother, wife, nurse, and non-profit organizer join me to share her family's autism journey.

Rebecca’s son Nico received his autism diagnosis shortly before his third birthday and by 4 years old he was in full-time ABA therapy. They were incredibly lucky to find a local provider, covered by insurance that they were comfortable with. I know some clients and friends personally that drive to see their preferred provider outside of their local area. Wherever your provider is, comfortability is key.  Speak up. Ask questions. Don’t stop until you feel comfortable.

ABA comes with so many logistics and scientific terms. As a parent, it can feel like a foreign language and be both overwhelming and intimidating. Rebecca took my online course, Help Me Find My Voice, early on in Nico’s ABA journey, and she said it changed the game. The course gave her the confidence to interact with Nico’s therapists and truly understand everything that was happening. No longer did she feel like a sidebar they had to break things down for but more of an active participant in her son’s therapy team.

Starting full-time ABA at the age of 4, Nico is now 9 and has seen some real progress. Beginning in a developmental preschool and then regular preschool with an ABA aide, he has now fully moved into a traditional elementary school. Nico is in 3rd grade and participates in general education for half his day and a more restrictive environment in special ed the other half. Rebecca plans to enroll him in some ABA after-school programs and playgroups in the future.

No matter how prepared you are, getting the diagnosis of autism for your child can be overwhelming. Rebecca shares some great advice for parents and families just beginning their journey with autism and ABA. You can learn all about the great things she’s doing through her non-profit Uniquely Nico, where she supports parents and autistic children.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Is ABA the right choice for your autistic child?
• How to find the right provider for ABA therapy?
• How progress through ABA can transform your child’s life?
• How the Help Me Find My Voice course can help families.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Uniquely Nico
Uniquely Nico on Facebook
Uniquely Nico on Instagram
ABA Speech: Home
ABA SPEECH Your Autism Resource
Best Strategies in 2022 To Reach Your Autistic Students