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

I’m so excited to celebrate 250 episodes of the podcast, and I couldn’t think of a better way than by sharing a little sneak peek into my own life. For this milestone, my 10-year-old son, Paxton—an aspiring podcaster himself—joins me to ask some fun questions about the show, my path to becoming an SLP, and a few behind-the-scenes facts you may not know.

To mark this celebration, I’m also sharing links to some of our most popular and meaningful episodes. And if you haven’t yet, come join us at ABA Speech Connection, where we keep the conversations going, unpack important topics in the ABA world, and offer CEUs designed to truly support your work.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Celebrating 250 episodes!
• Meet my son Paxton.
• A sneak peek into my life, aspirations, and motivations. 

Mentioned In This Episode:

Episode 1 Welcome to Autism Outreach
Episode 62 Autism Early Intervention and Joint Attention
Episode 44 How To Help Students with Apraxia of Speech with Dr. Edythe Strand Pt. 1
Episode 44 How To Help Students with Apraxia of Speech with Dr. Edythe Strand Pt. 2
Episode 45 Executive Functioning with Sara Ward
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“I can’t be the only one who feels this way.” That was the thought that led Kate Swenson to use her passion for writing to share her family’s journey. Kate is the founder of Finding Cooper’s Voice and the author of Finding Cooper’s Voice and Autism Out Loud. Her work highlights that autism is a family diagnosis, and she has made it her mission to connect the community, start conversations, and give families a voice.

Kate and I talk about the isolation many families feel after an autism diagnosis and how simple acts of presence and connection can make a difference. Sometimes autism makes it harder for families to leave the house and their world feels smaller—just being there, talking, and offering support can open doors again.

We also discuss the importance of creating opportunities for families to spend time together. For Kate’s family, that joy is found in boating—something they made accessible for her son and enjoyable for everyone. She encourages families to get comfortable hosting, bringing fun and community into their own homes when going out feels too difficult.

Through her writing, her membership communities on Facebook and YouTube, and the platform she has built with Finding Cooper’s Voice, Kate is helping families feel seen, supported, and less alone.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Creating a space for autism families.
• Discovering leisure activities for the whole family.
• Finding community in the isolation of autism.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Finding Cooper's Voice
Finding Cooper’s Voice - Facebook
Kate (@findingcoopersvoice) on Instagram
Kate Swenson | Substack
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Erin Stern, BCBA, Founder and President of STEPS Behavioral Health, shares how her clinic takes an integrative approach by combining ABA, Speech, OT, and PT to support early learners. With a strong focus on flexibility and tailoring every goal to the individual, Erin highlights the importance of thoughtful intake and assessment, working closely with families, preparing children for school, and weaving in everyday experiences and milestones.

Erin discusses the clinic’s Early Steps Program, which supports newly diagnosed learners through Kindergarten and beyond. With no “hard lines,” the focus is always on finding the right placement, environment, and balance of clinic- and home-based services. Erin explains how determining intervention hours involves multiple factors—age, behaviors, skill needs, family dynamics, and insurance—while maintaining flexibility to meet each learner’s individual needs.

Our conversation also highlights the value of providers immersing themselves in a learner’s AAC system, staying committed to professional growth, and never forgetting the power of play. As Erin reminds us, “Don’t forget to play,” because natural learning and connection thrive in those moments.

#autism #speechtherapy 

What’s Inside:

• STEPS Behavioral Health and the Early Steps Program.
• Tailoring early intervention to individual learner needs.
• Important factors to consider when determining intervention hours.
• Why play is one of the most important factors of a learner's success.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Stepsbh.com

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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
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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.  

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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

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

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

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