For Lorena and Roberto Germán, teaching isn’t just about content; it’s about connection. In this episode, they share how their work through Multicultural Classroom transforms how educators approach professional development, cultural responsiveness, and student-centered instruction. With decades of experience in classrooms and school leadership, they break down what it means to move from theory to practice. Lorena and Roberto offer real strategies that help educators navigate bias, build stronger relationships, and create learning environments where all students feel seen.

We also explore the tension between data and humanity, the impact of cultural context in behavioral support, and why celebrating non-tested wins matters just as much as academic outcomes. From honoring student voice to recognizing implicit bias, Lorena and Roberto challenge educators and behavior analysts alike to reflect deeply and act intentionally. Whether you're in a classroom, consulting in schools, or leading professional development, this episode offers tools and insights to help you practice with more awareness, care, and impact.

What’s Inside:

• How Lorena and Roberto’s work through Multicultural Classroom is transforming educators
• The impact cultural context has in behavioral support
• Tools and insights to bring more awareness into your practice

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Multicultural Classroom on YouTube

Are social skills groups a powerful way to build real-life connections, or just another artificial setting that doesn’t translate beyond the session? In this episode, we dive into the debate, weighing the pros and cons of group-based instruction. Drawing from years of experience, we explore what makes these groups succeed, where they fall short, and why context, individual goals, and generalization matter more than any set curriculum.

We discuss why some learners thrive in structured social settings while others need more natural, individualized approaches. From parent expectations to learner preferences, emotional regulation challenges, and the importance of staff involvement, we unpack what it really takes to make a social group effective. Whether you’re running a center-based program or supporting students in a classroom, this episode is packed with honest insights to help you decide when and how to use social skills groups…and when to rethink them entirely.

What’s Inside:

• The pros and cons of group-based instruction
• Why some learners thrive in structured social settings and others don’t
• Tips to help you decide when and how to use social skills groups

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For over 20 years, Model Me Kids has helped learners build real-world social skills through evidence-based video modeling. We sat down with founder Sue Klein to explore how it all began, from cutting out magazine clippings and mailing DVDs to launching a fully customizable streaming platform used by educators, therapists, and families across the country. Sue shares the origin story of Model Me Kids, the thinking behind its peer-led, real-life video format, and how it’s evolved to support learners of all ages and abilities.

We also dive into the teaching strategies that make video modeling so effective, like clear visual storyboards, built-in repetition, and role-play opportunities, and how the new data tracker will make progress easier to monitor and share. Whether you're working with preschoolers, teens, or young adults, Model Me Kids provides practical, engaging tools to help learners build confidence and social understanding in everyday life.

Want to try Model Me Kids yourself? Use promo code ABA25Plus for 25% off!

What’s Inside:

• How and why Sue created Model Me Kids
• Why video modeling is an effective teaching strategy
• A walkthrough of the features included in Model Me Kids

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Model Me Kids Website

Have you ever written a social skills goal that looked great on paper but didn’t lead to real-life success? In this conversation, we dive into how to create meaningful social skills goals that build genuine connection, confidence, and independence. We explore why social skills aren't one-size-fits-all and how to align goals with each learner’s personality, preferences, and values—whether that means navigating a busy store, joining a classroom routine, or connecting over a shared interest.

We also share common mistakes to avoid (like rote teaching and checklist-style goals) and offer practical strategies like values-based assessments, role-play, video modeling, and meaningful data collection. Whether you're working with verbal or non-verbal learners, young kids or teens, we show you how to build social goals that make a real impact on their terms, in their world.

Need more support? Join our next CEU event, How to Approach Social Skills Like a Behavior Analyst, on July 10th. Click the link below for more details!

What’s Inside:

• How to create meaningful, impactful social skills goals
• How to align goals to each unique learner
• Common mistakes to avoid

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Join Our Next CEU Event

Ever wonder how playful moments like peekaboo or a silly song can support meaningful progress in young children with autism? Here, we explore sensory social routines and how the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) uses them to build engagement, communication, and joint attention through everyday play. These simple, predictable routines can become powerful teaching tools when paired with a child’s natural interests.

We share what these routines are, why they work, and how we use them to follow a child’s lead while embedding teaching moments. From chasing games to puzzle play, we offer real-life examples and practical tips to spark connection, shape behavior, and celebrate small wins at home or in therapy. With the right strategies, even the smallest interactions can lead to big developmental breakthroughs.

What’s Inside:

• An overview of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)
• How to use ESDM routines in teaching
• Real-life examples and practical tips for working with learners

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Play-Based Tip Sheet
Episode 106: ABA Assessments  

Play is a fundamental part of childhood, so what happens when a child struggles to engage in it? In this episode, we explore the many forms play can take, why it's essential for development, and how to support learners who find it challenging.

We break down what "play" really means (beyond just pretend scenarios) and include everything from sports and games to musical instruments and picture books. We talk about common barriers to play, such as social challenges, sensory sensitivities, and limited interests, and how to meet kids where they are by shaping existing interests into meaningful, engaging activities.

You'll hear practical strategies for teaching and supporting play: using visual models, offering choices, setting up structured yet flexible play environments, and carefully selecting peers for playdates. We also discuss the value of parallel play and when to pivot from play to leisure skills—emphasizing that enjoyment and engagement are what matter most.

What’s Inside:

• What is play? 
• Identifying common barriers that make play challenging for some children.
• Strategies for supporting and shaping meaningful play experiences.
• Pivoting from play skills to leisure skills for lifelong enjoyment.

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An Early Start for Your Child with Autism: Using Everyday Activities to Help Kids Connect, Communicate, and Learn

Leisure skills, unlike developmental play, support lifelong engagement, independence, and quality of life, whether it's crochet, reading, or structured hobbies. In this discussion, we explore how play skills evolve across ages and how ABA programs can support that progression.

We outline the typical stages of play, from exploratory and functional play in toddlers to pretend, constructive, and rule-based games in older kids. We discuss why using outdated play activities (like blocks or shape sorters) with older learners can be problematic and highlight the importance of transitioning to leisure skills as children mature, especially for teens and adults. We also touch on strategies for teaching play, including sensory-social routines, modeling, and focusing on student motivation.

What’s Inside:

• How to use ABA programs to support play through the ages
• Issues with using outdated play activities with older learners
• Strategies to use when teaching play

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An independent activity schedule (IAS) is a tool made up of pictures or written cues that guides a child through a series of tasks on their own. It promotes independence and reduces the need for constant supervision, making it a valuable strategy for both school and home environments. In this episode, we dive into how to design an effective IAS, share creative schedule ideas, and walk you through how to teach it step-by-step.

Whether you're looking to encourage more independent behavior at school or help your child complete daily routines before screen time at home, an IAS can be a game-changer. We break down the three key phases of using an IAS, how to integrate open-ended tasks, and tips for prompting and tracking progress. Plus, we show you real-life examples so you can tailor a schedule that fits your needs.

Want more information on independent activity schedules? On June 12th, we’re hosting a CEU event: Independent Activity Schedules, Building Meaningful Play and Leisure Skills. Click the link below to register!

What’s Inside:

• How to create an independent activity schedule.
• How an IAS can help in both home and school settings.
• IAS data collection best practices.

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Join Our Next CEU Event

When it comes to successful interventions, knowing the “why” behind behaviors is key. As practitioners, we may have learned in school that there are four functions of behavior: escape, attention, tangible, and sensory. However, in practice, things aren’t always so cut and dry. Here, we dive into the roles of antecedents, triggers, and functions so we can better understand what drives challenging behavior.

In this conversation, we discuss setting events and how what comes right before a behavior helps us understand a learner’s missing skills. We look at how to best determine the function of a behavior and how to teach appropriate replacement skills. We also discuss synthesized reinforcement, the importance of conducting a functional behavior assessment, and reinforcement strategies.

What’s Inside:

• How setting events help us uncover missing skills
• How to determine the function of a behavior
• Examples of reinforcement strategies

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Free Antecedent Log

As BCBAs, each day we walk a fine line between keeping children safe while ensuring our interventions are compassionate, ethical, and effective. Prioritizing safety in behavior management is a non-negotiable and it doesn't have to come at the expense of empathy. Here, we discuss the best ways to balance safety and compassion in our interventions and how to ensure that the individuals we serve are not only protected but also respected and empowered. 

When developing interventions, it’s important to use the least intrusive, most effective strategies. We discuss how to build a foundation of trust and antecedent-based intervention as proactive strategies. We also cover the importance of regulation for both ourselves and our learners, how to determine whether corrective behavior is essential, and how to hold appropriate boundaries.

Dr. Hanley's Universal Protocol is a great guideline to have when balancing safety and compassion. Remind yourself of some best practices by downloading our Applying Universal Protocol Cheat Sheet below! 

What’s Inside:

• How to balance safety and compassion in our interventions
• The importance of building a foundation of trust
• How to determine if corrective behavior is essential

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Free Applying Universal Protocol Cheat Sheet
Episode 113: How to Maintain Client Dignity in ABA