Turn Autism Around

Dr. Mary Barbera is joined by occupational therapist and Feeding Matters’ Director of Strategic Initiatives, Cuyler Romeo. They discuss the connection between Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) and autism, and how these feeding challenges impact children and families. Cuyler shares valuable insights from her clinical experience, as well as actionable tips for navigating feeding issues, from picky eating to severe food avoidance and how to identify ARFID and differentiate it from typical picky eating.

Is your child or client not responding to their name? Dr. Mary Barbera shares three essential steps to help teach a child to respond, drawing from her experience as both a parent and professional. Response to name is a key skill for safety, social development, and communication. She'll also discuss a common concern: does this mean autism? Learn practical tips to reinforce name response in a positive way and ensure your child stays engaged and safe.

Dr. Mary Barbera sits down with Dr. Jamie Hughes-Lika, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, to talk about effective strategies for fostering joint attention, social engagement, and motivation in young children with autism. Learn how to meet children where they are, engage them in meaningful ways, and build foundational skills that support their social and communicative development. Implementing these strategies today can help enhance your interactions with children with autism and help them thrive.

Dr. Mary Barbera shares her top 3 pieces of advice for parents and professionals supporting children with autism, from toddlers through teens. Drawing from decades of experience, Dr. Barbera explains the importance of starting with a comprehensive assessment, preventing problem behaviors by fostering positive environments, and building strong collaboration between parents and professionals. 

Dr. Mary Barbera discusses the 10 early signs of autism in young children. Drawing from her personal experience as a mom and professional background as a registered nurse and behavior analyst, she breaks down common signs such as speech delays, lack of pointing, repetitive behaviors, and more. She also shares practical strategies that parents and caregivers can use to support children showing early developmental delays, regardless of diagnosis. Tune in to learn how early intervention can make a big difference.

Dr. Mary Barbera explores the growing conversation around virtual autism—a term used to describe autism-like symptoms in young children, potentially linked to excessive screen time. Is virtual autism real, and can it be prevented? She'll share insights from my professional experience and personal journey with my son, Lucas, as well as real-life examples from my clients. She explain the potential effects of too much screen time on children’s development and provide actionable strategies to prevent virtual autism. She will also review screen time guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), offering tips on how to balance screen use with engaging activities that support healthy growth.

Dr. Mary Barbera discusses the controversial cry-it-out method often used in sleep training. As a behavior analyst and mother, Dr. Mary Barbera has seen firsthand how this method can negatively impact a child’s emotional development, particularly for children with autism or speech delays.

She explains why she doesn't recommend the cry-it-out method, explores its potential downsides, and shares alternative strategies that focus on positive reinforcement and building secure attachments. She also discusses how this method can exacerbate separation anxiety and what you can do instead to foster a trusting and supportive environment for your child.

Dr. Mary Barbera reviews the popular parenting book "Good Inside" by Dr. Becky Kennedy, which has gained significant attention in the gentle parenting community. As both a parent and a professional working with children with autism, Dr. Barbera has wanted to explore how Dr. Becky’s insights can be adapted to support kids with autism and speech delays. She'll share the five big ideas from the book that resonated with me the most and offer practical strategies on how to modify these concepts for children with developmental delays.

Dr. Mary Barbera discusses the critical role that parents play in multidisciplinary teams, especially during IEP meetings and autism therapy sessions. As both a parent and professional, Dr. Mary Barbera shares practical strategies on how to partner effectively with parents to create the most impactful IEP goals and intervention plans for children with autism. Learn about the importance of assessing not just the child’s needs but the entire family’s needs across home, school, and community settings and how to train parents to implement evidence-based practices at home, reinforcing the skills their child is learning in therapy or at school.

Dr. Mary Barbera guides you through the essential autism screening process by exploring and comparing key assessment tools, including the M-CHAT, ADOS, Vineland, and her own BECA assessment. She'll discuss how each tool functions—whether it's identifying early signs of autism, diagnosing developmental delays, or crafting effective intervention plans. She also shares how the BECA assessment she developed can help provide a comprehensive view of a child’s developmental baseline, making it easier to tailor interventions that lead to meaningful progress.