Acorns to Oaks

What happens when autism support must also account for feeding tubes, seizures, mobility needs, hospital visits, communication limitations, and other significant medical concerns? In Part 2 of this conversation, Sarah and Kristine explore how families and providers can support medically complex autistic children without losing sight of autonomy, comfort, communication, and quality of life. They di...

In this episode of Acorns to Oaks, Kristine Dixon and Sarah Morrow talk about supporting autistic and neurodivergent children with complex medical needs. They discuss epilepsy, medication changes, sensory sensitivities, hospital and dental visits, pain communication, parent stress, safety planning, and why medical needs must come first in ABA. This conversation is especially relevant for parents,...

Sarah and Kristine are joined by Reese for a conversation about self-care, burnout, boundaries, and what helps behavior analysts stay grounded in the work. They talk about the early years of becoming a provider, carrying client concerns home, sleep, exercise, nature, hydration, community, professional boundaries, psychological safety, and what it means to enter a family’s home with humility and cl...

In this episode of Acorns to Oaks, Kristine and Sarah talk honestly about the challenges of being a behavior analyst. They discuss cancellations, scheduling, telehealth, assessment, insurance barriers, treatment integrity, building new programs, and the emotional reality of caring deeply while learning not to take every stress home. They also explore the pressure in the ABA field to constantly “do...

In this episode of Acorns to Oaks , Kristine and Sarah discuss five of the most controversial topics in applied behavior analysis. They explore whether teaching social skills can become masking, why treatment goals should be tied to the individual’s autonomy, and how ethical care should never be about changing who someone is. They also talk about extinction, forced feeding, planned ignoring, distr...

In this episode of Acorns to Oaks , Kristine and Sarah discuss five of the most common and important controversies surrounding ABA therapy. They explore whether ABA helps children or teaches conformity, when intervention can become coercive, how consent and assent apply to young or nonverbal children, why total compliance should not be the goal, and whether modern ABA can support neurodiversity ra...

In this episode of Acorns to Oaks , Kristine and Sarah discuss video games, screen time, internet gaming disorder, and why technology can be so difficult for children to stop using. They explore how video games use powerful reinforcement systems, why children may struggle when screens are turned off, and how parents can think about balance without shame. The conversation also covers bedtime routin...

Kristine and Sarah discuss social skills, friendship development, bullying, cyberbullying, and the UCLA PEERS® program for autistic teens and young adults. This episode explores:  how friendships actually form   socially rejected vs socially neglected profiles   common interests and connection   meaningful friendship   social isolation   parent support   direct social skills instruction   online s...

In this episode of Acorns to Oaks , Kristine and Sarah are joined by Nurture & Nature ABA’s Chief Operations Officer, Kevin Jackson, to discuss how ABA therapy is funded in California. They break down private insurance, Medi-Cal, regional centers, autism diagnosis requirements, deductibles, co-insurance, authorizations, appeals, and what families should know when navigating access to care. Thi...

Kristine and Sarah discuss compassionate food expansion, picky eating, sensory sensitivities, comfort foods, peer modeling, and why children should never be forced into eating new foods. They explore practical ABA-informed strategies like Plate A/Plate B, gradual exposure, Pivotal Response Treatment, and the importance of collaboration between families, doctors, speech-language pathologists, dieti...

Feeding challenges in children, especially those with autism, are far more complex than “just getting them to eat.” In this episode of Acorns to Oaks , Kristine and Sarah explore the science, psychology, and real-world experiences behind food aversion, selective eating, and feeding therapy. They unpack why outdated methods like force-feeding and “just make them eat it” can actually cause long-term...

In this episode of Acorns to Oaks , we explore how medications are used alongside ABA therapy and what parents should know about benefits, risks, and side effects. From ADHD stimulants like Ritalin to antipsychotic medications often prescribed for autism-related behaviors, we break down how these treatments work, what changes you might see, and why monitoring is essential. We also discuss common s...

In this episode of Acorns to Oaks , we explore the evolving landscape of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and the growing shift toward value-based care. After attending a recent industry conference, we break down what these changes mean for providers, families, and the future of care. We discuss what ABA is at its core, address common critiques of the field, and examine the potential impact of tyin...