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

Jennifer Houston joins me to share her journey from speech‑language pathologist (SLP) to dual‑credentialed SLP/Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)—a rare “unicorn” duo found in fewer than 500 professionals worldwide. After more than two decades of diverse SLP roles, Jennifer found herself increasingly drawn to addressing challenging behaviors across her caseload. Motivated by this evolving pas...

We’ve made it to the final installment of my mini summer series! In today’s episode, I’m asking an important question: Do you feel valued at work? Feeling valued and building mutual trust are key ingredients for meaningful collaboration, which is essential in the work we do as providers. I’m sharing practical, collaborative phrases you can use to build trust and strengthen your professional relati...

Welcome to Part 3 of my mini-series answering your burning questions! Today, we're diving into the topic of verbal imitation. When it comes to verbal imitation and echoic goals, context is everything. These goals must be functional and meaningful to the individual child in order to support communication development. As an SLP collaborating with a BCBA, and vice versa, rely on assessment tools...

In this installment of minisodes, we tackle a common AAC challenge: what happens when professionals don’t agree? The BCBA recommends PECS, the SLP suggests a dynamic device… Now what? Welcome to the standard trial of non-collaborative chaos. There are plenty of barriers to AAC collaboration, but also practical steps that can lead to smoother teamwork. The first is building familiarity. AAC can fee...

Responding with “Where’s the research for that?” may be quick, but it can strain professional relationships. Today, we’re diving into a simple framework you can start using in your school or clinic—starting tomorrow! So, how do we navigate disagreements when our training and backgrounds differ? The truth is—our way isn’t the only way. Consider this quote from the article Maintaining Professional R...

There may be two sides of the IEP table, but at the end of the day, we’re all on the same team — the learner’s. I had the pleasure of chatting with Ryan Hogan, also known as @TheWorldsOkayestSchoolPsych, the creator behind the popular, lighthearted school psych meme account on Instagram. We talked about the intersection of ABA, special education, and school-based work in the social media space. Ry...

Leila Farschian, Special Educator and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), is someone who gets things done. She has lived these problems in the field and is actively working to solve them. Her story offers practical insight and inspiration to you in your daily work.  As founder of the Global Schoolhouse Project, Leila partners with the International Healthcare Network on Closing the Digital Di...

I am talking all things biz with Mellanie Page, founder and CEO of The ABA Collective. Mellanie, a trailblazer in the field, creates high-quality programs that go beyond the traditional boundaries of ABA. Mellanie joins us to talk about entrepreneurship, finding your niche, and the value of starting before everything feels perfect. If you’ve got that entrepreneurial spark, a voice nudging you towa...

For BCBA Maggie Haraburda, founder of Unfurling Littles , play is anything that sparks joy. Her approach to ABA therapy blends child-led play with ACT-integrated strategies, centering on the child’s motivation and individuality. In our conversation, Maggie highlights the “Dos and Don’ts” of play therapy: join the child’s world before introducing new elements, build from what already brings them jo...

As someone who goes to yoga a few times a week, I was intrigued at the possibility of integrating it into my therapy practice. Lindsay Watkins is a BCBA and Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) with a passion for blending wellness and applied behavior analysis. Lindsay teaches continuing education (CEUs) to BCBAs on this topic on BehaviorLive (her next training is scheduled for June 2, 2025). Here, L...

Have you ever considered adding ABA services to your speech therapy practice? Today I had a chat with Quintina Briscoe, founder of Pediatric Speech Lab, who shares her inspiring journey to opening her own clinic. Quintina discusses how she recognized a gap in services for children with autism and the importance of integrating ABA into speech therapy to better support her clients. She reflects on t...

Lauren Ross is a proud member of a rare group—one of fewer than 500 professionals dually certified as both a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). In 2022, she founded Precision Therapy, a Medicaid-funded therapeutic consultation service designed to deliver impactful, client-centered care. Her innovative model blends naturalistic developmental behavioral in...

Tracey Hawkins became part of the autism community in 2018 when both of her sons were diagnosed with autism—just seven months apart. When it comes to autism, structure and routine are so important. But as a mother, Tracey couldn't find the right technology to support her family's needs. She knew she couldn’t change the diagnosis, but she could improve the support system around it. So, sh...

Stephanie Howard, a BCBA and mother, faced a turning point when her son was diagnosed with ADHD at age five. She realized the same executive functioning tools she used professionally could support both her parenting and her son's development. Executive functioning—skills like planning, impulse control, and focus—is often disrupted in ADHD, autism, and trauma. It’s more than behavior; it’s abo...

Bombarding parents or colleagues with information can shut down meaningful dialogue. Instead, Dr. Monica Gilbert shares how we can use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to foster collaboration and encourage change through using the core principles—OARS + I: Open-Ended Questions—Invite Discussion: "How do you see this working for you?" Affirmations—Reinforce strengths: "I see how much y...

At the ASHA conference in Seattle, I had the opportunity to meet Gabriella Cameron and Jennifer Kent, who presented on their Theme-Based Collaborative Groups within the Endeavour Program at Ivymount, a nonpublic, publicly funded special education environment serving students aged 5–21. Gabriella and Jen’s theme-based groups are embedded within Endeavour, offering structured but flexible learning e...

JD Barker, New York Times bestselling author, was diagnosed with autism at 22—a late discovery that brought long-overdue clarity to challenges he’d faced since childhood. Early in his career, a stint in anger management led a counselor to suggest autism, prompting JD to begin therapy. There, he worked on basics like making eye contact and organizing his thoughts—skills that helped him better navig...

Dr. Matt Zakreski, PsyD, joins me to explore neurodiversity—a term often used, but not always fully understood. Neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, bipolar disorder, and more, experience measurable differences in how their brains function. It’s not about won’t , but can’t —and that distinction matters. In classrooms, teachers frequently encounter neurodiverse l...

​​As professionals, we inevitably face contentious subjects across the field. Today I am sharing a recent example of disagreement met with collaboration. In this case, an SLP determined that a Gestalt Language Processor (GLP) was not yet in the Natural Language Acquisition stage to answer questions. Meanwhile, the BCBA set a goal for the learner to respond to Personal Safety Questions. The team ul...

Are the learners in your class or therapy room engaging in behaviors that create barriers to learning? What can you do? Bailey Payne, author of Behavior Breakthrough: 12 Skills to Transform Behavior at Home and in the Classroom , offers data-driven, evidence-based strategies to help parents and educators reshape their responses, modify environments, and create lasting change. Her book makes Applie...

I’m talking with Jessica DeMarco about outside-of-the-box thinking to promote and teach social skills while enriching students’ lives. Project Social Code is a unique program that uses block coding to help children develop teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills while exploring STEM. Funded by a $2.5 million, five-year grant, it ensures that kids of all abilities, including those with...

Dr. Michael C. Selbst and Dr. Jennifer Cruz from Behavior Therapy Associates joined me to explore Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), a subtype of autism spectrum characteristics marked by an anxiety-based drive for control. PDA triggers a fight, flight, or freeze response to both explicit and implied demands, making traditional interventions ineffective. Individuals with PDA often have highly se...

Are you supporting students struggling with reading? Marty Schultz introduces an incredible learning resource, Buddy Books, which provides access to over a million books to help students build confidence and improve literacy. Designed for students in lower socio-economic districts and those with learning differences like ADHD, autism, or selective mutism, Buddy Books offers a structured yet engagi...

At the Marcus Autism Center, Dr. Kathleen Edmier, BCBA, and Karen Guerra, SLP, work together to bridge the gap between their fields, demonstrating the power of collaboration in supporting individuals with autism. Their work showcases how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) can align their approaches to maximize positive outcomes. For professionals look...

Dr. Givona Sandiford is a friend, colleague, and speech-language pathologist with nearly 20 years of experience and a passion for innovation. As the founder of Melospeech, Dr. Givona is transforming the field by introducing technology-driven tools that help SLPs streamline their workflows, increase efficiency, and even boost their income. Her forward-thinking approach has made her a trailblazer, i...