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

DeTerrence Allen, a dedicated behavior scientist, comes from a family of Board-Certified Behavior Analysts, including his wife. His passion for ABA is rooted in a heartwarming “love story” for the field. A dynamic speaker, DeTerrence recently delivered an inspiring talk on soft skills at the Black Men of Behavior Analysis Conference. So, what are soft skills? DeTerrence highlights critical communi...

Welcome to the ABA Speech Podcast. We will continue discussing autism and broadening our scope with important topics in the field. I’m joined by Dr. Matthew Brodhead, whose career has been shaped by a passion for understanding human behavior and how we can influence it. His article, Maintaining Professional Relationships in an Interdisciplinary Setting: Strategies for Navigating Nonbehavioral Trea...

Functional Communication Training (FCT) is a proven strategy to replace problem behaviors with effective communication skills. In her article, Practitioners Guide for Selecting Functional Communication Responses , published in Behavior Analysis in Practice , Dr. Bethjoy Houck offers practical advice to help clinicians implement FCT successfully. FCT focuses on giving learners a way to express thei...

Getting an autism evaluation for a child can be a daunting process, fraught with long waitlists, high out-of-pocket costs, and navigating complicated systems. Every moment matters when it comes to early intervention, and Dr. Michael Perisa of Zest Pediatrics is working to simplify the journey for families. Zest Pediatrics, the first pediatric direct primary care network in the country, offers a me...

Enjoy this replay of this favorite two-part episode! In part one of my interview with Dr. Edythe Strand. A renowned speech pathologist and former professor at Mayo College, Dr. Strand has led groundbreaking research on developmental, acquired, and progressive apraxia of speech. Dr. Strand explains that apraxia is not a medical diagnosis but a label for a speech-sound disorder impacting the movemen...

Enjoy this replay of one of my favorite episodes! Executive functioning skills are essential for all ages, and in this episode, we dive into this critical topic with Sara Ward, an SLP specializing in executive functioning. Sara brings a unique perspective, sharing practical strategies for assessment and intervention that can transform how we support students. Sara simplifies executive functioning...

Attending ASHA 2024, the largest conference for speech-language pathologists (SLPs), was an incredible experience for networking and professional growth. As the national association for speech therapy, ASHA’s annual event is a hub for innovation, collaboration, and learning. I kicked off the conference by attending an insightful talk by the Speech Production Lab on speech motor chaining, setting a...

Rob Harvey specializes in cooperative, fun social skills groups, using creative strategies to teach social language in ways that truly resonate. Today, we explore the transformative power of thinking outside the box when it comes to social skills development. Rob’s innovative approach integrates therapy with theater and tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons . Starting with theate...

Dr. Amanda Cash highlights the unique challenges and opportunities of transitioning from school to adult services. In adult settings, the fast-paced, skill-driven structure of school is replaced by a slower, more flexible approach focused on long-term growth. Without the looming deadline of graduation, the emphasis shifts to safety, happiness, and meaningful, lifespan-focused skill-building. Human...

Rob Gorski, widely known as The Autism Dad , started his blog over a decade ago as a private space to document his family’s journey with autism. Today, it’s evolved into a business, podcast, and vital resource for autism families. Through his work, Rob shares insights on communicating about autism, helping families understand their children, and breaking down stigma. Discussing autism with kids—wh...

Today, we're diving into empowering parents and the magic of early intervention through teletherapy with Glory Lichon, founder of Glow Bright Therapy. Glory’s journey started in school-based therapy, but like many SLPs, she faced burnout. That experience led her to create a teletherapy practice focused on early intervention, where parent involvement takes center stage. Without the barrier of...

I connected with my guest Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author, Dr. Paul Gavoni, on LinkedIn. His work focuses on creating positive and safe cultures by driving meaningful behavior change. He explains that learner behavior often reflects the actions of adults in their environment, a key idea in Organizational Behavior Management (OBM), an application of the science of ABA. Dr. Gav...

Today I am joined by Eileen Lamb, founder of the Autism Cafe. I recently shared a video of Eileen’s son, Charlie, that really struck a chord with my audience. It showed how his use of AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) had progressed over time, offering a message of hope for others in similar situations. Eileen talks openly about how tough it can be to share your family’s journey onl...

From taping in my walk-in closet to experiencing incredible growth and change over the last 199 episodes, it's been an amazing journey. Today, as I record this special episode, I’m also celebrating my 16th wedding anniversary—with none other than today's guest, my husband, Patrick Griffin. Seven years ago, I started ABA Speech with two physical products: Action Builder Cards and Double U...

Joining me today is the SLP behind the Instagram account @language_processing, Kathleen Oppenheimer. She caught my attention because she consistently shares excellent information on her page about language processing and the research behind it. Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) is a hot topic these days. Kathleen defines GLP as a hypothesis about how language is acquired, in contrast to Analytic L...

Today, I learned about a new tool in therapy and AAC, speaking with guests Dr. David McNaughton and Dana Patenaude, who collaborated on the research article "Using Visual Scene Displays With Young Children: An Evidence-Based Practice Synthesis," published in the Journal of Special Education Technology . Visual Scene Displays (VSDs) are interactive visual representations, such as photos o...

Approximately 25–30% of autistic children are minimally verbal, often requiring alternative communication methods like Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Jean Jarrett, SLP-BCBA, joins us to continue highlighting AAC during the month of October. Selecting the right AAC system can be overwhelming due to the many factors involved: communication partners, environments, and caregiver inv...

October is AAC Awareness Month! Today’s guest, Chris Bugaj, is the co-host of the *Talking with Tech* podcast, which explores the world of AAC, inclusive design, and the creators, providers, and users behind these systems. As an SLP, Chris realized early in his career that he had a knack for technology, which led to his role on his district's Assistive Technology Team for Inclusive Learning....

Are you ready to transform your approach to autism therapy with naturalistic interventions? Introducing my new self-paced CEU course, Naturalistic Interventions for Autistic Learners – Next Steps . This 5-hour course is divided into 7 bite-sized modules covering essential topics like play, social skills, joint attention, parent support, and more! Natural Environment Teaching (NET) is quickly becom...

Dr. Rick Kubina, a distinguished Professor of Special Education at The Pennsylvania State University, has had a dynamic career, collaborating with prominent figures in the fields of special education and applied behavior analysis (ABA). In our discussion, we delve into a topic that is close to my heart as both a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA): the cri...

Linda Thoresen joins me today for a special Member Spotlight. She is an SLP and a member of ABA Speech Connection, and I first met her in her onboarding meeting. During this conversation, Linda shares about her journey from medical therapy to teletherapy. As a seasoned therapist, Linda has been in the field for 20+ years. We discuss the changes in course work from her training to the present day,...

There’s been a noticeable shift in the field of behavior analysis, with more BCBAs being hired as full-time employees in public schools. This is a big change from the past, when BCBAs were typically brought in as outside consultants. Schools are now seeing the benefits of having these experts on staff to support students with specialized needs directly in their school environment, rather than send...

Today we welcome returning guest, Cindy Watson. Be sure to check out episode 115, where we discuss Early Intervention Speech Therapy. Along with Cindy, we are joined by MC, Cindy’s youngest daughter. MC shares about her story, autism diagnosis, and her perspective as a middle schooler. Cindy shares about MC’s life pre-diagnosis and the concerns she noticed along the way. Labeled often as “the easy...

I love hearing from Autistic Adults, and Paige Layle has garnered quite a following on TikTok and Instagram, sharing her story and creating resonating content for her viewers traveling similar journeys. Paige’s recently published memoir, But Everyone Feels This Way: How an Autism Diagnosis Saved My Life , has been an opportunity to reach her followers on a deeper level, connect beyond the internet...

Lisa is a BCBA and the mom of 3 boys, including Kruz. He is Lisa’s youngest child and has Autism Spectrum Disorder. You may be familiar with their journey as they share it with you through @CruisingWithKruz on Instagram. During our conversation, Lisa dives into the struggles that take place when it comes to advocating for a diagnosis and the other ones that pile on once you do get it! Waitlists ca...