The Autism Helper Podcast

Dr. Amanda Kelly (also known as Behavior Babe) is passionate about sharing all the Applied Behavior Analysis can offer. In this episode, Dr. Kelly and I discuss actionable strategies and ideas that teachers can utilize in the classroom. Dr. Kelly shares seemingly simple tweaks to things you are likely already doing that can have a big impact. She puts a behavior analytic spin on common classroom p...

In this episode, I interview Rosemarie Griffin who is an SLP and BCBA. Rose is passionate about giving all learners a voice by using evidence based practices and a multi-disciplinary approach. Rose shares her 5 tips for working with students with limited language. We discuss assessment, how to identify student reinforces, and strategies for building up team collaboration. Rose’s tips are actionabl...

Creating IEP goals that are meaningful for both the student and the teacher is going to led to more progress. The goal needs to be meaningful to the student by identifying an area of need that will allow that student more opportunities for growth and increased independence. The goal needs to be meaningful to the teacher by creating a clear plan for goal implementation and progress monitoring. In t...

The last thing any parent or teacher wants is for the debate over a student’s educational rights to escalate towards due process. However, unfortunately this can happen. In this episode, I interview special education attorney, Jennifer Price. Jennifer shares why ensuring that the rights of students are met can get complicated. Jennifer shares some actionable steps a teacher can do to establish a d...

Reinforcement is a term that's thrown around a lot however it's commonly misunderstood and misused. Reinforcement is something that comes after a behavior that causes an increase in the probability of that behavior happening again in the future. There are two big warnings signs I see when I think, "This isn't actually reinforcement." When I am told a "reinforcer" doesn&...

There are plenty of misconceptions and myths about Applied Behavior Analysis. In this episode, Tameika Meadows, BCBA and I are on a mission to debunk the myths. We discuss some situations where something may be identified as ABA but in reality it is not aligned with the best practices and principles of our field. Tameika and I discuss the misconceptions that ABA teaches robotic skills, doesn’t tak...

Get the best of Sasha's Professional Development Workshops in a digestible and easy to understand format in our brand new Professional Development Group. In this episode, learn the details of how this membership came to be, what actionable strategies our members will learn, and how Sasha can help you step by step this school year. Enrollment is open September 2-7. Learn more here: www.theautis...

I frequently get asked, “Should I become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst?? My quick answer: “Yes!” My long answer isn’t so simple. While I am passionate about the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and am always eager for others to drink the kool-aide too and become a BCBA, there are a lot of important considerations when making this decision. In this episode, I interview Dr. Jennifer Klapatch...

Whenever I get a question about how to handle staff conflict, my go-to response is “Did you make a team mission statement?” A team mission statement is an essential tool to create with your staff to establish a collaborative work environment and avoid or handle miscommunications.  In this episode, learn the first step to creating a team mission statement - finding the TIME to sit down and do this...

6 Simple Ways to Get Staff Buy-In Having staff buy-in is the make or break of a great team. Staff members that have buy-in see the reasons why strategies work. They are collaborative and cooperative. So how do you develop and cultivate staff buy-in? This is something you need to work towards and work at.  In this episode, we pull from concepts related to staff training, growth mindset, and leaders...

Whether you are a first year teacher, a teacher new to special education, or a veteran teacher starting in a new school - being the newbie is hard.  In this episode, I share my three important tips for being the new teacher. When you are new - ask for help, plan baby steps, and observe first. These simple strategies help you tackle the overwhelming to do list. They also help you learn about your n...

Addressing the communication needs of your students needs to be incorporated into every inch of your classroom. That's why this final step of the classroom setup process is completely dedicated to communication. Speech Language Pathologist, Sarah Allen, and I discuss how to get your classroom communication-ready.  From best practices for communication systems to activities that will build comm...

Now let's get to the meat and potatoes of your classroom. When setting up your class, what curriculum and activities do you need to ensure your students are learning? There's no quick and easy answer. The idea of developing a set of materials for your students is overwhelming. You may have students that have an extremely wide range of skills. You are working on potty training and pronouns...

Yes - data collection needs its own step in the classroom setup process because it is that important. Data should be the backbone of your classroom.  You should embed your data collection system into your classroom setup process. Make it something thoughtful and purposeful not an afterthought. In this episode, we review best practices and tips for setting up academic and behavior data. For academi...

In this episode, we review how to set up visuals in your classroom in a way that is purposeful and effective. You want only the visuals that are useful and not a whole huge set of ones you don’t need. Use visuals to label. This helps with organization and teaching students to independently find and put away materials. Use visuals to support directives. We give so many verbal command on a daily bas...

Schedules are a must have for every classroom because they are functional. We all use schedules! In step 3 of the Seven Steps for Setting a Stellar Autism Classroom, we review the whole schedule process. First, learn how to create a detailed student and staff schedule (and some important reasons on why you need both). After you create student and staff schedules, it’s time to make schedules for yo...

Why is structure important? A structured environment decreases negative behaviors, lessens student anxiety, increases independence, and improves student independence. And guess what? It also helps you manage and lead your staff. Creating and maintaining a structured and routine oriented environment will help your team work more collaboratively. In this episode, Jen Koenig, one our of team bloggers...

Step 1 in the Seven Steps for Setting Up a Stellar Autism Classroom: Organization and Planning. Don’t be tempted to skip this step. The classroom process should be purposeful and thoughtful. Spend time actively brainstorming and evaluating the needs of your students. Remember, as Dr. Stephen Shore said, “If you’ve meet one individual with autism, you’ve meet one individual with autism.” Your class...

Dr. Mary Barbera is a best selling author, BCBA, and autism mom. In this episode, I chat with Mary about her journey into the autism world. She shares the story of her son’s diagnosis, how she learned about ABA, and what inspired her to become a BCBA. Mary’s bestselling book, The Verbal Behavior Approach, comes from Mary’s years of experience working with children with autism. Mary discusses how t...

Shannon Penrod is a parent of a child with autism and a true advocate. She is the host of Autism Live a YouTube channel where she shares her experiences on parenting and ABA as well as interviews many experts in the field. Shannon’s perspective is invaluable and her story will motivate and inspire you.  Shannon and I discuss the process of her son’s diagnosis, his early years of ABA, and the succe...

BCBAs Shira Gaunt and Shayna Karpel discuss school readiness and all that it entails. Shira and Shayna are from How to ABA and the Bx Resource. Coming from both a clinical and school background, Shira and Shayna share practical tips and ABA strategies in an understandable way. In this episode, we talk about what behaviors kids need to be successful in school. Shira and Shayna share their tips on t...

In this Q and A episode, listener questions are answered in detail! I share my advice for those wanting to become BCBA and the process I took in that endeavor. Next, I discuss strategies for keeping the noise level of staff down and how to directly and respectfully address those concerns with your team. Then, I review the legal issues surrounding leaving students out of a field trip due to behavio...

In this episode, Dr. Christine Reeve and I discuss best practices for data collection. Chris is a BCBA with a Ph. D. in clinical psychology. She has over 20 years experience in the field and has worked in a wide range of settings. Her most recent book, Taming the Data Monster, is a comprehensive resources on easy-to-adapt data collection systems. Chris is truly a data expert and we discuss everyth...

A successful business thrives off of productivity, efficiency, and effective team management. In this episode learn how to apply popular  business and productivity life hacks and philosophies to your classroom. Grab some actionable takeaways that can be added into your work day immediately.  8 Business Strategies to Apply to Your Classroom: Eat the frog: “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best...

Functional means designed to have practical use and used to development of a larger whole. Is your literacy instruction hitting these two things? In this episode, we discuss what functional actually means. Functional doesn’t mean vocational or having low expectations. Learn how to teach academics in a functional way at all ages. We live in a text rich environment and we need to be teaching literac...