The Autism Little Learners Podcast

Episode 57 is full of awesome ideas for supporting co-regulation and self-regulation with our young autistic children.  I had a chance to pick the brains of Jessica Hill and Rachel Harrington and you are going to LOVE the information they shared. Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, CPRCS and Jessica Hill, COTA/L, CPRCS are passionate Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants and Certified Primitive Reflex...

One of my high school classmates was recently given the autism diagnosis at age the age of 53.  His name is Anton Dabbs. In this interview, he shares his experience with being diagnosed autistic later in life.  He talks about his initial reaction and looks back on his childhood and shares things that now make sense.   Anton is sharing his experience of self-discovery on his new YouTube Channel.  ...

Today I'll be sharing the 4 pillars or elements that will lay the foundation for less stress for both you and the autistic child.    If you implement these teaching strategies for autistic learners, you will move from feeling overwhelmed and sometimes defeated to feeling like you can handle whatever comes your way at home and in the classroom.  Keep listening to learn more about the Autism Little...

Have you heard of PDA?  How about autism and PDA?  PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance, and it's being talked about A LOT in the autism community.  This interview with Casey Ehrlich, Ph. D. was both eye-opening and informative!  If you are a parent or educator with an autistic child or student who exhibits avoidance behaviors, you NEED to listen to today's episode! Topics Discussed: What...

Today's episode marks the one year birthday of the Autism Little Learners Podcast!  It's so fitting that this milestone falls on a day when I'm doing a Q&A episode with my husband.  Tune in as he asks me questions from listeners.  Today we tackle the classroom setup, how to manage several visual schedules, unstructured play, and play-based vs 1:1 direct teaching in the special education classroom....

Episode/Show Notes: I had the honor of talking to Ashley Barlow for today's podcast episode.  She is an attorney, mother of a son with Down Syndrome, and a former teacher.  Since she has experienced the special education process from all three perspectives, she is the prefect person to interview about IEP's.  If you are new to IEP's or just want a refresher, you aren't going to want to miss this e...

After winter break, re-establishing routines in early childhood special education classrooms can be a challenge. Young children, particularly autistic children, benefit greatly from visual supports to ease this transition. In today's episode, we'll go back to the basics and explore effective strategies that will ease that transition back into the classroom after an extended break! Topics Discussed...

Today we are going to chat about the OWL approach.  It was developed by The Hanen Centre and is a great strategy if you want to follow the child's lead to learn more about what they like and how they are playing and communicating.  The OWL approach has so many benefits, which I will go over during today's episode. Topics Discussed: Following the lead of an autistic child Examples of following thei...

Fostering early language development in young autistic children goes way beyond teaching words.  I'm excited to share 3 ways to encore language development that actually do not involve saying "say train" or "say cracker".  Do you want to know what you can do instead?  Listen to today's episode for easy tips that you can implement right away! Topics Discussed: Symbolic sounds and exclamatory words...

You are NOT going to want to miss today's episode!  I talked to Jennifer Hofferber, a special education teacher of the year in Oklahoma, about training paraprofessionals.  She has made it her mission to help others train and create a well oiled machine with their paraprofessionals.  I can't wait for you to hear her amazing insights and tips!  Topics Discussed: Training paraprofessionals and educat...

How much time do you get to train your paraprofessionals?  If you are like most of us…the answer is "little to none".  So, how can we provide training that only takes a couple of minutes per day?  Well, today I'm going to talk about 7 areas that are the most important to start with and then I'll share 2 resources that will help you train your staff in just a few minutes each day! Topics Discussed:...

In this episode, we're exploring the essential steps of potty training for autistic children, all while emphasizing compassion. Potty training can be a challenging journey, especially for children who are autistic. I've broken down the process into five steps, each designed to create a supportive and comfortable environment for your child or student.  I'll see you inside the show! Topics Discussed...

The holiday season is a time of joy and togetherness for many families, but it can also be a challenging time for parents of young autistic children. Changes in routines, sensory overload, and social gatherings can be overwhelming. In today's episode we'll explore seven tips to help parents of young autistic children navigate the holidays successfully. Topics Discussed: Challenges autistic childre...

Are you feeling overwhelmed when you think about where to start with using visual schedules in your classroom or at home?  Are you struggling to create visual schedules that actually work? You are not alone!  Join me inside of today's episode so we can chat about a solution to your problem.   Topics Discussed: History of visual schedules Visual Schedules Made Easy Course Links Mentioned In This Ep...

For autistic children, the world can sometimes feel confusing and unpredictable. Visual schedules serve as lighthouses, providing a clear, visual pathway through the daily fog of activities. These powerful tools not only enhance comprehension and independence but also reduce anxiety and ease transitions. Let's explore the types of visual schedules, how to select symbols, and determine the optimal...

Are you a special education teacher or speech/language pathologist feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of creating smoother transitions for your autistic students? Are you a parent of a young autistic child searching for effective strategies to support your child or student's development? Join me in today's episode to learn more about the upcoming Visual Supports Coaching Week! Topics Discussed:...

Picture this: a classroom where every child feels understood, where routines are clear, where communication flows, and where emotions are managed with confidence. In today's episode, I'm sharing the top 10 must-have  visual supports that are transforming the lives of teachers, parents, and, most importantly, young autistic children. So whether you're a dedicated special education teacher striving...

In today's Q&A episode, I answer questions submitted by listeners.  Topics Discussed: Exploratory play Behaviors Vocal stims Links Mentioned In This Episode:  People Play Booklet Other Links You May Be Interested In: Autism Little Learners on Instagram Autism Little Learners on Facebook You can also join my free Visual Supports Facebook Group to "hang out" with like-minded educators and parents wh...

You don't want to miss today's episode about pretend play.  We'll start by summarizing the stages of play that we covered in the last several episodes.  Exploratory play, one-step functional play, and two-step functional play are leading children on the path to pretend play!  Now, let's chat about how we can nurture pretend play with our autistic child or students.  See you inside the show! Topics...

Welcome to today's episode, where playtime is more than just fun—it's a journey of learning. We've explored the foundational stages from exploratory play to one-step functional play. Now, let's delve deeper, guiding our kids from those initial moments to the dynamic world of two-step functional play. Let's discover together how to help our kids learn and grow through play. Topics Discussed: Functi...

The journey of play development in autistic children may take a different path than it does for typically children, but it doesn't make it any less meaningful!  With each stage, they delve deeper into their understanding of the world around them. For teachers and parents of young autistic children, the journey can be a tad more complicated, and understanding the stages of play becomes crucial. Two...

So often our young autistic students come to us with what we think are "no play skills".  Does your student or child dump toys, throw toys and objects, or mouth everything?  Well, guess what?  That is a developmental stage of play called "exploratory play".  If your student or child is in this stage of play, there is plenty we can do to nudge them toward functional play.  In today's episode, I'll...

Predictable routines…they are everything when you are teaching young autistic children.  In today's episode, we will be chatting more about why predictable routines are so important and also about HOW to get started implementing a few in your own classroom! Topics Discussed: Why predictable routines are so important for young autistic children Which routines would be the best to start with Example...

I've got a short and sweet episode for you today!  I'll be sharing 3 tips for introducing a morning meeting or circle time to young autistic children in a self-contained preschool classroom.  If you are an educator working in that setting, you don't want to miss this episode! Topics Discussed: Preparing and getting organized before starting a circle time for young autistic children in a special ed...

Teaching young autistic children requires a unique approach that goes beyond traditional teaching methods. Building a positive and nurturing relationship with your students is not only essential for their emotional well-being but also forms the foundation upon which meaningful learning can take place. In today's podcast, we will delve into the importance of fostering and building a positive connec...