The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals

🎙️ Misfit Minute #2 : W.A.I.T. – Why Am I Talking? Sometimes, the most powerful support you can offer during a student’s escalation… is silence. Caitlin introduces the W.A.I.T. strategy ("Why Am I Talking?")—a simple but transformative tool for de-escalation and emotional regulation. 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Silence can be a strategy—not avoidance ✅ Extra words = extra demands during escalat...

Continuing on in our FBA-BIP mini-series , we're at Step 11 . This week, we’re diving into the consequence side of behavior plans— what to do after students engage in either the challenging behavior or the replacement behavior. It’s not just about preventing problem behavior… it’s about teaching, reinforcing, and responding with consistency and care. 🔑 Key Takeaways 🧠 Reinforce replacement...

🎙️ The Misfit Minute #1: 5 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Teaching Welcome to the very first episode of The Misfit Minute — your quick wins podcast series packed with fast, practical tips for educators, BCBAs, and therapists. In this debut episode, Audra shares 5 honest, heartfelt lessons learned the hard way — so you don’t have to. ✨ If you're in the messy middle of teaching, this one&...

This week, we’re diving into ABA strategies for building tolerance in real-life situations like haircuts, doctor visits, and dental appointments. Many learners with autism and anxiety struggle with these experiences, and traditional approaches like social stories aren’t always enough. We’ll break down how to desensitize fears, use reinforcement effectively, and teach coping skills to make these es...

Continuing on in our FBA-BIP mini-series , we're at Step 10! This week, we’re tackling one of the most important steps in behavior intervention planning — choosing the right replacement behavior . Just reducing problem behavior isn’t enough; we have to actively teach what to do instead in a way that’s functional, motivating, and sustainable. 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Replacement behaviors must meet...

Join us as we break down the pros and cons of being a BCBA in a school vs. clinic setting , covering collaboration, job stability, workload, and more! 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Team Collaboration Matters – Schools often provide a built-in multidisciplinary team (SLPs, OTs, teachers, etc.), while clinics may have fewer collaboration opportunities. ✅ Family Involvement Differs – Clinics typically have mo...

In this episode, we break down antecedent strategies—the proactive steps you can take to prevent challenging behaviors before they escalate. We explain how these strategies differ from setting event strategies, why they’re essential in a behavior plan, and how to apply them effectively in real-world settings. 🔑 Key Takeaways ✅ Antecedent vs. Setting Event Strategies – Learn the difference and wh...

Struggling to address aggression in non-vocal learners? In this episode, Audra and Caitlin dive into practical strategies for managing sudden, seemingly random aggressive behaviors. They explore why behaviors might spike, the importance of consistent reinforcement, and how taking a step back can be the key to moving forward. ✨ Key Takeaways 🔄 When to Reset: If a learner’s aggressive behavior esc...

This episode explores the intersection of autism and anxiety , highlighting how to identify and address anxiety-driven behaviors in students with autism through evidence-based, student-centered approaches. ✨ Key Takeaways ✔️ We address a recent Facebook group question about trichotillomania and anxiety. ✔️ Recognizing Anxiety in Autism : Girls with autism often exhibit higher levels of social anx...

Creating a classroom schedule for special education and ABA settings can feel like solving a puzzle! In this episode, Caitlin and Audra share their strategies, tips, and tricks to make scheduling manageable and effective for students and staff . From color-coding and post-it notes to balancing para rotations, this episode will help you build a flexible schedule that works for everyone. ✨ Key Take...

Working with paras in special education classrooms can be both rewarding and challenging. In this episode, Audra and Caitlin share practical strategies for creating a positive, productive environment for paras, fostering teamwork, and addressing common issues like problem behaviors and resistance to change.  ✨ Key Takeaways 📝 Set clear expectations : Overcommunicate and provide written resources...

What if inclusion didn’t just mean “pushing students in” but also “inviting peers in”? In this episode, we chat with Megan Stenziano from Moms Managing Behavior about a game-changing approach called reverse inclusion. From lunch and recess to peer buddy programs and after-school activities, Megan walks us through how her school created inclusive, meaningful social opportunities for all students. W...

In this episode, we’re sharing some of our favorite behavior books for teachers, BCBAs, and parents. From foundational ABA classics to practical sensory guides, we’ll explore resources that equip you with tools to better support your learners! 🎯 Key Takeaways 📚 Build Your Behavior Toolkit : The right books can equip parents, teachers, and behavior analysts with actionable strategies. 🧠 Diverse...

In this episode, we are tackling the first step of developing a solid behavior plan after the FBA has been completed and decisions made. Today, let's talk about Setting Event Strategies ! Key Takeaways 🧠 What Are Setting Event Strategies ? These are long-term adjustments that address factors influencing behavior, such as sleep, nutrition, routines, and the environment. 🌊 The Iceberg Analogy...

In this episode, we discuss the challenges of protecting vulnerable populations , including aging parents and individuals with autism, from scams. We dive into practical strategies for teaching boundaries , internet safety , and identifying red flags , with examples tailored for different developmental levels. 🎯 Key Takeaways 💡 Scammers thrive on urgency : Their goal is to create fight-or-flight...

🎯 Key Takeaways ✔️ Collaboration is Key : Bringing the family and team together at this stage ensures everyone is on the same page and supports a collaborative approach to behavioral intervention. ✔️ The Importance of the FBA Meeting : The FBA meeting is an essential step to review findings, involve the family, and determine whether a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) is needed. ✔️ What We Look Fo...

🎯 Key Takeaways ✔️ Prompt Dependence Defined : Understanding prompt dependence and its impact on students’ ability to act independently. ✔️ Choosing the Right Prompting Strategy : Not all learners benefit from the same prompts! Learn how to assess if most-to-least or least-to-most is right for your learner. ✔️ The Power of the Pause : Pausing before prompting gives learners a chance to respond in...

Key Takeaways 📝 Differences Between IEPs & 504 Plans: IEPs offer specialized instruction and services, while 504s provide accommodations to help students access general education. 📊 Eligibility Requirements : IEPs require both a disability diagnosis and educational impact, while 504s only require a documented disability. 👩‍🏫 Parental Advocacy Tips : Advocating for accommodations without ov...

In this episode, Audra and Sami discuss the ethical implications surrounding the recent P. Diddy scandal , power dynamics in influential figures, and how this ties into our work as behavior analysts and educators . We dive deep into the importance of giving assent to students and clients and why protecting vulnerable individuals—whether in schools or society—must be our priority. Key Takeaways :...

Welcome back to the Misfit Behaviorist Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, we continue our exploration of Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) with a focus on the critical data collection process. We dive deep into how to effectively gather, analyze, and interpret data to create meaningful behavior intervention plans (BIPs). Join hosts Audra Jensen and Sami Brown as they share their insights on navigat...

In this episode, we dive deep into the critical role of data collection within the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) process. Join us as we explore how to transition from anecdotal data to targeted interventions that create meaningful change for students. 🔍 Key Topics Discussed: - Importance of gathering accurate data to inform behavior interventions. 📊 - The process of sifting through anecdo...

In this episode, we engage in a heartfelt and important discussion about mental health, suicide, and the impact of grief. Sami shares her personal story of losing her brother to suicide at a young age and reflects on how that experience has shaped her perspective as both an individual and a parent. Trigger Warning: In this episode, we engage in a candid conversation about suicide and mental health...

In this episode, Audra and Sami delve into the essentials of collecting ABC data as part of the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) process. They discuss the significance of understanding antecedents, behaviors, and consequences in identifying patterns that lead to effective behavior interventions. Key Topics: Introduction to ABC Data: Definition of Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence. Importan...

🎙 In this special episode, Audra interviews her daughter about growing up with an autistic brother . From navigating childhood to building a unique bond, they dive deep into the joys, challenges, and how autism shaped their family dynamics. Honest, funny, and heartfelt, this episode offers a sibling’s candid ( very !) perspective on life with an autistic brother. Key Points: 🏡 Early Realizations...

In this episode of Misfit Behaviorists, we dive deep into the art of conducting thorough and effective Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) observations . 🎯 Learn why it’s crucial to look beyond the student on your radar and understand the behavior of the entire classroom. We'll share tips on how to blend in like a wallflower 🌸 and gather unbiased, comprehensive data across various settings...