In this episode, we welcome Dr. Emily Levy, founder of EBL Coaching, to dive into the topic of reading comprehension—a challenge faced by many students, especially those with autism. Dr. Levy discusses why reading comprehension is such a common struggle, how it impacts overall academic performance, and the role of missing prerequisite skills in thi…

In this episode, we sit down with Kaylan Long, a behavior analyst and founder of Caffeinated Behavior Change, to explore the importance of building communication skills for students with autism. Kaylan shares her insights on how to be intentional about embedding communication opportunities throughout the school day, even during unconventional or ov…

In this episode, we chat with Tara Phillips, founder of Autism Little Learners, about the ins and outs of potty training for children with autism. Tara shares her expertise on recognizing signs that a child may be ready to start potty training and the key prerequisites or readiness skills to look for. She explains why potty training can be more cha…

In this episode of The Autism Helper Podcast, we’re diving into the critical strategies for de-escalating a challenging situation with children on the autism spectrum. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or therapist, knowing how to manage moments of crisis is key to creating a safe and supportive environment. We’ll walk through the 6 essential dos a…

In this episode of The Autism Helper Podcast, we dive into the world of gestalt language processing with Alex Zachos from Meaningful Speech. Alex shares valuable insights into understanding and supporting autistic children who communicate through gestalt language, a unique approach where language develops in larger "chunks" rather than individual w…

Happy 300th Episode of The Autism Helper Podcast! I am so grateful for this community that supported us for 300 episodes. Today I reflect back on the process of starting a podcast, some of the biggest obstacles, and share my process for recording. I also share some of my most memorable guests and where I hope this podcast goes in the future. If you…

Liat Sacks is a BCBA, voice behind the popular Behavior Bitches Podcast, and co-founder of CEUS by Study Notes ABA and the Study Notes ABA App. In this episode, we chat about the major differences between being a clinician versus being a parent on implementing behavioral strategies. We discuss how clinicians can make behavior plans more real-world …

Incorporating movement into reading instruction can be an essential missing piece for struggling learners. In this episode, Stefanie Hohl shares how kinesthetic learning strategies can help students master literacy skills more effectively. Stefanie is the founder of ABC See, Hear, Do Learn-to-Read method to make early reading fun and easy for kids …

PECS is a widely utilized communication system for many students struggling with communication and is a staple in many special education classrooms. In this episode, hear from PECS founders Andy Bondy and Lori Frost. Andy and Lori share how they initially developed PECS and how PECS has evolved over the years. They also share the future of PECS and…

Special education teachers are often tasked with the complex and overwhelming responsibility of creating curriculum for their classrooms. There are very few curriculum options that meet the needs of a multi-level classroom. Struggles with other curricula include being difficult to navigate, time-consuming to prep, not fitting a wide enough range of…

Communication skill-building should be embedded into all parts of your day. 3 stations that lend itself to building communication skills in a fun and hands-on way are art, cooking, and games. In this episode, I share why these stations are great for increasing communication skills and how to set these up in your classroom. Resources: Visual Recipes…

Organization is key in a multi-grade classroom with students at various skill levels. When we have students at so many skill levels, there are so many different resources that we need. In order to teach each learner at the level they are at, we need to stay organized. In this episode, I share simple strategies for setting up and maintaining your or…

There are two main ways to organize data in your classroom: by student or by center. The method that works best for you depends on your personal preferences and the overall setup of your classroom. In this episode, I go through the two organization options and specific considerations for each. ---------------------------------------------- Interest…

Visuals and schedules are tools. And tools need to be taught. Tools require instruction. We need to teach our students how to utilize these tools. They will not be a magic wand. In this episode, I share how to teach the visuals you are setting up in your classroom so students can use them independently. ---------------------------------------------…

Student schedules are necessary in the classroom. Schedules are functional and needed to build independence, autonomy, and problem-solving skills. The goal is not to get rid of the schedule but rather to increase independence with the schedule and continue to move towards less restrictive schedule types. In the episode, I introduce the least restri…

A structured environment is key because it leads to decreased negative behaviors, less student anxiety and increased independence and efficiency. A structured environment is a setting that is predictable and routine based. The setting is visually divided and defined. There is a clear start and end to each part of the class. In the episode, we explo…

When getting started setting up your classroom, you want to be purposeful and think about what you are doing and why. The first step in our 7 Steps for Setting Up a Stellar Classroom is Organization and Planning. Use these mini-episodes to start brainstorming and getting ideas flowing for what your classroom setup will be next year. Answer these 15…

In this episode, Stephanie DeLussey breaks down selecting the right data collection method based on IEP goal criteria. This strategy revolves around a comprehensive understanding of each student's unique needs and learning style. Stephanie discusses the importance of aligning the method with the specific goal being addressed, considering factors su…

In this episode, BCBA Kathryn Karpinski breaks down a strategy for effective de-escalation. Modeling calm models the desired behavior, gently redirects unsafe behaviors, and gives the child self-regulating tools. Kathryn offers this as an alternative to planned ignoring which can lead to often dangerous extinction bursts. More from Kathryn: www.the…

In this episode, learn how you can use ABA principals to teach essential school learning behavior within the inclusion setting. Lori Fry joins the podcast to share her experiences teaching behaviors such as independently starting work, attending, asking for help, and modifying one’s work to help students be successful in a range of settings. Lori i…

In this episode learn how to simplify and streamline your data collection process using Google Sheets. Caitlin Beltran joins the podcast to give an overview of why digital data collection is helpful, how to get started with this setup, and tips for staff training and organization. Caitlin is a BCBA and former special education teacher. She currentl…

In this episode learn how to effectively use group contingencies for all grade levels! Katlyn Linsley is a school-based BCBA and former special education teacher. Katlyn breaks down what group contingencies are and how they can increase positive behaviors. She goes through several examples of the implementation of this strategy and ways to make it …

Teacher created books are an easy way to ensure all team members are presenting information the same way and can support skill practice at home for families who may not be familiar with instructional standards. Special education administrator and BCBA, Emily Muise, breaks down how to setup instructional books and the range of benefits this tool can…

Predictable chart writing involves creating a chart with a repetitive language structure that gradually changes over time. The predictability helps students anticipate and participate in the writing process. In this episode, Heather Cacioppo breaks down this process. She shares a range of accommodations and accessibility options for implementing th…

In this episode, Jennifer Hofferber breaks down how to create a personalized expectation list for paraprofessionals. This strategy is crucial for maintaining structure and efficiency in a special education setting, where adaptability and clear communication are paramount. Jennifer walks us through exactly how to create and utilize this list as a su…

In this episode, special educator, Jenny Walmsley, explores the topic of using Positive Affirmations. One minute of positive affirmations per day can result in significant improvement of inner behaviors like thoughts and feelings. Jenny shares the research behind this strategy as well as the practical application of this precision teaching procedur…

Special Education Teacher, Dawn Ellis, shares 5 tips for effectively training your team. Dawn breaks down some common challenges for successful collaboration and gives an overview of how to overcome these obstacles. 5 Steps: 1. Clarify roles and expectations. 2. Establish open communication. 3. Provide relevant training. 4. Collaborate on IEP imple…

In this episode, Abby Moehringer shares one of the most important steps to do after a behavior happens. Abby is a special education teacher and BCBA. She breaks down the essential step of repairing after a behavior happens. Abby discusses why this step is important, when repair should happen, and the actionable steps to take when initiating how to …

In this episode, Jana Sarno breaks down the art and science of a behavior consultation. Jana points to the evidence-based framework needed for consultation and training but also highlights the importance of “soft skills” needed for this process to be successful. Jana explains essential strategies such as reflective listening to truly improve the co…

The new course the Practical Behavior Approach is officially open for enrollment. This course is designed for general ed teachers, special ed teachers, clinicians, paraprofessionals, and parents supporting children with challenging behaviors. This course will prepare you to prevent, respond, and build. The strategies are rooted in the science of Ap…

Resilience is the ability to bounce back after stress, failure, hardship, or adversity. Resilience is closely related to emotional regulation and problem solving. In this episode, learn why resilience is an essential life skill and some practical ways to build resilience throughout the day in both home and school settings. Join The Practical Behavi…

Emotional Regulation is the ability to cope with the range of emotions. In this episode, I break down what emotional regulation is and why it’s important. Then we review what two major things can hinder the development of emotional regulation. Emotional Regulation skill building can be broken into 3 areas: pre-regulation, naming/validating emotions…

In this episode, Dr. Joe Lockavitch breaks down why reading comprehension is important and how we can reach out to more struggling readers. Dr. Joe is a former classroom teacher, school psychologist, university professor, special education director, applied reading researcher, and is the author and developer of The Failure Free. Reading Program. Dr…

When a child is in crisis mode, they are not ready to learn. In a meltdown situation, our goal as the adult is to keep the child safe and reflect on how to prevent this in the future. In this episode, we explore what to do in an episode of explosive behavior. We go through the 6 steps of de-escalation on how to safely move the child through the epi…

Decreasing negative behavior actually happens away from the negative behavior. That means we have the most success in long-term behavior reduction by preventing problem behaviors before they start. It may sound easier said than done but there are some essential strategies that you can add to your classroom, home, or clinical practice to readily avo…

Practical Functional Assessment and Skills Based Treatment were designed by Dr. Greg Hanley as an effective and ethical alternative to reducing extreme problem behaviors. In this episode, three school administrators share their experiences implementing PFA and SBT on a district wide level. Lisa Xagas, the Assistant Superintendent for Student Servic…

In this episode, we review Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) and how they can be used in both a clinical or classroom setting. Dr.Jamie Hughes-Lika shares her expertise on this topic. She defines what NDBIs are, how they are different than traditional ABA, and how child-led teaching works. Dr. Hughes-Lika is a Board Certif…

Having your team on the same page is essential for the successful implementation of behavior plans. In this episode, Amanda Borosh, BCBA, breaks down why staff training is important and how to overcome some of the challenges. Amanda shares actionable strategies for getting team buy-in and improving follow-through. Amanda is a licensed special educa…

In this special episode, I share an excerpt from a recent live workshop. This session is titled Can’t Do or Won’t Do. Every decision we make is shaped by our skills and abilities to perform the action and our motivation to do so. In this clip from the workshop, I share how to approach challenging behaviors from a can’t do or won’t do perspective. -…

Lois Letchford is a reading specialist who is passionate about teaching struggling students how to read. In this episode, Lois dives into the problems with many traditional literacy approaches and the impact this can have on students. She shares some key strategies for building reading skills by building engagement and focusing on comprehension. Lo…

Julia DeNey founded Sense-ational You, an adaptive apparel brand for autistic children who need help regulating so they are empowered to be successful no matter where they are. In this episode, Julia discusses what sensory needs are and how they can impact behavior. She explores the area of tactile sensory needs and how different clothing can be ch…

Tim Kretchman is the founder of Action Driven Education and a former teacher and administrator. In this episode, Tim shares how to identify “just right” accommodations for students in a range of settings. Tim shares the four key variables that make accommodations work - strengths, needs, degree of need, and fit to the instructional setting. Tim sha…

Katherine Saint, Ph.D., LPC, BCBA-D, Katherine has her doctorate in Behavior Analysis and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. In this episode, we discuss the 4 attachment styles from a behavior analytic perspective. Katie shares what learning histories typically lead to each attachment style and what supports we can give to help those individuals…

Elizabeth Klein is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Clinical Director of an ABA program that delivers therapy in home, school, clinic, and community settings. She noticed a common challenge with children with autism across settings - eating problems. In this episode, Elizabeth discusses with eating challenges are common for children with auti…

When creating successful inclusion, there can be many obstacles along the way. Rebekah Poe, M. Ed. is an award-winning former special education teacher and a national teaching conference presenter. Rebekah shares what inclusion is and some tips and strategies for making inclusion effective and possible. She shares how to work with reluctant teacher…

Extinction is the process of removing or discontinuing reinforcement for a behavior. This would then reduce or eliminate the behavior. However, this strategy can have some challenges during implementation. In this episode, Dr. Billie Retzlaff breaks down what extinction is and what are some alternatives to reduce problem behaviors. She dives into n…

Independent work is essential to running a successful classroom. This allows small group instruction to happen and builds critical life skills of work endurance and sustained attention. Many independent work systems include task boxes. Task boxes include one activity and often students rotate between assigned task boxes. In this episode, I share 3 …

Dr. Rachel Schwartz, PhD, BCBA-D breaks down sexuality education in special education. She reviews how teachers and related services fit in to providing this conversation. Dr. Schwartz shares what topics are appropriate for what ages and why these are essential life skills for all learners. She tackles tricky topics such as how to work with staff m…

Dr. Taylor Day is a licensed child psychologist and parental coach who specializes in autism and neurodivergent affirming care. In this episode, Dr. Tay shares her Whole Family Approach™ which focuses on the needs of parents and siblings of autistic children, as well as the children themselves. We discuss how to provide education and support that v…

Effective leadership is imperative for both BCBAs and classroom teachers. Within a clinic or in-home setting, BCBAs manage and lead Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). Janelle Upthegrove is the owner of Grover Behavioral Services and shares her insight and strategies for creating a positive and effective work environment. Janelle discusses usin…