This week we welcome Jerrod Brown, Ph.D. to the podcast to talk with us about the vulnerabilities some autistic individuals may have when it comes to suggestibility, compliance, naivety, and gullibility. Jerrod is a professor, trainer, and consultant with considerable experience working with criminal justice-involved populations. The reality is that there are dishonest people out there that try to take advantage of others. There are others that knowingly and unknowingly ask leading questions to ...
Oct 22, 2021•39 min•Ep. 57
This week we welcome Board Certified Behavior Analyst, CEO and Co-Founder of IGCN Healthcare Partners, and National University professor, Cameron Nesbitt, to the podcast to talk to us about what goes into becoming a board certified behavior analyst. I hope this episode is helpful to parents of kiddos on the spectrum that are getting introduced to their treatment team as well as helpful for individuals thinking about joining the field of Applied behavior analysis. Download the podcast today to le...
Oct 15, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 56
Making friends and building meaningful relationships is an important skill for both neurotypical and neurodivergent children. So how can parents and clinicians help? One way is to provide opportunities to be around other kiddos around the same age with similar interests. Today we are excited to talk with Emily Bruce about playdates! Emily is a board-certified behavior analyst and founder of the app PeerKnect. She offers first-hand insight into how beneficial social interactions are to children w...
Oct 08, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 55
This week we welcome Dr. Nicole Williams and Dr. Ashley Shayter from the Behavioral Health Center Of Excellence (or BHCOE for short) to talk with us about the amazing ways an ABA therapy program and IEP plan can work together to help children with autism learn. Learn More About the BHCOE: https://bhcoe.org/ COMING SOON From the BHCOE: School Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Autism weekly is now found on all of the major listening apps including apple podcasts, google podcasts,...
Oct 01, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 54
This week we welcome the program director of the College Internship Program, Jenna Knauss to the podcast to talk to us about the ways parents can help their teens get ready for adulthood and the community resources that might be available to help. The College Internship Program has locations across the country. They have focused on helping young adults on the spectrum find success in college, employment, and independent living since 1984. Download the latest podcast episode to learn more! Learn ...
Sep 24, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 53
In this episode, we welcome autism self-advocate and author Sam Farmer BACK to the podcast to talk about how to rise above bullying. Bullying can impact people of all ages and Sam has empowering advice that can help in all kinds of scenarios. Sam first joined our podcast back on episode 27 where we discussed his path towards autism awareness and acceptance. Sam is an author of a book titled “A Long Walk Down a Winding Road.” The book offers clear advice and simple steps for overcoming adversity ...
Sep 17, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 52
This week we are excited to welcome Co-CEO of Ascend Behavior Partners, Jonathan Mueller, to the podcast to talk about the future of Autism care. Jonathan shares Jeff's same mission of making high-quality ABA therapy as accessible as possible to children and families in need. This episode breaks down access to care, how to tackle long waitlists, as well as how technology can improve the way we provide care. Download the podcast today to learn more! Learn more: Ascent Behavior Partners Learn More...
Sep 10, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 51
This week we are excited to welcome Dr. Peter Faustino to the podcast to talk to us about what an Individualized Education Plan (or IEP) can do to open up new opportunities for your child. Dr. Faustino is a school psychologist and works as an expert advisor for the new Autism Speaks IEP guide. He operates his own private practice working with students and families with developmental delays. Download the episode today to learn more from his excellent experience. Download the Autism Speaks IEP Gui...
Sep 03, 2021•41 min•Season 2Ep. 50
This week I am excited to welcome the CEO of the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence to the podcast, Sarah Litvak, and welcome back her colleague, and VP of Government Relations Anna Boulard! Download the podcast today to learn about the incredible ways the BHCOE is advancing the field of ABA from both the parent and the provider perspective. Sarah Litvak is a behavior analyst based out of southern California. She, along with her team creates measurement tools and provides metrics to assess A...
Aug 27, 2021•37 min•Season 2Ep. 49
This week we welcome BCBA, Amanda Taylor to the podcast to share some tips on how to help kiddos on the spectrum learn social skills and ultimately make friends. Amanda is an assistant director at our Cottonwood Heights ABA Therapy Center where she helps create opportunities for children on the spectrum to learn, socialize, and meet their goals. Social skills are just one of the many important areas of development that she helps children work on. Download the podcast today to learn more! Check o...
Aug 20, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 48
Back to school is right around the corner. For parents of children on the autism spectrum, that might mean adjusting to a new schedule, developing a relationship with new education professionals, and creating an IEP plan for the upcoming school year. This week we are excited to talk to psychologist, Taryn Nicksic-Springer, or Dr. T. for short, about how parents can start the school year off right. Dr. T worked as a school psychologist for years and is now working for ABS Kids providing diagnosti...
Aug 13, 2021•31 min•Season 2Ep. 47
The Olympics are in full swing in Tokyo which makes this week’s podcast episode especially timely! We are excited to talk with behavior analyst, Mariah Alden, about the amazing ways sports help individuals on the spectrum find joy and learn new skills. Sports can help build social skills, fine motor skills, and daily living skills but really the benefit found by both volunteers and by athletes seems to be infinite. Download the podcast today to learn more. Learn more about the Special Olympics b...
Aug 06, 2021•31 min•Season 2Ep. 46
This week we are excited to welcome Amy Gravino to the podcast to help break down what it’s like to date and find love on the spectrum. We also cover the importance of sex ed and how parents can start the conversation with their teens. Amy is a Certified Autism Specialist and relationship coach Rutgers University for individuals on the autism spectrum as well as the owner of A.S.C.O.T Consulting. Amy is autistic herself and understands many of the challenges others on the spectrum face. Download...
Jul 30, 2021•34 min•Season 2Ep. 45
This week we welcome professional magician, Cody Clark, to the podcast to talk about how he mystifies and educates audiences with his magic and autism self-advocacy. He combines magic with comedy and storytelling to give a first-person perspective on what living with autism is like. He hosts a show titled “A different way of thinking” and performs across the country. Download the podcast and listen today to learn more! Check Out Cody's Magic Shows! CLICK HERE Learn more about Cody Clark's magic ...
Jul 23, 2021•23 min•Season 2Ep. 44
This week we welcome Dr. Matt Brodhead to the podcast to talk with us about the importance of matching patient needs with providers. We will talk about the broadness of ABA yet the specificity of care. Every child with autism is different, and each provider needs to think critically about the care they are providing. Dr. Brodhead is an associate professor at Michigan State University and the Research Director of MSU’s Early Learning Institute. Dr. Brodhead has published over 40 peer-reviewed res...
Jul 16, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 43
This week we welcome Maren Jacobson and Francisco Chavez to the podcast to celebrate ABS Kids’ 10th Anniversary and talk about where autism care started out, where it is now and what’s next. They have seen it all - They experienced the transition from paper to digital data taking - Insurance reform - and have developed a company culture focused on helping children reach milestones and realize their potential. Today’s podcast is going to be a fun one celebrating how far the field has come and how...
Jul 09, 2021•52 min•Season 2Ep. 42
This week we welcome Joel Manwill to the podcast to talk about the 4th of July weekend and the unique sensory experiences that children with autism might face and how to handle them so that the whole family can have a fun weekend. Joel is an occupational therapist based out of Layton Utah. He operates his own home-based occupational therapy practice called Children’s Ability Services. Learn More About Children's Ability Services: Phone: 801-390-4947 Email: childrensabilityservices@gmail.com . . ...
Jul 02, 2021•22 min•Season 2Ep. 41
This week we welcome Amanda Garrett-Baker to the podcast to talk about what parents need to know about instructional control. Simply put, Instructional control is an ABA term “for how likely your child is to listen to you and follow directions”. If the answer is “not likely” then this podcast episode is for you! Check out Amanda's Instagram & Twitter to get more helpful parenting tips! Twitter: http://twitter.com/ABAForParents Instagram: instagram.com/ABAForParents . . .. . . . . . . . . . ....
Jun 25, 2021•26 min•Season 2Ep. 40
Working with incredible kids on the spectrum can be fun, rewarding, and provide a unique working experience each day. It can also pose challenges, and require creativity in working through complex situations. This week we welcome Megan Marks to the podcast to talk to us about what a career in the ABA field looks like. Megan is a former Registered Behavior Technician or “RBT,” and now recruits individuals to work at ABS Kids. Download the podcast today to learn more! Learn more about the career p...
Jun 18, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 39
This week we welcome Rachel Grondin-Martinez to the podcast to talk about Summer Fun and Creativity in ABA Treatment Delivery. Rachel has been in the field of ABA for the past 7 years and has seen firsthand how powerful summer learning can be for a child on the spectrum. We are thrilled to learn more about how families can get the most out of their ABA therapy program while still having an awesome amount of fun. Download the podcast today to learn more! Resources / Mentions: Tips for making the ...
Jun 11, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 38
This week we welcome Dr. Debbie Bilder from URADD, The Utah Registry of Autism and Developmental Disabilities, to the podcast to discuss the value of knowing the prevalence rates of autism and how data can benefit the community as a whole! Dr. Bilder’s clinical expertise is in psychiatric assessment and treatment for individuals with severe neurodevelopmental disabilities across their lifespan. Dr. Bilder is the URADD Principal Investigator. Check out URADD here: https://medicine.utah.edu/psychi...
Jun 04, 2021•41 min•Ep. 37
This week we welcome Leticia Moreno and danyelle beal from BABA to the podcast. BABA is hosting its first annual Black Applied Behavior Analyst conference in June. BABA aims to reduce barriers for African American students, professionals, and parents within the ABA community. Download the podcast today to listen to our discussion about the upcoming conference and the importance of diversity in ABA. We will see you at BABA! Register to join the baba conference: https://babainfo.org/register/ Chec...
May 28, 2021•27 min•Season 10Ep. 36
This week we welcome Dr. Chanti Waters to the podcast to discuss the characteristics of a quality ABA therapy program and the important role the prescription plays in treatment. We also dive into the role that 'having fun' plays in treatment and how being a total goofball can improve the connection clinicians have with their patients. Chanti is a Doctoral- Level Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked with children and adults with ASD and other disabilities for over 27 years. She also se...
May 20, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 35
This week we welcome Officer Jessica Diaz to the podcast to talk about how parents and law enforcement can work together to provide a safe space for children on the spectrum. Officer Diaz is a member of the Roselle Park Law Enforcement department in New Jersey. Her department is equipping patrol cars with new “Emergency Sensory Tool Kits” and have launched a new training for officers aimed at improving their interactions with autistic individuals and others with special needs. As a mother of a d...
May 14, 2021•31 min•Season 2Ep. 34
This week we welcome Dr. Kelly O’Laughlin to the podcast to discuss how parents can best care for themselves while also caring for their child with autism. You may have heard the phrase “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” This podcast is dedicated to help parents refill the proverbial cup so that they can help their families live their best lives. Dr. O’Laughlin is the perfect person to provide insight as she’s a clinical psychologist who has helped hundreds of families start on their journey wi...
May 07, 2021•30 min•Season 2Ep. 33
This week we welcome Rose Griffin to the podcast to discuss how to help children with autism find their voice and increase their communication skills as well as how speech and ABA therapy work together. Rose is a speech-language pathologist and board-certified behavior analyst with over 20 years of experience in the field. She provides educational material online through ABA Speech and works part-time in the public education system. Download the podcast today to learn more! Visit the ABA Speech ...
Apr 30, 2021•28 min•Ep. 32
This week we welcome Rebecca Sorensen, co-founder of Blawesome to the podcast. Blawesome is a Chapel Hill, North Carolina -based flower farm and design studio. The farm is owned and co-operated by a young man living with autism. Their work is a celebration of the beauty and uniqueness of both flowers and humanity. Blawesome is a small part of a larger movement that uses farming as a therapeutic intervention to improve health, social, and vocational outcomes for vulnerable populations. We use the...
Apr 23, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 31
This week we welcome Dr. Keivan Stassun to the podcast to discuss Autism and Employment and the value of neurodiversity in hiring. This is an important subject as many adults on the spectrum struggle to find fulfilling jobs or careers. Dr. Stassun serves as Director of the Frist Center for Autism & Innovation where they work to understand, maximize, and promote neurodiverse talent. The Frist Center represents a collaboration of Vanderbilt engineers, scientists, disabilities researchers, and ...
Apr 16, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 30
This week we welcome Lorri Unumb to the podcast to discuss autism services, insurance coverage, access to care, and parent advocacy. She’s the ideal guest to discuss both the history of access to care in autism as well as the current status, the pitfalls, and the current concerns. Lorri played a vital role in the autism insurance reform movement back in the mid-2000s. She worked for nearly a decade as the VP of State Government Affairs for Autism Speaks, taught a university course titled “Autism...
Apr 09, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Today we welcome Sam Farmer to the podcast to talk about his journey through autism awareness and acceptance as an individual on the spectrum. Sam is an author of a book titled “A Long Walk Down a Winding Road.” The book offers clear advice and simple steps for overcoming adversity and improving your life. It has proven to be a helpful resource for parents, other autistics, and clinicians alike. Sam also regularly creates coaching videos and writes blogs for the AANE (Asperger / Autism Network)....
Apr 02, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 28
