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 successes he has had. She shares some of the struggles and how she was able to handle the difficult moment...
May 06, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 26
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 teaching students how to work collaboratively, ask for help, and more. This episode is filled with re...
Apr 29, 2019•50 min•Season 1Ep. 25
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 behavioral or physical needs as well as some best practices to utilize during a field trip. Last, I answer ...
Apr 22, 2019•20 min•Season 1Ep. 24
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 everything from getting started taking data, how to analyze your data and make data based decisions, ways to...
Apr 15, 2019•50 min•Season 1Ep. 23
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 to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the bigge...
Apr 08, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 22
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 literacy at every age in some way. Use the text you see every day as a teaching tool to work on generalizin...
Apr 01, 2019•21 min•Season 1Ep. 21
In this episode, learn how BCBA Leanne Page incorporates her knowledge of Applied Behavior Analysis into her daily parenting life. Leanne shares easy to understand action items that parents, teachers, or clinicians can utilize right away. Leanne’s approach is focused on using evidence based practices to build up the good that’s there. She relies on positive and proactive strategies that will make your life easier. This episode is filled with useful information on everything from token economy be...
Mar 25, 2019•49 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Rethink your ideas about time out. Instead of viewing this intervention as harsh and aversive instead reframe time out as “time away from reinforcement.” When used in the correct situations, this strategy can be extremely effective to reduce dangerous and disruptive behaviors. In this episode learn how and why to conduct through baseline data so you are only using this strategy in the appropriate situations. Identify the reasons why a “time away from reinforcement” works and how this plays out n...
Mar 18, 2019•22 min•Season 1Ep. 19
A limiting belief is a little voice in your head that negatively shapes your behavior and your path to success. The first step to change is becoming aware of your own limiting beliefs and then reframe your way of thinking about the topic. In this episode, I discuss the 7 limiting beliefs that may be sabotaging your work day before it even starts. The same old thinking leads to the same old results. Identify your limiting beliefs and how you can be changing the way you think to lead to more posit...
Mar 11, 2019•30 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In this Q&A episode, I answer commonly asked questions sourced through social media and my email. We discuss how to approach situations with parents who don’t agree with a behavior plan and how to reframe the way you think about parent relationships. Next, step up new methods for creating materials and a plan that logistically makes the most of every spare minute. Finally, we review some behavioral strategies for transitioning away from preferred items and to non-preferred tasks as well as h...
Mar 04, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 17
If you are in the special ed world, utilizing visuals isn’t a new concept. You are probably an expert on how and why using visuals is important. But let’s go one level deeper. The goal for all of our students and kids is independence. In this episode, we discuss how visuals help develop independent skills and how to translate this strategy to the real world. Evaluate the visuals you already have and assess where you need more or better visuals within your classroom or home. Then teach and fade. ...
Feb 25, 2019•24 min•Season 1Ep. 16
In this episode, Brigid McCormick, BCBA shares valuable ways to improve your instruction, decrease your staff training time, and increase the overall enjoyment of learning all by spending time pinpointing behaviors. Brigid is the founder and clinical director of Precision ABA and passionate about utilizing Precision Teaching. Brigid shares what Precision Teaching is and how all teachers, parents, and clinicians can utilize the first step of Precision Teaching to create a detailed and specific de...
Feb 18, 2019•53 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Learn from my missteps during my first year in the classroom. In this episode, I share 5 major mistakes that wreaked havoc on my first year and how you can avoid these. Trying to “do it all” really never works but it definitely doesn’t work when you have no clue what you are doing Learn how to tackle small projects one at a time and avoid the “hamster wheel” syndrome. Ignoring staff training is one big mistake I made my first year. This mistake is now shifted into one of my passions. I am so int...
Feb 11, 2019•20 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Back in the day as a new teacher, I thought the bulk of my job would be actually teaching my students. I was so wrong. This job encompasses so much more - managing staff, paperwork, collaborating with clinicians, etc. And now we have one more title to add to the list: publicist. Take a second and think about what most of your school thinks about your students. Does the teacher down the hall know that Sam just mastered his colors after weeks of working on it? Do the other 3rd grade students know ...
Feb 04, 2019•15 min•Season 1Ep. 13
My name is Sasha and I am a problem behavior causer. As a parent and a teacher, I have caused increases in problem behaviors. This happens because I negotiate, I give in, or I give attention. And guess what? This works for me in the moment. Negotiating or giving in gets that meltdown or negative behavior to stop. That’s what I want. I want that behavior to stop. But it does something else too - it teaches that child that negative behaviors result in something awesome. So they keep at it. Let’s c...
Jan 28, 2019•22 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this episode, I interview Chrissy Kelly of Life with Greyon & Parker. Chrissy is a parent to two boys with autism. She is a dedicated advocate and has a high level of knowledge in special education and applied behavior analysis. She shares her journey through her blog lifewithgreyson.com and social media platforms instagram and facebook @lifewithgreysonandparker. Chrissy and I discuss best practices for the IEP meeting from both sides of the table. Chrissy shares practicable strategies fo...
Jan 21, 2019•51 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Let's talk about decision fatigue. Making decision after decision all day can be exhausting and mentally draining. Lesson planning not only helps hold you and your team accountable but it reduces the amount of decisions you need to make each day. You don't need to think about what you're doing with group #3 at 10:15 because it's already planned. In this episode, learn why lesson plans are essential to the susses of your class and how to write lesson plans that are actual helpful on a daily basis...
Jan 14, 2019•20 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Sometimes independent work tasks are mistakenly thought of as "busy work." Busy work implies something that has the main purpose of being kept occupied. It has minimal functional purpose. Independent work is couldn't be farther from this. Independent work has the purpose of teaching students to work on their own for a sustained period of time. This is one of the most essential life skills you can teach your student or child. Without being able to work on your own for a sustained time period, you...
Jan 08, 2019•21 min•Season 1Ep. 9
It's happened to all of us. We went to IKEA, picked out the perfect $22 shelf, and proceeded to spend 5 hours putting it together. That shelf is now held together by masking tape but has made move after move with you because you refuse to get rid of it. You spent all of that time putting it together so it's staying with you. The IKEA effect is the idea that we place a higher value on things that we are involved in the creation of. Learn how to apply this concept to your classroom by increasing s...
Dec 31, 2018•14 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this episode, I answer commonly asked questions pulled from emails, social media, and blog comments. Some highlights: I discuss how to streamline your end of the day transition, what to do when a student is extremely attached to the teacher, misconceptions for using google forms, getting staff buy-in, planning for a substitute, sharing data with parents, implementing centers, and more! Staff Training Podcast Episodes: https://anchor.fm/theautismhelper/episodes/Episode-1-Staff-Training-e2j6ll ...
Dec 24, 2018•20 min•Season 1Ep. 7
All behavior is communication - even behavior that is disruptive, dangerous, and aggressive. Those behaviors are communicating something and they are communicating it loudly. While you are in the process of finding and implementing an effective and function-based intervention for dangerous student behaviors such as aggression or running, the day to day obstacles can be huge. Handling student aggression in a way that is respectful to the student while also keeping everyone safe is a daunting task...
Dec 17, 2018•23 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this episode, Katie, an Occupational Therapist, shares tips and strategies for navigating the overwhelming sensory experiences that can come along with the holiday season. This time of year can be challenging for everyone and we want to be sure to be proactive and sensitive to the needs of our kids and students who have sensory struggles now more than ever. Katie shares tips related to planning ahead, having a back-up plan, how to train staff, and her go-to toolkit. This strategies apply not ...
Dec 10, 2018•30 min•Season 1Ep. 5
With a growth mindset, effort and hard work are your keys to success. Failure and struggle are part of the process and the journey. As a special education teacher, parent, or professional, having a growth mindset is essential to excelling at your job. In this episode, we explore the benefits of having a growth mindset at work and how this can help prevent burnout and exhaustion. How do we get a growth mindset? Some tips: Celebrate and identify the little victories of your classroom to see the ov...
Nov 20, 2018•23 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Gina is part of The Autism Helper team and our resident preschool teacher. Gina and I chat about the process of building a new program program from the ground up, how she readily makes changes in her room, and the importance of teaching independence (even with our littlest learners). Gina took some important steps at the start of the year to find time to implement assessments, train staff, and work one on one with students. Read Gina's post about how to set up and run centers in a preschool clas...
Nov 20, 2018•21 min•Season 1Ep. 4
So you've been sold on this whole idea that staff training is important. Cool. Now how do you exactly go about doing that? What's the best way to teach your staff how to do something? In this episode, we get into the details of how to effectively teach your paraprofessionals everything from taking data to implementing behavior plans to prompt fading. I review the Behavior Skills Training Model: instruction, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback. Most people start and stop their staff training with i...
Nov 20, 2018•20 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Why do we forget about one of the most important parts of our job? Staff training doesn't seem to be a high priority on a day to day basis but it's actually what will give you the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to the overall success of your classroom. Getting your staff on the same page has a lasting impact on all areas of your room. In this episode, let's discuss why staff training is so important and how your personal hang ups often get in the way. Feeling uncomfortable or awkward a...
Nov 20, 2018•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1
