Today, we're revisiting one of your favorite episodes — my conversation with Laura Hayes, a speech-language pathologist who specializes in AAC and supports gestalt language processors. Laura brings so much insight, compassion, and practical wisdom to the topic of AAC — you are going to love everything she shares! If you missed this one the first time around (or even if you've heard it before), I encourage you to listen again — you'll walk away feeling inspired and equipped with new ideas you can...
Oct 28, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 146
AAC devices give children access to communication all day long—not just during therapy or structured lessons. For many students in the special ed classroom, the key to success isn't just having an AAC communication device, but actually using it in meaningful, everyday contexts. This is especially true when we think about AAC device autism connections. Many autistic children benefit from consistent access to AAC, whether they are nonspeaking, minimally speaking, or have unreliable speech. Embeddi...
Oct 21, 2025•14 min•Season 2Ep. 145
Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast! Today we're talking about a message that I'm deeply passionate about: there are no prerequisites to robust AAC. For far too long, people have believed that children need to prove they're "ready" before being given a robust AAC device. But that simply isn't true. AAC and autism go hand in hand, and every child deserves access to communication—whether they are speaking, nonspeaking, or minimally speaking. In this episode, I'll bust some common ©u...
Oct 14, 2025•16 min•Season 2Ep. 144
Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast! Today we're diving into one of the most powerful strategies for supporting communication in young autistic children—modeling AAC. Just like children learn spoken language by hearing it all around them, AAC users need to see and hear their language modeled on their device or core board. In this episode, we'll talk about what modeling AAC is, why it matters, and how you can start using it in your daily routines—even if you don't have a high-tech ...
Oct 07, 2025•11 min•Season 2Ep. 143
Today on the Autism Little Learners Podcast, I'm joined by Julia DeNey, founder of Sensational You—a brand dedicated to creating adaptive clothing for children with sensory differences. Julia's journey is such an inspiring one. She started in the world of fashion, but it was her time working in special education that opened her eyes to just how much sensory needs can impact a child's ability to learn and thrive. Sensory friendly clothes can make everyday life easier for autistic kids. In this ep...
Sep 30, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 142
In today's episode of the Autism Little Learners Podcast, I'm joined by Sofia Dumery, Senior Vice President of Design at Melissa & Doug® Toys. If you've ever wondered what goes into creating timeless, high-quality toys that truly support children's development, you're going to love this conversation. We dive into the importance of open-ended play, how toys can spark language and connection, and why durability, inclusivity, and sustainability matter so much in toy design. Whether you're a par...
Sep 23, 2025•53 min•Season 2Ep. 141
By popular demand, we're bringing back one of the most impactful episodes! This conversation dives into the powerful link between stress and behavior in autistic children, and why compassionate, neurodiversity-affirming approaches make all the difference. You'll discover how to reframe behavior as communication, support self-advocacy, and create environments that reduce stress and meet the unique needs of autistic children. Whether you're an educator, therapist, or parent, this episode offers pr...
Sep 16, 2025•19 min•Season 2Ep. 140
Hi friends, welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast. I'm Tara, a speech-language pathologist who has spent over 25 years working with young autistic children and their families. Today, we're going to talk about a topic that brings up a lot of feelings for educators, therapists, and parents: the Picture Exchange Communication System, or PECS. Specifically, why PECS isn't enough for preschoolers. Now, before I dive in, I want to be clear—PECS is not evil. It's not "bad." For many kids, ...
Sep 09, 2025•14 min•Season 2Ep. 139
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 education preschool classroom Using visual supports, such as a visual mini-schedule, and all done bucket...
Sep 02, 2025•12 min•Season 2Ep. 138
Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast. I'm Tara, and I'm so glad you're here today. If you've been following along, this is Part 2 of our series on potty training autistic children with compassion. In our last episode, we talked about why potty training can be harder for autistic kids, how to prepare the environment, and how to build comfort and readiness before we ever expect a child to actually use the toilet. We also talked about some of the common pitfalls to avoid—like forcing ...
Aug 26, 2025•12 min•Season 2Ep. 137
In this special two-part series we're tackling one of the biggest challenges many parents and educators face—potty training autistic children. I'll be sharing compassionate, practical strategies that take into account sensory differences, communication needs, and interoception, so you can feel more confident guiding your autistic child or students. Whether you're just getting started or stuck somewhere in the process, this series will give you the tools and encouragement you need. Takeaways Pott...
Aug 19, 2025•12 min•Season 2Ep. 136
Fostering positive relationships with autistic preschoolers is incredibly important. In this episode, I talk about emotional safety, understanding sensory needs, and the role of co-regulation in supporting self-regulation. The discussion highlights the need to step out of traditional teacher roles, validate autistic play, and harness deep interests to create meaningful connections. Core values such as compassion over compliance and honoring neurodiversity are explored, along with strategies for ...
Aug 12, 2025•18 min•Season 2Ep. 135
Today's episode is an encore of my conversation with Andi Putt, an incredible speech-language pathologist, and autism advocate. As we head back to school, it's the perfect time to revisit this discussion on talking to kids about autism—whether it's peers, siblings, or the autistic child themselves. Andi shares practical, positive strategies to start these conversations early and empower kids with understanding and empathy. Have you ever wondered how to talk to children about autism? In today's e...
Aug 05, 2025•51 min•Season 2Ep. 134
Let's be honest, back-to-school can feel overwhelming. There's excitement, sure, but there's also anxiety—both for kids and for parents and caregivers. For autistic kids, who often thrive on predictability and routine, this transition can feel extra big. The good news? We can make it easier. There are small, proactive things we can do that help autistic children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Today, I'm sharing four strategies that I've seen work time and time again Takeaways Preparin...
Jul 29, 2025•12 min•Season 2Ep. 133
In this powerful reflection episode, Tara shares one of the most impactful moments of her career—her conversation with Jordyn Zimmerman during the 2025 Preschool Autism Summit. Together, they unpack the importance of presuming competence, providing early AAC access, and creating neurodiversity-affirming learning spaces. Tara also shares emotional ripple stories from participants, illustrating how nearly 50,000 educators and therapists are creating waves of change for autistic children around the...
Jul 22, 2025•11 min•Season 2Ep. 132
In this encore episode of The Autism Little Learners Podcast, Tara reconnects with Cari Ebert, a respected speech-language pathologist and passionate advocate for neurodiversity-affirming practices. Together, they revisit a powerful conversation that redefines what play and connection can look like for autistic children. Cari shares valuable insights into why autistic play is real, meaningful, and should be honored as such. She explains how deep interests can be a gateway to learning, joy, and c...
Jul 15, 2025•58 min•Season 2Ep. 131
In this episode, I'm sharing something really exciting with you—a sneak peek into the upcoming Preschool Autism Summit, happening July 14–16, 2025! You'll get to hear short clips from some of our amazing presenters, and I'll pop in between each one to give you a little intro and context. These speakers are bringing so much heart, wisdom, and practical support to the table. Whether you're a special educator, SLP, OT, or a parent, you're going to walk away from the summit feeling more confident, m...
Jul 08, 2025•11 min•Season 2Ep. 130
Hi there, and welcome back to the Autism Little Learners podcast! I'm Tara Phillips, and today I'm joined by speech-language pathologist Alexandria Zachos for an amazing conversation all about Gestalt Language Processing. We talk about how our understanding of language development has evolved, the real struggles around prompt dependence, and why a child-led approach is so important—especially for Gestalt language processors. Alexandria shares so many helpful insights, including how we can better...
Jul 01, 2025•51 min•Season 2Ep. 129
In this episode, I had the absolute honor of speaking with Dr. Barry Prizant—renowned speech-language pathologist and author of the best-selling book Uniquely Human. We talked about how the field of autism education is shifting away from compliance-based approaches and moving toward more compassionate, relationship-centered models. Dr. Prizant shared powerful insights about emotional regulation, storytelling, and the importance of truly listening to the lived experiences of autistic individuals....
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 1Ep. 128
In this episode of the Autism Little Learners Podcast, I sit down with Alex Lamoreaux—a mom of three, including two autistic boys—to talk about her personal and powerful journey with autism. From receiving a late diagnosis herself to navigating complex medical advice, Alex shares how she shifted from fear to confidence in parenting. We dive into what it really means to trust your gut as a parent and honor the unique needs of each child. This heartfelt conversation explores the emotional ups and ...
Jun 17, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 127
Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast! If you haven't listened to Part 1 of this conversation on autism and water safety yet, be sure to go check that out first—it's episode #125. In that episode, I sat down with Dayna Harvey, a certified swim instructor who specializes in working with autistic children, and Andy Roszak, an emergency preparedness expert with experience at FEMA and the CDC. Together, we shared eye-opening statistics and essential first steps families can take to begi...
Jun 10, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 126
Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast. Today, I'm joined by two incredible guests—Dayna Harvey, a certified swim instructor who specializes in teaching autistic children, and Andy Roszak, an emergency preparedness expert who has worked with FEMA and the CDC. Together, we're diving into a topic that's incredibly important—and honestly, one that doesn't get talked about enough: water safety for autistic children. As a speech-language pathologist and someone who's worked closely with a...
Jun 03, 2025•45 min•Season 2Ep. 125
Hey everyone, welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast! Today's episode is such a special one. I'm joined by Megan Griffith, an autistic and ADHD life coach who shares powerful insights from her own lived experience. We talk about what it's like to be diagnosed later in life, sensory sensitivities, masking, and the importance of honoring neurodivergent play. Megan's stories and metaphors bring so much clarity and compassion to topics many of us are still learning about. She also shares...
May 27, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 124
In this episode, I sit down with Jordan Garrett, a special education teacher from the UK and the creator behind Sensory Classroom. We talk about what it really takes to support autistic students with high support needs—especially during group time. Jordan shares how success isn't about getting everyone to sit and comply, but about building trust, meeting sensory needs, and creating a safe, engaging space where students can come and go as they're ready. From empowering teaching assistants to embr...
May 20, 2025•54 min•Season 2Ep. 123
In this episode, I chat with Dr. Hayley Crane about supporting autistic and ADHD learners in ways that are truly affirming and compassionate. We dive into how visual supports and predictable routines can reduce anxiety, ease transitions, and help kids feel more confident and secure throughout their day. We also explore what to do when power struggles pop up, how to better understand the emotional fatigue that can follow a long day of navigating demands, and the importance of flexibility and conn...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 122
In this episode, I sit down with Polina Shkadron, a speech-language pathologist who specializes in autism, ADHD, and ARFID. We dive into her journey into feeding therapy and explore what's really going on beneath the surface when kids struggle with eating. Polina shares how trust, autonomy, and regulation play a huge role in building positive food experiences. We talk about the impact of fear and anxiety on eating, the importance of honoring a child's identity and sensory needs, and how small, p...
May 06, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 121
This week on the Autism Little Learners Podcast, I'm resharing one of my favorite episodes with Destiny Huff — and trust me, if you missed it the first time, now's your chance to tune in! We dive into all things IEPs — with a focus on accommodations and modifications that are truly neurodiversity-affirming. I know so many of us are working hard to write IEPs that are strengths-based and aligned with our values. This conversation will leave you inspired and more confident in doing just that. Dest...
Apr 29, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 120
Do you need some ideas for morning meeting or circle time? I have special educator Jenn Adams here to share some awesome tips for an engaging morning meeting! Jenn talks about the significance of building routines, differentiating instruction, and using creative strategies to enhance communication and engagement among students with diverse needs. We also chat about the significance of teamwork, problem-solving activities, and the need to adapt morning meetings to engage diverse learners. Bio Jen...
Apr 22, 2025•48 min•Season 2Ep. 119
This week on the Autism Little Learners Podcast, I'm bringing back a powerful and important conversation with Emily Byers Chaney, SLP — and it felt like the perfect time to revisit it during Autism Acceptance Month. 💛 Have you ever found yourself wondering things like: • What does it mean to be neurodiversity-affirming? • Why do many autistic children have pronoun reversals? • What is gestalt language processing? • Why should we honor protests from autistic children? • Why aren't WH-question go...
Apr 15, 2025•49 min•Season 1Ep. 118
We're bringing back this powerful episode because this topic is that important. Have you heard of PDA? How about autism and PDA? PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance, and it's a term you're likely hearing more and more in the autism community. This conversation with Casey Ehrlich, Ph.D. was eye-opening, informative, and deeply validating. If you're a parent or educator supporting an autistic child who seems to resist or avoid everyday demands, this episode is a must-listen. Whether it's ...
Apr 08, 2025•48 min•Season 1Ep. 117
