Welcome back to our special Back to School series, where we're revisiting some of the most popular and impactful episodes to help you gear up for the new school year. These episodes have resonated with so many educators and parents, and we're excited to share them with you again. Teaching autistic preschoolers with a strength-based approach can make a world of difference in their learning experience. Instead of focusing on what a child can't do, strength-based learning emphasizes their strengths...
Aug 13, 2024•19 min•Ep 83•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome back to our special Back to School series, where we're revisiting some of the most popular and impactful episodes to help you gear up for the new school year. These episodes have resonated with so many educators and parents, and we're excited to share them with you again. Let's dive into the first one! As we head back into the classroom, understanding the developmental stages of play is crucial for supporting our young autistic students. In this episode, we explore the concept of "explor...
Aug 06, 2024•17 min•Ep 82•Transcript available on Metacast As we head into August and gear up for the new school year, we thought it would be the perfect time to revisit some of our most popular episodes. These episodes have resonated deeply with our listeners and are packed with valuable insights that will be incredibly helpful during this back-to-school season. Today, we're kicking things off with an episode that offers five essential tips to support coregulation and self-regulation with young autistic children. These strategies are designed to create...
Jul 30, 2024•20 min•Ep 81•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to another episode of the Autism Little Learners podcast! Our membership community is filled with passionate educators, therapists, and parents all dedicated to creating compassionate and engaging environments for young autistic learners. Today, I’m excited to introduce you to two extraordinary members of our community who are making a tremendous impact in their own unique ways. Joining me are special education teacher and parent Laura Wing and special education teacher Jordan Daddow. La...
Jul 23, 2024•44 min•Ep 80•Transcript available on Metacast As many of you know, our Autism Little Learners membership is a supportive community of educators, therapists, and parents dedicated to fostering compassionate, approaches and engaging environments for our young autistic learners. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce two incredible members of our community who have been making a significant impact in their own unique ways. I’m talking to special education teacher Jona Lourenco, and parent and childcare provider Lily Hamilton. These two always go abo...
Jul 16, 2024•34 min•Ep 79•Transcript available on Metacast Today I’m talking to Stefanie from Lilly’s Voice . Stefanie started this non-profit because after jumping through hoops to get her daughter, who is autistic and non-speaking, an AAC device, she decided to support other parents trying to do the same. She now provides AAC devices AND TRAINING for families who have been denied by insurance or can’t afford the outrageous out-of-pocket costs of acquiring an AAC device. I’m partnering with Lilly’s Voice during the Preschool Autism Summit and a portion...
Jul 09, 2024•35 min•Ep 78•Transcript available on Metacast Have you grabbed your free ticket to the Preschool Autism Summit yet? In today’s episode, I’m going to share all things summit with you. How it came to be, when it’s taking place, who is speaking at the summit, and what they will be talking about. Plus, I’ll tell you how to snag your free ticket today! I’ll see you inside the show! Topics Discussed: Preschool Autism Summit How it came to be Who is speaking at the summit What the topics are How to get your ticket to the Preschool Autism Summit Li...
Jul 02, 2024•16 min•Ep 77•Transcript available on Metacast I have to say that this episode was such a pleasure to record. I was lucky enough to meet a young woman named Lindsay and chat with her and her mom. You see, Lindsey is autistic and struggled with things like communication and social interaction as she grew up. She endured bullying and isolation. She is a testimant to perservernce. In one word, she’s amazing. I can’t wait to share her story and tell you what she is doing now, as a 30-year-old autistic woman. You are definitely going to want to l...
Jun 25, 2024•36 min•Ep 76•Transcript available on Metacast Nicole Casey is a speech/language pathologist who, like me, has a passion for working with autistic kids. In recent years she has taken a deep dive into learning more about gestalt language processing . The thing about Nicole is that she doesn’t hold back and her love for what she does shines through. During this podcast interview, we started sharing stories and examples with each other and the next thing we knew it was an hour and 20 minutes later!! So, this podcast episode is extra long…but in...
Jun 18, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep 75•Transcript available on Metacast This week’s guest is Destiny Huff and I had the best time talking to her about IEP accommodations and modifications that are neurodiversity-affirming . I know that we are all trying to write IEP’s that are strengths-based and ND affirming, so you are definitely going to want to carve out the time to listen to this episode! We also chat about how we can partner with advocates like Destiny, vs seeing them as an adversary. There is so much packed into this week’s show, so head over and listen to it...
Jun 11, 2024•54 min•Ep 74•Transcript available on Metacast Are you struggling with potty training your autistic child or your students ? Whether you are a parent or a special educator, this episode is going to give you so many ideas to get started. I’m talking to Molly Johnson , and potty training autistic kids is her jam. I feel so lucky that I got to talk to her and that I get to share the conversation with you. Molly is a wealth of knowledge and full of actionable ideas for parents and educators. Let’s get started! Molly Johnson is an autism consulta...
Jun 04, 2024•53 min•Ep 73•Transcript available on Metacast You guys…I’m so thrilled to introduce you to today’s guest on the Autism Little Learners Podcast! Her name is Kayla Castro and she specializes in assisting parents of autistic kids plan amazing vacations ! She’s a special needs travel agent and I’ll let you in on a secret….Kayla is sharing so many tips today that blew my mind! If you are a special educator, you are going to want to share this episode with families asap! Join Kayla and me inside of episode 72 today! Kayla Castro is a Certified Au...
May 28, 2024•50 min•Ep 72•Transcript available on Metacast When I say that you are in a for a treat today, I mean it! I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to talk to Abbey Romeo and her mother Christine , both of whom were featured on the Netflix show Love On The Spectrum U.S. On this special episode, Abbey shares her journey of growing up autistic, discussing the challenges she has faced and how she has learned to navigate them. Christine offers her perspective as Abbey’s mother, detailing the support she has provided and the unique experiences t...
May 21, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep 71•Transcript available on Metacast Have you been hearing the talk lately about hand-over-hand prompting? Have you heard discussions surrounding this type of physical prompting and how it violates bodily autonomy and is not neurodiversity-affirming? This week’s podcast guest is occupational therapist Dr. Diamond Rashad and I just had to have her on the show to talk about this topic because she articulates the information so well. This is another must-listen episode if you are working with young autistic kids! Topics Discussed: Bod...
May 14, 2024•43 min•Ep 70•Transcript available on Metacast Sometimes we need to go back to the basics. Because May is National Speech Language and Hearing Month, I thought it would be the perfect time to do just that. Today I’m talking to Megan Peveto , who is a speech/language pathologist who specializes in toddler language development. Megan is going to bring us back to the basics when it comes to language development for neurotypical children. We will also be chatting a bit about what it means to be an analytic language processor vs a gestalt languag...
May 07, 2024•30 min•Ep 69•Transcript available on Metacast Do you ever find yourself wondering about 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”, or “why aren’t WH question goals appropriate for many young autistic students”?. If you are curious about these questions and more…you are going to want to join me for this week’s podcast episode where I’ll be chatting with Emily Byers Chaney...
Apr 30, 2024•49 min•Ep 68•Transcript available on Metacast I had the honor of talking to Jessie Ginsburg, the Sensory SLP and I’m so happy to bring the conversation to you! We talked about the connection between sensory and communication and how the two can create increased engagement and progress for autistic children. We also chatted about Jessie’s brand new book, “Ready, Set, Connect”. Run to get your copy today! Topics Discussed: Combining sensory input with communication Authentic connections with autistic kids Sensory avoiders and sensory seekers ...
Apr 23, 2024•43 min•Ep 67•Transcript available on Metacast Today I’m talking to Amber Arrington . She’s the mom of 6 and 3 of her children are autistic. She started Autism Savvy to support other parents whose children were recently diagnosed or awaiting a diagnosis. I loved hearing Amber’s story and her insights when it comes to navigating a new autism diagnosis. Whether you are a parent or an educator, this episode is a must listen! Topics Discussed: Navigating the autism diagnosis Talking to parents about autism for the first time Communication betwee...
Apr 16, 2024•36 min•Ep 66•Transcript available on Metacast Does your autistic child or student have a very limited diet? Maybe they eat 3 or 4 foods and that’s it? Join me today as I talk to Brittyn Coleman, the Autism Dietitian all about selective eaters and how we can best support them at home and in the school setting. You are going to love hearing what led Brittyn on this path to helping parents of neurodivergent children when it comes to nutrition. Topics Discussed: Picky eaters vs selective eaters language What does the term “safe foods” mean Why ...
Apr 09, 2024•55 min•Ep 65•Transcript available on Metacast As we recognize Autism Acceptance Month, it's essential to explore the journey of understanding and supporting autistic individuals. Today, I’m reflecting on 25 years of working with autistic children and how things have changed over those years. I’ll be chatting about some of the shifts that I’ve made with my vocabulary, thoughts and teaching approaches. By looking back at these areas I hope to help promote a better understanding of autism and encourage acceptance and support for autistic child...
Apr 02, 2024•18 min•Ep 64•Transcript available on Metacast Have you heard the term interoception? Today’s guest, Laura Petix, is an occupational therapist and she is sharing tons of information about interoception that is going to blow your mind! Not only do we talk about how it impacts potty training, but we also touch on emotional regulation and eating issues. You won’t regret tuning in to today’s episode! Topics Discussed: Interoception definition Interoception and potty training Ways we can work on interoception at the preschool level Sensory diets ...
Mar 26, 2024•43 min•Ep 63•Transcript available on Metacast Today we're going to talk about executive functioning for autistic preschoolers. I know a lot of times when we hear executive functioning, we think of older kids. You might think of things like organizing and planning. But we really can start working on executive functioning skills with young children at the three to 5-year-old level. Keep listening and I’ll share the 3 areas that make up executive functioning along with tips on how to support these areas at the early childhood level. Topics Dis...
Mar 19, 2024•21 min•Ep 62•Transcript available on Metacast I'm going back to the basics in this episode and sharing my top 5 favorite visual supports for preschool aged autistic children. They work at home too! Stop reinventing the wheel and learn about these visuals that are tried and true and have stood the test of time. You can also download my free Visual Support Starter Set so you can implement these right away! In This Episode You Will Learn: 5 different visual supports for preschool autistic children Why each of these visual supports are valuable...
Mar 12, 2024•19 min•Ep 61•Transcript available on Metacast My high school classmate, Anton Dabbs, was diagnosed as autistic this year at the age of 53. We first chatted about his diagnosis in episode #56. We came together again to dive a little further into what life has been like since his diagnosis. It’s always so amazing to talk to Anton. He’s open, honest, and willing to share his insights. Don’t miss this follow up episode! Anton is sharing his experience of self-discovery on his new YouTube Channel. Be sure to head over and subscribe to continue t...
Mar 05, 2024•27 min•Ep 60•Transcript available on Metacast When we teach autistic preschoolers, the way we do it can make a big difference in how they grow, feel about themselves, and whether they learn to enjoy learning or not. Strength-based learning looks at what each child is good at and what their passions or interests are, instead of just what they can't do. This is different from the old-school method that mostly points out a child's weaknesses and missing skills. Today I’ll be chatting about strength based learning vs a deficit-based approach wi...
Feb 27, 2024•18 min•Ep 59•Transcript available on Metacast We’ve been hearing a lot more about play-based learning in the last few years. But, how does that work for our young autistic children who require structure in the classroom? In today’s episode, we are going to explore combining structure and predictable routines with play-based learning for young autistic children! Topics Discussed: What the stages of play are How to provide structure and still have play-based learning Why it’s important to observe the child’s play How to expand play Using visu...
Feb 20, 2024•18 min•Ep 58•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 57 is full of awesome ideas for supporting co-regulation and self-regulation with our young autistic children. I had a chance to pick the brains of Jessica Hill and Rachel Harrington and you are going to LOVE the information they shared. Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, CPRCS and Jessica Hill, COTA/L, CPRCS are passionate Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants and Certified Primitive Reflex Clinic Specialists who host the popular podcast, All Things Sensory by Harkla. Their podcast, digital...
Feb 13, 2024•40 min•Ep 57•Transcript available on Metacast One of my high school classmates was recently given the autism diagnosis at age the age of 53. His name is Anton Dabbs. In this interview, he shares his experience with being diagnosed autistic later in life. He talks about his initial reaction and looks back on his childhood and shares things that now make sense. Anton is sharing his experience of self-discovery on his new YouTube Channel. Be sure to head over and subscribe to continue to follow his journey. He is so open and honest about every...
Feb 06, 2024•43 min•Ep 56•Transcript available on Metacast Today I’ll be sharing the 4 pillars or elements that will lay the foundation for less stress for both you and the autistic child. If you implement these teaching strategies for autistic learners, you will move from feeling overwhelmed and sometimes defeated to feeling like you can handle whatever comes your way at home and in the classroom. Keep listening to learn more about the Autism Little Learners Framework! Topics Discussed: The 4 foundational elements for teaching young autistic children R...
Jan 30, 2024•17 min•Ep 55•Transcript available on Metacast Have you heard of PDA? How about autism and PDA? PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance, and it’s being talked about A LOT in the autism community. This interview with Casey Ehrlich, Ph.D. was both eye-opening and informative! If you are a parent or educator with an autistic child or student who exhibits avoidance behaviors, you NEED to listen to today’s episode! Topics Discussed: What is PDA? Characteristics of PDA PDA and the nervous system Autism and PDA Why typical teaching strategies ...
Jan 23, 2024•48 min•Ep 54•Transcript available on Metacast 
