Positive Toddler Parenting™

#177: Teaching Children with Autism Using Table Time: Frequently Asked Questions

May 24, 2022 07:00 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MB

Table time is an integral part of my Turn Autism Around approach that differs from other providers and approaches. If you’re curious on how to start table time, what it’s all about, or maybe you’re really struggling with it now that you’ve started, you need to listen to these frequently asked questions. Community Manager, Kelsey General, joins me to ask these top questions from our community all about table time.

#176: A Story of Hope: Reducing Autism Self Injury, Autism Homeschooling, and Lessons Learned with Kelsey General

May 17, 2022 07:00 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MB

Last week we re-broadcasted episode 3, where Kelsey General, our community manager, first shared her journey with her two boys and applying my techniques and approach. Now it’s three years later, Kelsey is more involved than ever in our community and is back to share an update on Brentley and Lincoln. If you haven't yet, be sure to listen to last week's episode and then join us for this awesome update on the progress Kelsey and her family have made.

#175: Navigating Autism : Failed M-Chat Score, Toddler Headbanging, and Parent Led Therapy with Kelsey General

May 10, 2022 07:00 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MB

Enjoy this look back at episode 3, where Kelsey General first shared her autism journey with her sons, Brentley and Lincoln. She talks about early signs, the M-Chat, finding therapy, tackling severe safety concerns, and what she did when therapy just wasn’t working. Since discovering our community and courses, Kelsey has become the captain of her ship and seen incredible progress in both her sons, allowing her family to lead a happier and less stressed life.

#174: Global Development Delay and Autism: Hot Seat #5 with Grandma Tina

May 03, 2022 07:00 - 55 minutes - 51.4 MB

When grandparents are able to collaborate with their families for the benefit of a child, it is really amazing. In this hot seat, I am talking with Grandma Tina about her 2 and a half year old Grandson Wyatt, diagnosed with Global Delays and Autism Spectrum Disorder before the age of 2. We are going over Wyatt's One-Page Assessment and some of the struggles they are facing despite some great progress already.

#173: Dr. Cheryl Tierney : Explaining the New CDC Milestones

April 26, 2022 07:00 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MB

The recent changes made to the CDC Developmental Milestones are not a cause for concern as shown recently on social media. This important interview with Dr. Cheryl Tierney explains the research and experts involved in the change, what the change really means, and why this milestone surveillance is so important for identifying delays in young children. Dr. Cheryl Tierney also debunks a viral myth, are COVID restrictions causing widespread developmental delays

#172: Jess Plus the Mess on Supporting Special Needs Caregivers

April 19, 2022 07:00 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MB

A child is only as healthy as their caregiver, this is Jess Ronne’s motivation to support caregivers of special needs families. Jess is an author, documentary producer, podcaster and mother of 8. In this interview, she shares her story and caregiver advocacy journey. Jess has great advice, ideas, and tips on how we can come together to rally around an often unseen community.

#171: Tackling Autism Tantrums and Other Common Problem Behaviors: Q and A Series

April 12, 2022 07:00 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MB

Kelsey General, Community Manager, joins me again on the podcast to tackle the top 5 questions on common behavior problems. As a mom of two boys diagnosed with autism, she has great insight and perspective. We provide examples and resources, as we talk about behavior prevention and keeping kids safe among serious behavior concerns.

#170: Forever Boy, A New Autism Memoir with Kate Swenson

April 05, 2022 07:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MB

From the creator of Finding Cooper’s Voice, comes the book Forever Boy. Kate Swenson joins me for the second time on the Turn Autism Around podcast to share her new book, available now. Forever Boy is an autism memoir about Kate’s real experiences navigating parenting and life with her son Cooper, pre-diagnosis and beyond. Kate shares a beautiful excerpt in today’s interview, along with some insight on the inspiration behind the book and the reality of having a large social media following.

#169: Why Timeouts Don't Work and Alternatives You Can Use Instead

March 29, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes - 31 MB

Timeouts, punishment, and threats of punishment are an overused and ineffective strategy for changing problem behavior. Today, I am sharing the three big reasons timeouts do not work. I cover the base level problems with punishment, discipline, and why I do not recommend these strategies. You can find out more about this topic in my brand new online mini course, No More Time Out.

#168: Using a Behavior Change Contract to Promote Positive Behaviors with Dr. William Heward and Dr. Jill Dardig

March 22, 2022 08:00 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MB

"Sign Here", you may have heard your child say with a loose leaf scribbled contract in hand to get something they desire. This is actually a research based tool that you can use to get real change and meet real goals. Today I am interviewing Dr. William Heward and Dr. Jill Dardig, authors of the book, Let's Make a Contract, a family friendly book about changing your child's behavior in a positive way. We get into what a behavior contract is, who it's for, and how you can make it work.

#167: How To Help Your Toddler Talk! Hot Seat #4 with Elissa

March 15, 2022 08:00 - 57 minutes - 53 MB

Do you have a toddler who was recently diagnosed with ASD? Elissa M is in the hot seat to share her beginnings of early intervention with her 2 and a half-year-old Lexi. After reading my book, Turn Autism Around, and working on my online Toddler Course, Elissa is ready to review Lexi’s assessments and discuss how her therapy is going and what Lexi’s future therapy may look like for Early Intervention ABA. Not only do we discuss all of the assessments included in my free book resources, we go...

#166: 10 Early Warning Signs of Autism

March 08, 2022 08:00 - 30 minutes - 28 MB

Are there signs that can lead to an early diagnosis of autism? In chapter two of my book, Turn Autism Around, I discuss possible warning signs for autism. I am going over these 10 signs in today's episode. These signs include lack of pointing, speech delays, and many more. Having these signs does not automatically mean autism but even without a diagnosis they can be worked on to help your child with my proven four-step approach, Turn Autism Around.

#165: Research Topics in ABA for Practitioners with Dr. Amber Valentino

March 01, 2022 08:00 - 55 minutes - 51.2 MB

Research and new research conducted by practitioners working within the field is critical to the development of practice and the betterment of our children. In this interview with Dr. Amber Valentino of Trumpet Behavior Health, we are discussing applied research, the importance of conducting studies, the barriers for practitioners, and getting published. We discuss some of my own peer-reviewed journal articles and other studies I've completed. The goal of the research is to share knowledge, ...

#164: Autism Case Study with Michele C : From 2 Words to 500 Words with ABA Online Course

February 22, 2022 08:00 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MB

Can language skills truly improve and excel through ABA and my online courses? Michele C of episode 78 returns for a progress update on her daughter Elena. We discuss the improvement that can occur through the effective implementation of my online course, how ABA therapy works with strong parent advocacy, and if it's possible to reverse an autism diagnosis? Michele is the captain of the ship when it comes to her daughters, their learning, and their health and we are excited to share this ama...

#163: Autism Spectrum Disorders in Australia with Mandy Mason

February 15, 2022 08:00 - 50 minutes - 46 MB

Mandy Mason is a powerhouse mom of two daughters, BCBA, and CEO and Founder of FIT Learning in Australia. In this interview, she shares her journey with her youngest daughter's diagnosis and how that has morphed her career and life. We discuss Australia and how it relates to autism rates, finding a diagnosis, and ABA. This episode has great advice for parents and professionals and unique insight on autism across the globe.

#162: Down Syndrome and Autism with Angela Lee

February 08, 2022 08:00 - 40 minutes - 36.6 MB

Can an individual have both Down Syndrome and Autism? In this interview with Angela Lee, we discuss how these diagnoses often go hand in hand, the therapies for both, and Angela’s unique approach to encouraging more employment opportunities for this community. This is a great episode from a Mother, BCBA, and advocate in the special needs community.

#161: Individuals with Autism and Police: What You Need To Know with Captain Gerald Turning

February 01, 2022 08:00 - 58 minutes - 53.8 MB

Safety is a big concern for the Turn Autism Around podcast. Captain Jerry Turning of Blue Bridge Training shares valuable information on the community of autism parents and first responders. Jerry is an autism dad and former police officer, he understands parents' concerns because he is a parent. We discuss a variety of safety issues for children with autism and how parents can approach and trust law enforcement with their child’s safety regardless of age.

#160: When To Tackle Weaning Off Pacifiers with Pediatric Feeding Specialist Melanie Potock

January 25, 2022 08:00 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MB

Children with autism often present feeding and drinking issues, coupled with weaning off pacifiers and bottles, this can create stress for families surrounding mealtime. In today’s episode, Melanie Potock, SLP and feeding expert, shares some great resources and knowledge surrounding tackling picky eating and weaning. It is her goal to bring joy back to eating and mealtime while promoting positive oral development and motor skills, this is a great listen.

#159: My Journey with The Verbal Behavior Approach

January 18, 2022 08:00 - 43 minutes - 40.3 MB

My book The Verbal Behavior Approach is now published in 15 languages. Out for over a decade, this book is reaching all over the world to spread successful strategies for teaching kids with autism. In today’s episode, listen to me share live via zoom with Lithuanian readers all about my background and start with the Verbal Behavior Approach.

#158: Autism and Constipation: Can Constipation Cause Potty Training Accidents? with Dr. Steve Hodges

January 11, 2022 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.8 MB

For the autism community, potty issues are both common and extremely frustrating. In this interview with pediatric urologist and constipation expert, Dr. Steve Hodges shares how most potty issues are caused or related to missed constipation. We talk about this severe medical issue and the treatments necessary to relieve your child and prevent accidents.

#157: Spark Autism Research with Dr. Pamela Feliciano

January 04, 2022 08:00 - 33 minutes - 31 MB

Research in the autism community is crucial to identifying the cause and treatment, especially with so many genetic questions. Dr. Pamela Feliciano is the senior scientist at SFARI and the scientific director at SPARK. These organizations are some of the largest in autism research. Dr. Pamela and I discuss the importance and impact of the studies and how they can support autism families.

#156: Autism Podcast: The Top 10 Episodes of 2021

December 28, 2021 08:00 - 31 minutes - 28.7 MB

It’s hard to believe but 2021 is coming to a close. As I wrap up year three of the Turn Autism Around podcast, I am sharing my top 10 episodes. Each year I like to go over my interviews and solo episodes and pick 10 that really highlight the year. It’s difficult to choose just 10 but tune in for my last episode of the year for what I think made the biggest impact on my goals for this autism podcast.

#155: The Benefits of Taking and Creating BCBA CEU Webinars with Teresa Lyons

December 21, 2021 08:00 - 42 minutes - 39.4 MB

My online course and community has made an impact on so many, both parents and professionals. Teresa Lyons, has been a member and participant since my very first cohort for the Verbal Behavior Approach. Teresa shares about how the course and community has impacted her both personally and through her work at her FIT Learning Center in Virginia. We discuss the benefits of an online course and a little bit about how to market it.

#154: Laurie Hellmann on Parenting a Teenager with Non Speaking Autism

December 14, 2021 08:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MB

As the parent of two teenagers with autism, Laurie felt called to share her story. Laurie Hellmann is the host of Living the Sky Life, a podcast with incredible stories and information. She is also the author of Welcome to My Life: A Personal Parenting Journey Through Autism. We discuss the resilience required to make it through the challenges of autism and the passion it can bring to some parents to make connections and impact this community across the world.

#153: Jill Escher: Why Has the Rate of Autism Increased?

December 07, 2021 08:00 - 54 minutes - 50 MB

What does it mean to have severe autism? And what does that mean for future support if the autism rates are truly increasing? Research advocate, Jill Escher, joins me in this episode to answer these questions and more. This is an educational and eye-opening conversation. We discuss her journey as a mother to children with nonverbal autism, her impact on research surrounding the causes of autism, severe autism, and the staggering increase of autism rates.

#152: Amanda DeLuca and Kirby Morgan: How To Advocate For Your Child with Autism in an IEP Meeting

November 30, 2021 08:00 - 1 hour - 56.5 MB

Are you wondering how to be the best advocate for your child with autism? When entering an IEP meeting even the most educated parents can feel lost, confused, and defeated. Amanda DeLuca and Kirby Morgan created a program called Mastering Your IEP to help. They are both autism moms and IEP consultants and coaches full of all the knowledge you need to ensure your child’s IEP includes all of the services and accommodations they need to be successful.

#151: Armando Bernal on His Journey as a BCBA Therapist with Autism

November 23, 2021 08:00 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MB

As both a BCBA and an individual with autism, Armando Bernal is also the host of the podcast, A Different Path. Today we have a truly fascinating and enlightening conversation about Armando’s experiences with being diagnosed in the 90s, all the ways autism impacts his life as an independent adult, and how exactly he approaches ABA therapy as a person with autism himself. Armando is such a joy to talk to and really breaks down some hot topics in the autism and ABA community.

#150: Autism Success Stories: Navigating Autism as a Military Family with Melissa L.

November 16, 2021 08:00 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MB

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are; getting a diagnosis of autism can be tough on the whole family, not to mention the struggle of finding the right help. Melissa Leahy joins me today to talk about her unique challenges as a military family who was stationed overseas when they received a diagnosis for their then 2.5-year-old Mattis. She has excellent insight on tricare coverage and services available on military bases. Melissa also shares her incredible success with my online cou...

#149: My Autism Journey with Lucas

November 09, 2021 08:00 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MB

Over the last month, I participated in a challenge titled: The 25 Days of Autism. This was inspired by Kate for Finding Cooper’s Voice and Autism Adventures with Alyssa. I had such a great time going through pictures and talking about what was going on in our lives or Lucas’s diagnosis or progress. Head on over to my website or Facebook so you can see all the pictures I am talking about in this episode.

#148: Victoria Boone on Positive Parenting for Autism

November 02, 2021 07:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MB

Are you wondering how you can shift your parenting strategies to a more positive approach? Victoria Boone’s book Positive Parenting for Autism discusses psychology and ABA-based strategies for building desired behaviors and eliminating problem behaviors. In this episode, we are discussing extinction versus punishment, the benefit of differential reinforcement, and the controversy of ABA.

#147: Dr. Temple Grandin and Dr. Debra Moore on Their Latest Book Navigating Autism

October 26, 2021 07:00 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MB

Navigating Autism: 9 Mindsets for Helping Kids on the Spectrum, is Dr. Temple Grandin and Dr. Debra Moore’s newest book. We are discussing these mindsets and some autism hot topics such as medication for autism and the controversy of ABA. The interesting information they share from their book, are empowering tools that can helpfully develop the full potential in any child.

#146: Tameika Meadows from I Love ABA on Finding Good ABA Therapy

October 19, 2021 07:00 - 38 minutes - 35.8 MB

No therapy is better than bad therapy. Today, BCBA Tameika Meadows, author, and creator of the blog I Love ABA joins me to share her important factors in finding a good ABA provider. We break down the differences between good ABA and bad ABA, highlight some big red flags, and dig into parent resources.

#145: Amy Sutherland: What Shamu Can Teach Us About Training

October 12, 2021 07:00 - 37 minutes - 35 MB

Positive reinforcement is the key to changing behavior in humans and animals alike. Amy Sutherland, author of What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage, shares how she uses the training skills she learned with animals to improve behavior in her personal life in many ways. This interview is full of interesting information on how we use reinforcement to encourage behavior every day, whether we are working with a child with autism or a cougar.

#144: Does My Toddler Have Autism or Is It a Speech Delay Due to Covid Isolation? : Interview with Rachel S.

October 05, 2021 07:00 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MB

COVID isolation kept us inside our house, but did it make our world quieter? If you’re seeing a speech delay in your toddler, they may have been affected by the lack of exposure due to the lockdown. Rachel Smith, Program Director of Turn Autism Around and mom to Two-year-old Everett, is sharing how she blames covid for her son’s speech delays and how she turned it around. We also give tips on picking the right daycare, reversing activity aversions, and how you can be the best therapist for y...

#143: Using Behavior Science to support children with Learning Challenges with Dr. Kim Berens

September 28, 2021 07:00 - 48 minutes - 44.7 MB

FIT Learning Center is a worldwide program founded by Dr. Kimberly Berens. The focus of her center is rooted in using behavior science for direct instruction and precision teaching for rapid growth in students with learning challenges, disabilities, and delays. We are discussing how she emulates importance in order of teaching, utilizes virtual teaching, and teaches students on varying levels to improve past their best in a regular school setting.

#142: Diversity in the Autism Field with Dr. Fumi Horner

September 21, 2021 07:00 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MB

Autism affects a diverse array of children and families, whether it be cultural, religious, racial, or language differences. Does diversity in the autism field reflect and accept these individual preferences? Dr. Fumi Horner, Japanese native and doctoral level BCBA, shares her perspective on diversity and its place in the world of autism.

#141: Hyperlexia in Children: Early Signs, Diagnosis and Treatments

September 14, 2021 07:00 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MB

Hyperlexia is an intellectual disability in which a child is hyper-fixated and obsessed with letters, words, and reading but has low language functionality. Early signs of Hyperlexia can be linked with early signs of Autism. Today I answer questions about identifying the symptoms and signs of Hyperlexia and how to teach children with Hyperlexia and Autism. I share stories of children with Hyperlexia I have worked with first-hand, and more tips and resources on the topic.

#140: How to Launch an Online Business with Jeff Walker

September 07, 2021 07:00 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MB

One of the goals of the Turn Autism Around podcast is to help parents and professionals lead less stressed lives. One way to reduce stress may be to bring in additional income or see the value in online courses. I am interviewing Jeff Walker, my business mentor and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Launch. We discuss how to disseminate information globally, how to find your place in the digital world, how to grow a business, or how to move your current coaching program to the onlin...

#139: Building Good Behavior and Self-Esteem in Children with Dr. Henry Schlinger

August 31, 2021 07:00 - 52 minutes - 48.8 MB

Just like ABA, positive reinforcement is a science. Dr. Henry (Hank) Schlinger is talking about his book, How to Build Good Behavior and Self-Esteem in Children. The information in today’s podcast is critical for parents and professionals. Dr. Schlinger goes over the five problems any parent faces and the five myths regarding positive reinforcement. This episode is full of great parenting advice, if what you're doing is not working, whether you have a child with autism or not.

#138: Teaching Toddlers with Autism Using the Turn Autism Around Approach: Hot Seat #3 with Lauren

August 24, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 61.9 MB

Lauren is a married mom of two girls, who found my book and courses and is ready to begin to Turn Autism Around for her oldest daughter, Avery. She is taking the “hot seat” as we discuss their fall into the Autism world, the concerns Lauren has had for Avery since birth, and how to implement the steps of the Turn Autism Approach at home and with ABA therapists.

#137: College Planning for Individuals with Autism: Interview with Brenda Eaton

August 17, 2021 07:00 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MB

Often the focus of my podcast and books surrounds the topic of younger children, but our children grow up and it's important to know what options are out there for them. My colleague and friend, Brenda Eaton join us today to discuss how she helps students achieve their post-high school goals. There are many choices for individuals with Autism to continue their education and grow their independence. Brenda shares the programs available and what a College Coach can do to help.

#136: Using Organizational Behavior Management in ABA: Interview with Shannon Biagi

August 10, 2021 07:00 - 41 minutes - 38.7 MB

Organization Behavior Management is the science of human behavior, what you know of reinforcement, punishment, and motivating operations applied with staff. Shannon Biagi, BCBA and OBM practitioner, joins us on the podcast today to discuss the gap in HR where ABA businesses are having retention and burnout. OBM focuses on turning the environment around to be productive for both the clients and staff.

#135: Chino’s Story: An Autism Update with Jocabed

August 03, 2021 07:00 - 44 minutes - 41.4 MB

I often get asked about the kids I've worked with, that I mention in my book or courses, and how they are doing now. Jocabed is here with me today to give us an update on her son Chino. He is now age 11, we talk about his progress to this point, raising children in a bilingual household, navigating religion for a child with Autism, and safety concerns Jocabed had for Chino early on. Jocabed gives us a relatable perspective on how the circumstances of raising a child with Autism is always cha...

#134: Programming for Intermediate Learners: Hot Seat with Swethana

July 27, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 58.7 MB

We’re back with another Hot Seat. Today I am talking with Swethana, a mom of two girls whose youngest, now age 5, has been diagnosed with Autism. I am looking at some of Swethana’s daughter Richa’s assessment, and we are discussing what these mean and how to enact the 4-step Turn Autism Around approach.

#133: Empowering Parents: Parent Led Therapy for Children with Autism

July 20, 2021 07:00 - 17 minutes - 16.7 MB

Parents taking charge is really important. You are your child’s lifelong advocate, and you can be their best teachers. I talk a lot about this in my book, and today I am sharing some parent success stories and more information on how you as a parent or as a professional helping parents, can begin to captain the ship.

#132: ABA Therapy: Four Myths and Truths

July 13, 2021 07:00 - 31 minutes - 57.1 MB

ABA is a science we all use every day. I will be debunking the 4 myths of ABA and sharing with you the truth and history behind the practice. I also provide information and resources from the book to lead you to quality ABA with the Turn Autism Around approach.

#131: Precision Teaching and Autism | Interview with Amy E. and Kelsey G.

July 06, 2021 07:00 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MB

A mom from our community, Kelsey General, joins me in this episode along with Amy Evans, Precision Teaching Practitioner. Amy works with Kelsey’s two boys now 5 and 7, who were diagnosed with autism at 25 months old. We hear the success story and importance of the work they do with precision teaching and fluency instruction.

#130: Physical Therapy Evaluations and Autism | Interview with Dawn Meller

June 29, 2021 07:00 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MB

Today I talk with pediatric physical therapist Dawn Meller. Dawn tells us what she may look for as a PT when working with children with Autism or are showing signs of Autism. We go over motor skills milestones, and habits that may cause concerns, the reasons behind them, and when to see a PT for intervention.

#129: Building Imitation Skills in Toddlers with Autism or Showing Signs of Autism

June 22, 2021 07:00 - 44 minutes - 41.4 MB

Today I am here solo, talking to you about the importance of building imitation skills as highlighted in my book, Turn Autism Around. We talk about crucial imitation milestones as well as the steps to start building these skills. You will learn the 4 steps in working with imitation skills in toddlers with Autism or showing signs of Autism. I provide you with ideas and resources to work on these pivotal skills with toddlers based on my years of experience and research.

#128: Diagnosing Autism During COVID19 pandemic | Interview with Dr. Catherine Lord

June 15, 2021 07:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MB

Covid-19 made all aspects of life difficult, and it was no different with diagnosing autism. Dr. Catherine Lord was able to develop an evaluation with her team, the BOSA, that was able to help identify some behaviors that could be pointing toward autism. This evaluation was able to ensure that man-children could stay on the right track to get a diagnosis as well as treatment.