Autism & Speech Delays Made Easy
289 episodes - English - Latest episode: 21 days ago - ★★★★ - 316 ratingsDr. Mary Barbera, RN, doctoral-level behavior analyst, best-selling author, and online course creator discusses autism and speech delays from several different angles for both parents as well as medical, educational, and behavioral professionals. Learn more at www.marybarbera.com.
Each week we discuss Mary’s 4-step proven approach to tackle common parenting struggles including how to improve talking, reduce tantrums, and improve picky eating, sleeping, potty training and so much more for kids with and without autism!
Topics also include what to do when a toddler is delayed and how to identify the earliest signs of autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, or even giftedness! And what to do if your child is diagnosed or requires early intervention or ABA therapy.
So, whether you're a parent of a child or a professional such as a behavior analyst, nurse, physician, speech pathologist, or teacher, you’re going to want to listen and subscribe!
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Episodes
#186: Shannon Penrod: Autism Advice for Parents
July 26, 2022 07:00 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBHere at Turn Autism Around, we are familiar with denial and other feelings of guilt surrounding autism. Today Shannon Penrod, podcast host, author, and comedian, joins me to share her journey of hope with her son Jem. We discuss her personal stories as well as some important advice surrounding coping with feelings as an autism parent.
#185: How to Stop a Toddler from Throwing Things and Hitting Me - Solving Problem Behaviors
July 19, 2022 07:00 - 37 minutes - 35 MBWe all want to be good parents and good professionals, dealing with problem behaviors can be difficult and have you doubting your skills. You are not alone! Rachel Smith, the Turn Autism Around Program Director, joins me today to discuss her first-hand experience with stopping problem behaviors for her three-year-old son Everett. We discuss real strategies and tips that can help any child with or without Autism.
#184: Solving Speech Delays in 4-year-olds and Autism Denial: Hot Seat #6 with Vikram
July 12, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 60.1 MBFor the first time ever in a hot seat, we’re hearing from an Autism Dad. Vikram from Melbourne, Australia joins me to discuss his son Nahum’s concerns, his assessments, and his progress since starting my courses and applying the early learner materials. We talk a lot about language skills, as well as meal time concerns, self-care and pottying, and autism denial, something a lot of parents struggle with when working toward a diagnosis.
#183: Global Autism Project - Supporting Families with Autism in Ukraine with Molly Ola Pinney
July 05, 2022 07:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBThe War in Ukraine is a serious crisis in today’s world, within that population, there are families with children with autism facing severe struggles due to loss of therapy service and extreme disruption to normalcy and routine for their family. Molly Ola Pinney of the Global Autism Project has been to Poland, spoken with displaced Ukrainian families, and is working to create new opportunities for safety, services, and therapy that these families and children need. Listen for how YOU can hel...
#182: Teaching Autoclitics and Manding for Information with Dr. Sarah Lechago
June 28, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 56.9 MBManding for information is an important skill for intermediate learners. Today, I am joined by Dr. Sarah Lechago to discuss her research and trials teaching learners to mand for information. We talk about what manding is, the prerequisite manding skills that come before manding for information, how to use autoclitics, how to practice manding in your natural environment, and a lot of other great tips for both parents and professionals.
#181: Medications for Autism : Top 5 Questions and Answers
June 21, 2022 07:00 - 27 minutes - 25.7 MBLast week we circled back to podcast 28 from 2019 with Dr. Michael Murray, talking all about medications and autism. Kelsey is back to feature 5 more big questions on medications for autism that we get in our community. If you’re considering medications for your child, wondering if they will work, and just how to get them to take them, we’ll shed light on these answers and more!
#180: Is There Medication for Autism? with Psychiatrist Dr. Michael Murray
June 14, 2022 07:00 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBOriginally aired in 2019, today’s episode is a rebroadcast of episode 28, and one of my favorite, most referenced podcasts. Dr. Michael Murray, the first medical doctor I had the pleasure of interviewing and whom I actually worked with to successfully find the right medication for my son, Lucas. In this classic episode, he shares great information on autism and medication, and genetic testing that can eliminate the hard work of trial and error that can come with finding the right medication.
#179: Help, My Toddler is Waking Up at Night! And Other Frequently Asked Questions about Sleep Issues in Autism
June 07, 2022 07:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBIf sleep has become a sore subject and a constant struggle for you and your child, you are not alone! Today, Kelsey General and I are answering top FAQs on sleep issues from our online community. We go over important questions to ask when assessing your child’s sleep situation, how to break the cycle of constant night wakings, why up-to-date blood work is important for understanding sleep, and how to build strong sleep routines for your child to last a lifetime.
#178: Theresa Richard: Medical SLP and Autism Mom
May 31, 2022 07:00 - 34 minutes - 32.2 MBA Medical SLP specializing in Swallowing Disorders shares her personal story of her son’s autism diagnosis. Theresa Richards is an SLP, Podcaster, Author, and Autism mom of a son with a rare chromosomal abnormality. She shares their unique journey to diagnosis and finding the perfect therapy team. Theresa also shares some valuable knowledge on Medical SLPs and swallowing and how she is contributing to the field.
#177: Teaching Children with Autism Using Table Time: Frequently Asked Questions
May 24, 2022 07:00 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBTable 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 MBLast 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 MBEnjoy 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 MBWhen 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 MBThe 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 MBA 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 MBKelsey 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 MBFrom 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 MBTimeouts, 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 MBDo 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 MBAre 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 MBResearch 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 MBCan 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 MBMandy 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 MBCan 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 MBSafety 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 MBChildren 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 MBMy 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 MBFor 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 MBResearch 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 MBIt’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 MBMy 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 MBAs 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 MBWhat 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 MBAre 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 MBAs 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 MBIt 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 MBOver 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 MBAre 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 MBNavigating 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 MBNo 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 MBPositive 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 MBCOVID 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 MBFIT 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 MBAutism 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 MBHyperlexia 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 MBOne 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 MBJust 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 MBLauren 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 MBOften 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.