Positive Toddler Parenting™
280 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★ - 316 ratingsDr. Mary Barbera, RN, doctoral-level behavior analyst, best-selling author, and online course creator discusses autism and toddler parenting from several different angles for both parents as well as medical, educational, and behavioral professionals.
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 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! Learn more at www.marybarbera.com.
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Episodes
#078: Autism Success Story with Michelle C.
June 30, 2020 09:00 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBIn February 2020, Michelle’s daughter was given an autism diagnosis, but while she was lining all of the specialists up, the COVID shutdown occurred. Suddenly without the support, she was counting on to help her, Michelle purchased my online course. In just six weeks, Michelle’s daughter went from only two words to around 500 words. Even I was amazed by the huge progress Elaina had, and I knew I just had to hear her story.
#077: Music Therapy for Autism with Music Therapist Marlene
June 23, 2020 09:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBInserting music into physical therapy can utilize both sides of the brain, and increase the efficacy of physical therapy. For children on the autism spectrum who are engaged in musical therapy, it can improve their motor movements, their language skills, and not only their learning but also their maintenance. Dr. Marlene Sotelo discusses the evidence-based research surrounding music therapy for children on the autism spectrum.
#076: Autism and Bilingualism with Magui Moreno
June 16, 2020 09:00 - 55 minutes - 50.7 MBAs a dual-language household, Magüi Moreno and her husband intended to teach their son Adrian both Spanish and English. Early concerns about his language abilities were brushed off as a result of trying to teach two languages at once, but an autism diagnosis at the age of 4 led their family on a different path. Language learning is not innate learning, so Magüi had to learn how to teach a language from the bottom up.
#075: Autism & ABA Online Training – Interview with Emaley
June 09, 2020 09:00 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MBIn high school, Emaley McCulloch found her passion, and while it was the children with autism that drew her to the field, it was the science that got her hooked. After recognizing how hard it was to travel from place to place training ABA therapists, Emaley started Autism Training Solutions, an online education company that trains professionals and parents in evidence-based autism interventions, no matter where they’re at in the world.
#074: Autism Story with Amanda V. | From Non-verbal to Conversational & Straight A's
June 02, 2020 09:00 - 49 minutes - 45.3 MBI met Amanda V. about eight years ago when her son was newly diagnosed with autism. Imagine my delight when she contacted me to share that her son was starting middle school in a mainstream classroom, and was on the football team. Early intervention in the birth-to-three program, and the ABA techniques I taught her gave her the support she needed to reach him.
#073: Dore Blanchet: Occupational Therapy for Autism & Telehealth
May 26, 2020 09:00 - 53 minutes - 49.1 MBThere are many professions in the autism community, and one very helpful person to have on your team is an OT. Dore Blanchet is one of my favorite OTs that I’ve worked with, and today we’re going to cover fine motor skills; the role of an OT; and how Dore continues to work with her clients in the midst of COVID-19.
#072: Teaching Receptive Language Language Skills & Following Directions
May 19, 2020 09:00 - 20 minutes - 19.3 MBMy ultimate goal is for our children to live their happiest, most independent lives; that’s why language comprehension is so essential. Today I’m going to focus on how to build receptive language abilities; how to assess comprehension; when and how to use visuals, and more!
#071: Medical Conditions Associated with Autism: Interview with Dr. Missy Olive
May 12, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBMedication in the autism community can be a touchy subject. As a professional in the autism community, I feel it’s part of my responsibility to shine a light on autism conditions and medications and give you factual information. That’s why I’m interviewing Dr. Missy Olive, a doctoral-level BCBA and a licensed behavior analyst with experience in the medical autism field.
#071: Dr. Missy Olive: Medical Conditions Associated with Autism
May 12, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBMedication in the autism community can be a touchy subject. As a professional in the autism community, I feel it’s part of my responsibility to shine a light on autism conditions and medications and give you factual information. That’s why I’m interviewing Dr. Missy Olive, a doctoral-level BCBA and a licensed behavior analyst with experience in the medical autism field.
#070: Kate Swenson: Finding Cooper's Voice
May 05, 2020 09:00 - 45 minutes - 42 MBToday’s guest is a highly requested one, and I finally have the pleasure of interviewing her: please welcome Kate Swenson! Kate is most recognized for her Facebook pages Finding Cooper’s Voice and Coop’s Troops. Kate shares the ups and downs that come with being a mom to three boys, including one with severe nonverbal autism.
#069: Autism Self Care Skills: Potty Training, Sleep, Dressing & More
April 28, 2020 09:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBIt’s safe to say that right now, we are in the middle of a global pandemic; but with so much sheltering going on, this is the perfect time to start working with your children about self-care skills! Today I’m going to cover several skills such as potty-training and hand-washing, and where to begin with introducing these new skills.
#068: Challenges of Autism Bullying, Dating Someone with Autism and Learning to Drive with Autism
April 21, 2020 09:00 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MBI have been good friends with Suzie and Kelly Carpenter for almost two decades, and I’m so excited to introduce you to them! Suzie is an author and coach, and Kelly is an aspiring photographer who was diagnosed with ‘high-functioning’ autism when she was four years old. This mother-daughter duo has had to overcome a lot of challenges, but they have a ton of fantastic stories to share as well as provide a unique perspective.
#067: Global Autism Project: Autism Around the World with Molly O.
April 14, 2020 09:00 - 44 minutes - 41 MBThe Global Autism Project is a nonprofit organization that helps people in 15 countries provide better treatment for children with autism. My interviewee this episode is Molly Ola Pinney, the founder, and EO of the Global Autism Project, and today we discuss why the Global Autism Project was founded; how they help treat autism in other countries; and how the recent Coronavirus has affected their mission.
#066: The History of Autism & Autism Moms Becoming Experts in the Field
April 07, 2020 09:00 - 30 minutes - 71.1 MBI’m kicking off autism awareness month with a quick course in autism history; specifically, the mothers to children with autism who went on to become professionals in the field. The autism world has made great strides since the 1940s, and we owe so much of it to the mothers who fought for their children.
#065: Positive Parenting Solutions Without Coercion|Interview with ABA Inside Track
March 31, 2020 09:00 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBIt’s my pleasure to introduce you to the ABA Inside Track team: Dr. Jackie MacDonald, Dr. Robert Parry- Cruwys, and Dr. Diana Parry-Cruwys. We cover a lot of topics today, including positive parenting and avoiding coercion. We also discuss the rule of five-to-eight positive comments to every negative comment; a rule that should be applied to anyone’s everyday life.
#064: BCBA Compassionate Care and Interpersonal Skills with Dr. Bridget Taylor
March 24, 2020 09:00 - 56 minutes - 51.4 MBIn part two of my three-part ethics series, I interview Dr. Bridget Taylor. Dr. Taylor is a board-certified behavior analyst, a licensed psychologist, she is also the president of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. In our interview, she shares her opinion on the ethics code and why it isn’t so black-and-white, as well as the challenges that young behavior analysts might face – and how to avoid them.
#063: Autism Interventions and Teaching Strategies
March 17, 2020 09:00 - 1 hour - 62 MBWhen you’re first introduced to the autism field, whether you’re a fresh-faced professional or a confused parent, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed. There are so many different autism models to focus on – how are you supposed to know what to choose? My interviewee, Tracy Vail, is an expert on many different methodologies and will be able to lead you through the autism treatment maze.
#062: Social Media Ethics & Applied Behavior Analysis: Interview with Dr. Amanda Kelly
March 10, 2020 09:00 - 49 minutes - 45.8 MBI’m fortunate enough to have Dr. Amanda Kelly (AKA: Behavior Babe) back on my podcast! As a BCBA and autism ethics expert, she still has much to share with you and readily addresses tough questions, such as: should a BCBA accept gifts from parents?
#061: Effective Instructional Strategies for Children with Autism and Academics with Dr. Janet Twyman
March 03, 2020 10:00 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBTeaching real-world skills to children with autism can be very difficult for parents, teachers and even trained behavioral analysts. I, for one, had to teach my son, Lucas, the same and different in 16 different trials. Dr. Janet Twyman is an expert in instructional strategies and shares how reinforcement shaping, critical discrimination, observing and testing helps with effectively teaching academics and real-world skills to kids with autism.
#060: Mother with Autism Shares Her & Her Son's Autism Diagnosis Story
February 25, 2020 10:00 - 35 minutes - 33.1 MBThe interview I have for you today is unlike any of my previous interviews: my guest is Eileen. Not only does her son have severe autism and is nonverbal, but she herself has been diagnosed with high-functioning autism. Eileen openly shares her story with me and does not shy away from the truth.
#059: Autism and Family Stress: Autism Dad Reflects on Marriage & Coping with Autism
February 18, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBJim Christy is an award-winning playwright and filmmaker. He is also a husband and the father to a son with autism. Jim bravely shares his fall into the autism world; the diagnosis that changed his life; and the strain that it put on his marriage and his family.
#058: New Autism Book for Parents & Professionals Coming in 2021 by Dr. Mary Barbera
February 11, 2020 10:00 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MBI’ve been sitting on this announcement for a while, but now I can finally share it with you: I’m writing my second book! What’s the premise? When’s the release date? I’m giving you all of the details today!
#057: Escape Extinction, Evidence Based Practice & Autism Ethics with Dr. Megan Miller
February 04, 2020 10:00 - 49 minutes - 45.9 MBEthics sets a parameter of behavior that protects both a patient and a therapist, and Dr. Megan Miller talks with me about the ethical guidelines that she follows in this podcast. In addition, we talk about the alternatives to escape extinction, when you might need to use it and some of its limitations.
#056: Building Echoic Control in Children with Autism
January 28, 2020 10:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBEchoic control is when you say a word or phrase, and your child repeats it back to you like an echo. This is the fastest way for your child to build their vocabulary, and thus convey their needs to you. This is also where I see parents and professionals get stuck the most, so today I’m going to share my five tips for building echoic control with you!
#055: Better Ethical Decision Making for BCBAs: Understanding the Ethics Code | Interview with Dr. Ilene Schwartz
January 21, 2020 10:00 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBDr. Ilene Schwartz is not only a professor of special education and a BCBA, but she is also an ethics expert. In the field of ABA, it can be difficult to weed through the differing opinions and build your own solid beliefs. That’s why I asked Dr. Schwartz all sorts of questions so that you can take from her knowledge and form your own code of ethics.
#054: Almost Conversational Kids: ABA for Intermediate Learners
January 14, 2020 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBI’ve been asked a lot of questions about how to help conversational or almost conversational kids with ABA verbal behavior. In this episode, I discuss the 5 mistakes we make in helping high functioning kids with their language comprehension, the types of assessment you should look into and the ABA strategies you can apply to help your kids reach their full potential.
#053: Dr. Mark Sundberg - Using VB-MAPP to Assess and Teach Language
January 07, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 64.8 MBThis is an interview that I’ve been excited about for a long time. I’ve mentioned Dr. Mark Sundberg many times on this podcast, crediting him as the creator of the VB-MAPP as well as a favorite mentor of mine. Now I’m lucky enough to sit down with Dr. Sundberg and be privy to his knowledge, and share it with you! By the time you’re done listening, I promise you’ll have learned something new.
#052: Top 10 Autism Resources and Episodes from the Turn Autism Around Podcast
December 31, 2019 10:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBWith 2019 coming to a close, I want to sit down and review my top ten favorite episodes from over the last year. These episodes include the most viewed episode, as well as my personal favorites. Did your favorite episode make the cut? Find out now!
#051: Developmental Regression: Child with Autism is Making No Progress!
December 24, 2019 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MBWhen your goal is to help your child live their happiest, most independent life, you can get stuck going over a few obstacles. What should be the first step you take to improving their quality of life? How should you handle autism regression? Today I’m covering five obstacles that I see parents and professionals get stuck on the most – and how you can conquer them!
#050: Autism Support Groups & Encouragement: Interview with Julie Hornok
December 17, 2019 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBJulie Hornok is an award-winning author, a nonprofit founder, and an autism parent. And on top of that, she is one of the most encouraging individuals I’ve interviewed on this podcast thus far. Julie is on a mission to inspire other mothers like her, who are battle-scarred and weary, and need to be reminded that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
#049: ABA Training Issues & Kristen's Journey to a PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis
December 10, 2019 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBNo matter how long you’ve worked in the autism field, you never know everything. I can vouch for this, and so can today’s interviewee, Kristen Colyer. Kristen is the director of Maryland’s Pieces of Wonder center; she is a BCBA; and she is currently going to school to obtain her PhD. Now, she is going to share her knowledge with you, along with what she believes is the biggest problem that BCBAs are faced with.
#048: Autism and Picky Eating: 7 Feeding Tips to Solve Feeding Problems
December 03, 2019 11:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBIf your child has autism, chances are they’re also a very picky eater; there might only be a few foods that they will even consider eating. Furthermore, I know that eating problems are usually connected to problem behaviors. It’s time to turn your child’s eating habits around, and I’m here to tell you how, with my seven tips for picky eaters.
#047: Dietary Intervention for Autism, Mindset & Parenting: Interview with Autism Dad Len Arcuri
November 26, 2019 10:00 - 45 minutes - 103 MBAs a parent coach and a father to a son with autism, Len Arcuri is a wealth of knowledge. He shares his abrupt fall into the autism world; how switching to a gluten casein free diet has literally saved his son’s life; why having a growth mindset is so important; and how you and your spouse can become a team and fight autism together.
#046: Self-Injurious Behavior & Aggression in Autism with Dr. Timothy Vollmer
November 19, 2019 11:00 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBIn the previous episode, I explained what automatic negative reinforcement is, and why it is important. Now it’s time for Dr. Timothy Vollmer’s interview, which ties into that episode. Dr. Vollmer shares his thoughts on automatic negative reinforcement, how to approach it, and gives insight as to what might trigger it.
#045: Problem Behaviors Related to Pain and the Four Functions of Behavior
November 12, 2019 11:00 - 27 minutes - 25.9 MBThe four functions of behavior are what every behavior analyst looks for on a daily bases; however, I consider the last function to be the “forgotten function”. Today I’m going to explain all four functions, including the forgotten function, and how they are used to lower extreme problem behaviors.
#044: Autism and Stimming: How to Reduce Self-Stimulatory Behavior
November 05, 2019 11:00 - 27 minutes - 25.8 MBAlthough I have talked about stimming and scripting in previous episodes, today I go in-depth on what that really means. Every person has self-stimmed or scripted at one point, but for children with autism, it can become harmful. That’s why I’m here to tell you how to combat it!
#043: Autism Legal Rights & Transition to Adulthood: Interview with Autism Attorney Gary Mayerson
October 29, 2019 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBFollowing the previous episode, today I am very excited to interview autism attorney, Gary Mayerson. Gary founded the first law firm in the nation focused on the representation of individuals with autism. After nearly 20 years he has served on some of the most important autism-based cases, and is also the board chairman to the nonprofit organization, Job Paths.
#042: 5 Autism Legal Lessons I've Learned Over the Past Decade
October 22, 2019 09:00 - 34 minutes - 32 MBI’ve worked in the autism field for over two decades; that means I’ve been involved in my fair share of legal disputes. I’ve walked away from each situation with new experiences, and from that experience, I've put together five lessons that are sure to help you the next time you find yourself fighting for your child.
#041: Teamwork & Collaboration Between SLPs and BCBAs: Interview with Dr. Joanne Gerenser
October 15, 2019 09:00 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBDr. Joanne Gerenser is an SLP who has worked in her field for 38 years. She has watched the autism community grow and change, and with the divide between SLPs and BCBAs worse than ever before, she’s advocating for collaboration. Join us as we discusses where the divide begins, and what we can do to bring it together.
#40: Autism Parenting & Autism Podcasts with Autism Mom Megan C.
October 08, 2019 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBAs an autism mother, Megan’s fall into the autism world is relatable and you can find pieces of yourself in her story. Her son was diagnosed with autism when he was three years-old, and she has learned to be his advocate. But as someone who had no idea what autism or ABA was, she had a lot of learning to do. Megan’s initial confusion prompted her to start her own podcast called Adventures in Autism!
#039: Autism and Speech Delay Warning Signs & AAC Devices with SLP Mom Deidra Darst
October 01, 2019 10:00 - 41 minutes - 38.5 MBDeidra Darst is not only an autism mother, she’s a licensed SLP and published author as well. She is also extremely passionate about ABA and making a difference in the autism community. In this interview, she describes her fall into the autism world; what changed her opinion on ABA; and what she thinks professionals need to do to be most effective.
#038: The Behavioral Science of ABA: Interview with Ryan O’Donnell
September 24, 2019 09:00 - 50 minutes - 46.6 MBIn this episode, we hear from Ryan O’Donnell about his efforts to communicate about the Behavioral Science field using podcasts and videos. The content he produces is varied; some being directed to parents and other caregivers and some directed to BCBAs. He also gives presentations about autism all over the world, so he’s very knowledgeable about the field and where it’s headed.
#037: Autism and Grandparents: What You Can Do for Your Grandchild with Autism
September 17, 2019 09:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBThere are numerous ways for grandparents of autistic children to be involved in teaching and skill development. Today’s interview is with a very dedicated grandmother who found Mary’s online courses and community at almost the exact time she first heard the word autism applied to her grandson. This grandmother has made great progress with the 30-month-old boy using Mary’s techniques, and plans to continue her autism education.
#037: Autism and Grandparents: What You Can Do for Your Grandchild with Autism
September 17, 2019 09:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBThere are numerous ways for grandparents of autistic children to be involved in teaching and skill development. Today’s interview is with a very dedicated grandmother who found Mary’s online courses and community at almost the exact time she first heard the word autism applied to her grandson. This grandmother has made great progress with the 30-month-old boy using Mary’s techniques, and plans to continue her autism education.
#036: Autism Medication, Related Medical Conditions & Indicating Pain for Kids with Autism
September 10, 2019 09:00 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBIf your child has autism, then they’re likely prescribed certain medications. But which medications are best for your child, and which ones do more harm than good? Every person responds differently to medicine, so choosing the best one for your child may seem overwhelming. But after decades in the field I’ve developed strategies to keep your medication organized, and warning signs to look for when testing a new medication.
#035: Early Language Development, Autism Waiting Lists & Diagnosis with Dr. James Coplan
September 03, 2019 09:00 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBDr. Coplan is the developmental pediatrician that diagnosed Lucas with mild to severe autism. Now retired, he has decades of experience and wisdom to share with you. Not only does he talk about his fall into the autism world, he also speaks about topics such as waiting lists, denial, and self-care. His mindset is refreshingly compassionate, and will remind you to take your journey day-by-day.
#034: Autism and Potty Training | Toilet Training Tips for Kids with Autism
August 27, 2019 10:00 - 44 minutes - 41.3 MBEvery parent knows the struggle of toilet training, and that struggle can double if your child has autism. That’s why I share my advice on how to toilet train your child, whether they are three years old or twenty years old, and whether they have autism or not. And if your child isn’t ready to start toileting yet, that’s fine too; I have advice on how to introduce them to the idea so that when the time comes, it makes your job a lot easier!
#033: Autism Research & Evidence Based Intervention for Autism with Dr. Melanie Pellechia
August 20, 2019 10:00 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBThe more research there is on autism, the better. That’s why I’m so excited to introduce my listeners to Dr. Melanie Pellechia: a full time autism researcher. After working in the autism field for nearly two decades she knows exactly what she’s talking about, and she’s a wealth of information; some of the stats she shares even catch me by surprise!
#032: Is It ADHD, Speech Delay or Autism? | Signs of Autism
August 13, 2019 09:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBWhen your child first displays signs of autism, they are often ignored or completely missed. Sometimes they can be confused as ADHD or a speech delay. Early intervention is key, and so I’m going to go over three steps to help identify and hopefully combat your child’s autism and the next steps you should take.
#031: ABA Insurance Coverage & Funding Autism Therapy with Lorri Unumb
August 06, 2019 09:00 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBLorri Unumb is a professor, lawyer, advocate, and mother of three. When her first born son was diagnosed with severe autism, she was shocked that her insurance didn’t cover ABA therapy. She became an advocate for families who couldn’t afford ABA therapy, and fought for two years to get state funding from South Carolina. Now she travels the country fighting for other states to have that same privilege, and she’s stopped by to share her information with you.