The ABA Speech Podcast - Easy Strategies For Parents and Professionals

• #219: Using Descriptive Praise to Help Transform Behavior with Bailey Payne

  Are the learners in your class or therapy room engaging in behaviors that create barriers to learning? What can you do?Bailey Payne, author of Behavior Breakthrough: 12 Skills to Transform Behavior at Home and in the Classroom, offers data-driven, evidence-based strategies to help parents and educators reshape their responses, modify environments, and create lasting change. Her book makes Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) concepts accessible, empowering caregivers and teachers to foster a more peaceful learning space.Where to start?Bailey emphasizes teaching essential skills using a clear framework: Why is it important? What is it? How does it look in practice? Today, we explore descriptive praise—a powerful tool for guiding children toward positive behaviors. Unlike general praise, descriptive praise explicitly recounts a child’s actions, showing them how to access attention appropriately without resorting to behaviors that produce a barrier to learning.With teachers already overwhelmed, strategies like descriptive praise offer a simple yet proactive way to remove learning barriers. By intentionally reinforcing desired behaviors, educators can create a more structured, supportive environment—one where every child has the opportunity to succeed.#autism #speechtherapyWhat’s Inside:How to break through barriers to learning.Teaching skills to transform behavior.What is descriptive praise, and how can it help?Mentioned In This Episode:Behavior Breakthrough: 12 Skills to Transform Behavior at Home and in the ClassroomBailey PayneBehavior Breakthrough with Bailey Payne (@behavior_breakthrough) on Instagram BehaviorBreakthrough (@behaviorbreakthro) on TikTokABA Speech: HomeJoin the aba speech connection membership 

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• #218: Social Skills and Coding with Jessica DeMarco

  I’m talking with Jessica DeMarco about outside-of-the-box thinking to promote and teach social skills while enriching students’ lives. Project Social Code is a unique program that uses block coding to help children develop teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills while exploring STEM. Funded by a $2.5 million, five-year grant, it ensures that kids of all abilities, including those with disabilities who are often excluded from traditional STEM programs, have the opportunity to engage, learn, and grow.Block coding provides a visual, user-friendly way for students to collaborate, think critically, and express creativity. Through structured lesson plans designed for every skill level, students practice parallel play, teamwork, and problem-solving while building confidence in a fun and supportive environment. Teachers receive free resources, professional development, and in-class demos to integrate coding into their classrooms effortlessly.At the heart of the program is DASH, a special robot (there’s a virtual version too) that students bring to life through their own coding. DASH moves, makes sounds, and responds to their commands, making coding an interactive, hands-on experience that reinforces both technical and social skills.Project Social Code is more than just a STEM program—it’s an opportunity for every child to develop essential life skills, build new interests, and be part of an inclusive learning experience. And best of all, it’s free. Learn more and access resources at Project Social Code’s website.#autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside:What is Project Social Code?How can you use block coding to work on social skills?Free information, resources, and tools.Mentioned In This Episode:Project Social CodeABA Speech: HomeJoin the aba speech connection membership 

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• #217: PDA and Collaboration Over Compliance Dr. Michael C. Selbst and Dr. Jeniffer Cruz

  Dr. Michael C. Selbst and Dr. Jennifer Cruz from Behavior Therapy Associates joined me to explore Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), a subtype of autism spectrum characteristics marked by an anxiety-based drive for control. PDA triggers a fight, flight, or freeze response to both explicit and implied demands, making traditional interventions ineffective. Individuals with PDA often have highly sensitive nervous systems and struggle with the removal of control, leading to heightened anxiety.While there are no evidence-based strategies yet, emerging approaches emphasize collaboration over compliance. Rather than coercion, effective support comes from building trusting relationships, presenting expectations in a meaningful way, and embedding socio-emotional learning opportunities. The focus is not just on moving away from discomfort but helping individuals experience it with compassion and cooperation. As caregivers and clinicians, we must lend our calm, practice emotional intelligence, and reflect on how we show up in these interactions.Although research in the U.S. is still developing, Dr. Selbst and Dr. Cruz recommend the UK-based PDA Society as a valuable resource for further information. #autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside:What is PDA?What causes Anxiety Based Drive for Control?What strategies can be used to work with learners with PDA?Do all learners with PDA have autism?Mentioned In This Episode:Dr. Selbst and Dr. Cruz have the authority to practice interjurisdictional telepsychology (APIT) from the PSYPACT commission, allowing her to provide telepsychology to clients in many states. To see if your state is included, please click on this link: https://psypact.site-ym.com/page/psypactmap PDA SocietyBehavior Therapy AssociatesABA Speech: HomeJoin the aba speech connection membership

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• #216: Support Struggling Readers with Marty Schultz

  Are you supporting students struggling with reading? Marty Schultz introduces an incredible learning resource, Buddy Books, which provides access to over a million books to help students build confidence and improve literacy.Designed for students in lower socio-economic districts and those with learning differences like ADHD, autism, or selective mutism, Buddy Books offers a structured yet engaging way to develop reading skills. A student reads a line, then the AI reads a line, creating an interactive and supportive experience. With books tailored to student interests, this approach keeps learners engaged while AI software analyzes challenges and tracks progress.Schools and providers have seen amazing results, particularly in second grade and beyond, as students gain confidence and fluency. There is also a home version too! Marty Schultz shares inspiring stories of Buddy Books at work, showing how struggling readers make measurable progress. The ultimate goal? That learners no longer need Buddy Books—because they’ve become independent, enthusiastic readers.#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:A resource for improving confidence and fluency in reading.What is Buddy Books?Mentioned In This Episode:[email protected] ABA Speech: HomeJoin the ABA Speech Connection membership 

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• #215: SLP/BCBA Collaboration Using Naturalistic Interventions with Dr. Kathleen Edmier and Karen Guerra

  At the Marcus Autism Center, Dr. Kathleen Edmier, BCBA, and Karen Guerra, SLP, work together to bridge the gap between their fields, demonstrating the power of collaboration in supporting individuals with autism. Their work showcases how speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and board-certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) can align their approaches to maximize positive outcomes.For professionals looking to collaborate, the key lies in relationship building and mutual respect. Shifting from a multidisciplinary to an interdisciplinary model allows for deeper integration of tools and strategies, creating a unified approach to intervention. This partnership also enhances the generalization of procedures and plans, ensuring that individuals and their families receive cohesive and effective support.One of the most impactful areas of collaboration is in addressing complex topics such as verbal imitation and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Despite differences in terminology, both disciplines focus on developing essential social skills. Open dialogue between professionals helps them recognize shared goals and complementary strategies, fostering a more effective and comprehensive support system.For SLPs and BCBAs, embracing collaboration means building a synergistic approach that enhances family support. Prioritizing understanding, flexibility, and mutual respect creates a stronger network of care. By adopting the mindset of "having grace for one another," professionals can work together to drive meaningful progress and improve outcomes for those they serve.#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:Bridging SLP-BCBA CollaborationInterdisciplinary vs. Multidisciplinary WorkAligning Goals and StrategiesCollaborating on hot button topics in the field. Mentioned In This Episode:ABA Speech: HomeJoin the aba speech connection membership 

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