The ABA Speech Podcast- Easy Strategies for Speech Therapists, BCBAs, and RBTs

Functional communication is about more than getting a learner to request. It’s about helping them communicate what they want and need spontaneously, across people, places, and real-life situations.
Ashley Whitaker joins me to share practical clinical shifts that can make a big difference for autistic learners, especially those who are prompt dependent or seem stuck in their communication progress. We talk about why a simple prompt like “What do you want?” can unintentionally become a barrier to spontaneous communication, and how we can create a stronger connection between motivation and independent requesting.
We also dig into data collection and why tracking both prompted and spontaneous communication gives us valuable information about whether a learner needs more opportunities or a change in programming. Ashley shares practical ways to build communication opportunities throughout the day without making every interaction feel like a structured therapy trial.
Finally, we explore speech clarity and teaching functional communication before moments of escalation. When learners practice responses like “more time,” “all done,” or “no” outside of crisis situations, we can help them build communication skills they can actually access when they need them most.
#autism #speechtherapy
What’s Inside:
Reducing verbal prompts to encourage spontaneous communication
Using prompted and independent communication data to guide programming
Supporting speech clarity with slower, exaggerated vocal models
Practicing functional communication before escalation occurs
Mentioned In This Episode:
VB-MAPP
The Verbal Behavior Approach
Lighthouse Autism Center
Say It With Me by Rose Griffin
AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home

Mealtimes are full of natural opportunities for communication, connection, and friendship, but we may be overlooking just how valuable those moments can be.
Dr. Katherine Bateman joins me to explore Snack Talk, a simple visual communication support designed to help learners engage with peers during meals and snacks. We talk about using personalized questions and visual choices to make communication accessible across modalities, including speech, gestures, AAC, and other forms of communication.
What I love about Snack Talk is how practical it is. We can build visuals around what our learners genuinely enjoy, rotate topics to keep them meaningful, and use prompting to support engagement without making implementation complicated. Katie also shares how this approach can help educators become more intentional during typically unstructured times while creating opportunities for SLPs, BCBAs, teachers, and paraprofessionals to collaborate.
Ultimately, this is about more than answering social questions. It is about belonging, friendship, and giving learners meaningful ways to connect with the people around them.
#autism #speechtherapy
What’s Inside:
Why mealtimes are an underused opportunity for social communication
How Snack Talk supports different communication modalities
Ways to individualize visual supports around interests, culture, and preferences
Using Snack Talk to foster peer relationships and interdisciplinary collaboration
Mentioned In This Episode:
Visual Supports to Increase Conversation Engagement for Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorder During Mealtimes
Snack Talk
Haring Center for Inclusive Education, University of Washington
Say It With Me by Rose Griffin
AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home

Have you ever picked up an assessment and thought, “This still isn’t giving me the information I need?”
That’s why I’m so excited to introduce you to the Meaningful Outcomes Treatment and Assessment Scale, or MOTAS. Dr. Anika Hoybjerg shares how she and co-creator Casey Barron developed a comprehensive assessment that keeps meaningful, individualized outcomes at the center.
What immediately stood out to me is how practical and approachable the MOTAS feels. It addresses areas like communication, flexibility, social behavior, transitions, personal care, leisure, self-awareness, and perspective taking. There is also an Early Learner version that incorporates developmental milestones and AAC considerations.
I especially love the LOOP interviews, which bring clients, caregivers, and other professionals directly into treatment planning. Instead of assuming what matters most, we can ask, prioritize, and continue checking whether our goals are actually meaningful. That collaboration can make such a difference in creating functional treatment plans that support independence and quality of life.
#autism #speechtherapy
What’s Inside:
How the MOTAS fills gaps Dr. Hoybjerg noticed in existing assessments
Using LOOP interviews to prioritize meaningful goals with clients and caregivers
How the MOTAS supports individualized, collaborative treatment planning
Who can use the MOTAS and why it was designed to be approachable for clinicians
Mentioned In This Episode:
Get the MOTAS
ABA Education Center
Say It With Me by Rose Griffin
AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home

I still remember what it felt like to walk into a therapy session and have no idea how to move forward.
Early in my career, I was working with autistic learners with complex communication and behavioral needs, and I quickly realized graduate school had not prepared me for everything I was seeing. I wanted to help, but I didn’t always have practical strategies I could use when a learner struggled to attend, engage, or communicate. That experience sent me searching for better answers and ultimately shaped the way I practice today.
More than 20 years later, I want clinicians to have something I desperately needed back then: support, practical education, and a community that helps you feel confident about what to do next.
That’s why I created the ABA Speech Connection. It brings speech therapists, BCBAs, and RBTs together to learn evidence-based strategies, earn CEUs, collaborate, and immediately apply what they’re learning with autistic students. From AAC and functional communication to clinical roundtables and live learning, everything is designed to make professional development practical and useful.
You don’t have to spend hours searching for your next CEU or wonder whether you’re doing enough. You can have a place to learn, ask questions, and keep growing alongside professionals who care about helping every student communicate with the world.
#autism #speechtherapy
What’s Inside:
Why my early clinical experiences shaped the ABA Speech Connection
How ongoing education can build confidence and strengthen clinical practice
Practical learning around AAC, communication, and evidence-based intervention
How the Connection supports individuals and professional teams
Mentioned In This Episode:
Say It With Me by Rose Griffin
AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home

What happens when collaboration is built into a practice from the very beginning? The results can be powerful for clinicians, families, and most importantly, the children we serve.
I love hearing how different professionals find their path, and Colleen Lama's story is such a great reminder that unexpected career moments can lead to something even better. As both a speech-language pathologist and BCBA, she shares how becoming dual certified helped her better support autistic learners and inspired her to create a practice where speech therapy, occupational therapy, and ABA truly work together. We also talk about the realities of growing a multidisciplinary practice, from navigating insurance challenges to building a team that values collaboration and family-centered care. If you've ever wondered what it looks like to provide coordinated services under one roof, I think you'll find plenty of practical insights and encouragement here.

#autism #speechtherapy
What’s Inside:
Why Colleen became both an SLP and BCBA, and how that shaped her career
The benefits of offering speech, OT, and ABA in one collaborative practice
Challenges that come with multidisciplinary care and how strong communication keeps teams aligned
How the ABA Speech Connection supports ongoing learning for SLPs, BCBAs, and RBTs
Mentioned In This Episode:
Lama Pediatric Therapy
Selective Mutism, Anxiety and Communication
AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home