Claim OwnershipThe ABA Speech Podcast- Easy Strategies for Speech Therapists, BCBAs, and RBTs
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© 2025 The ABA Speech Podcast- Easy Strategies for Speech Therapists, BCBAs, and RBTs
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Join Rose Griffin, a dedicated Speech Therapist and BCBA from ABA SPEECH, as she shares her compassionate approach to supporting the communication needs of autistic individuals. With 20 years of experience, Rose is committed to respecting and understanding the diverse ways autistic people communicate and interact with the world.
This podcast is a resource for professionals and parents alike, offering practical strategies that honor each person's unique communication style. Rose covers a wide range of topics, including how to recognize and support autistic communication from an early age, the distinctions between autism and speech differences, and effective, respectful approaches to fostering communication, whether a child is non-speaking, minimally speaking, or verbal.
Through a mix of interviews and solo episodes, Rose explores how to enhance meaningful connections, address challenges with empathy, and celebrate the strengths of autistic individuals. Whether you're a parent, therapist, or educator, you'll find valuable insights and actionable advice to create supportive environments that empower communication and honor neurodiversity.
Hit subscribe and learn more at www.abaspeech.org.
264 Episodes
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In this reprise episode, I’m revisiting an important conversation with Dr. Michael Selbst and Dr. Jeniffer Cruz about Pathological Demand Avoidance, often called PDA. I began getting more questions about PDA as clinicians and parents shared concerns about students who weren’t responding to traditional strategies and seemed to escalate around even small or well-intended demands. In this episode, we break down what PDA is and how it’s currently understood. While PDA is not a formal diagnosis in...
Functional Communication Training can change everything when behavior is really communication and we take the time to listen. In this reprise episode, I’m revisiting one of our most popular conversations of the year, all about Functional Communication Training and how to get started in a way that is practical, ethical, and truly supportive for students. I hear so many questions about what to do when students are struggling to express their needs and emotions and how to move beyond problem beh...
Strength training and structured fitness can transform quality of life for autistic and neurodivergent individuals. Eric Chessen began developing meaningful fitness programs after realizing there was almost no guidance on how to safely and effectively support this population. His work focuses on bridging the gap between exercise science and positive behavior support so individuals of all ability levels can build strength, confidence, and long-term independence. We discuss why traditional moti...
“We can’t sleep for them, but we can support and set the stage for healthy sleep”. Guest Nicole Shallow, M.Ed., BCBA joins the show to talk about supporting sleep through a compassionate, neuroaffirming, science-based lens. Nicole works with families whose autistic children struggle with falling asleep, bedtime resistance, night waking, or inconsistent sleep schedules—helping parents understand where to begin when exhaustion and overwhelm have taken over. We discuss what makes someone a good ...
Emily Kearney, BCBA, who has been working in the field since 1999, joins the show to dive into a topic we haven’t explored in depth before: matching as a skill. Though it may seem simple, matching is foundational for learners of all ages. This critical skill supports language, play, leisure, problem solving, and actions across the lifespan. We discuss how matching isn’t always identical—it can be based on features, categories, or associations—and how it develops from early learning readiness ...
In this solo minisode, I’m diving into five of the questions I hear most often—covering selective mutism, collaboration, AAC, core words, and the path to dual certification. These are the topics that come up again and again in our field, and today I’m offering practical guidance, real examples, and links to deeper learning. Does ABA Speech have resources for selective mutism? Yes! I share some of my own experience supporting learners with selective mutism and point you to a full episode on th...
Guest Meghan Edwards, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and School-Based Behavior Specialist, joins the show to share her journey from providing in-home services to becoming a public school BCBA. With over a decade of experience, Meghan helps schools build proactive systems for behavior and staff support—bridging the gap between behavior analysis and the real-world classroom. We talk about what it means to be a school-based BCBA, including the top three things to consider when transit...
Guest Marie Martinez, a dual-certified SLP/BCBA, joins the show to share her passion for empowering parents and supporting communication in everyday moments. She’s the author of Path for Words: Five-Minute Language Learning Activities for Children Ages 1–3 Years, a book that helps families turn daily routines into powerful language opportunities. Marie talks about identifying the small moments that matter most—because communication doesn’t just happen at the table with flashcards, it happens ...
Leah and Dr. Shelly, both occupational therapists who have either earned or are working toward dual certification as BCBAs, join me to talk about the power and challenges of blending these two worlds. Believe it or not, there aren’t even statistics on how many dual-certified professionals are out there—but the impact of this crossover is clear. Their work centers on collaboration with families and other professionals, finding common ground between OT and ABA. We talk about the funding and sys...
Luba Patlakh, founder and director of Kidology, Inc., shares her journey of creating a thriving pediatric practice that offers speech, occupational, physical, and ABA therapy. Four years ago, she expanded her clinic to include ABA services, recognizing that behavior is the “glue” connecting all other disciplines and a crucial way to continue supporting clients as they age out of early intervention. Luba walks us through the process of credentialing, applying, and setting up systems to accept ...
Lily Darnell and Sarah Varillas of Inner Circle Autism Network are using a telehealth behavioral parent training model to support families in a powerful new way. Their approach helps parents gain the tools and confidence to use ABA strategies at home—especially when traditional, clinic-based services may not be accessible. For many families, clinic environments or long waitlists can create barriers to care. Inner Circle’s telehealth model offers a lifeline for those in transition, waiting for...
I’m so excited to celebrate 250 episodes of the podcast, and I couldn’t think of a better way than by sharing a little sneak peek into my own life. For this milestone, my 10-year-old son, Paxton—an aspiring podcaster himself—joins me to ask some fun questions about the show, my path to becoming an SLP, and a few behind-the-scenes facts you may not know. To mark this celebration, I’m also sharing links to some of our most popular and meaningful episodes. And if you haven’t yet, come join us at...
“I can’t be the only one who feels this way.” That was the thought that led Kate Swenson to use her passion for writing to share her family’s journey. Kate is the founder of Finding Cooper’s Voice and the author of Finding Cooper’s Voice and Autism Out Loud. Her work highlights that autism is a family diagnosis, and she has made it her mission to connect the community, start conversations, and give families a voice. Kate and I talk about the isolation many families feel after an autism diagno...
Erin Stern, BCBA, Founder and President of STEPS Behavioral Health, shares how her clinic takes an integrative approach by combining ABA, Speech, OT, and PT to support early learners. With a strong focus on flexibility and tailoring every goal to the individual, Erin highlights the importance of thoughtful intake and assessment, working closely with families, preparing children for school, and weaving in everyday experiences and milestones. Erin discusses the clinic’s Early Steps Program, whi...
Lindsay Watson, PT, CEO, and Co-Founder of Augment Therapy, is on a mission to blend augmented reality (AR) and virtual care to transform therapy. Augment Therapy offers interactive AR rehabilitation exercises and fun wellness games designed to encourage movement and improve outcomes at home and in person. With their ARWell PRO app, therapists can use the software during sessions and give patients free access at home, all while tracking progress through a customized, gamified platform. While ...
Thinking about becoming a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)? There are now over 200,000 certified RBTs, and in this episode, I’m joined by Jackie Jung, an RBT currently pursuing a career in speech-language pathology. A Registered Behavior Technician is a paraprofessional who works directly with individuals receiving ABA services, implementing treatment plans under the supervision of a BCBA. Jackie shares her journey into this role and walks us through the steps to becoming certified: compl...
What is Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT), and how can it support social communication skills? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Jessica Osos, BCBA, to explore the definition and application of RIT—a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBI) designed to teach learners to imitate spontaneously through ongoing, play-based social interaction. Unlike structured drills, RIT is child-led and play-focused, helping to build social skills that go far beyond imitation. For many SLPs ...
Is this intervention going to make a client’s world bigger? That’s the guiding question for today’s guest, Cindy Mrotek, BCBA and LBS, founder of a.c.e therapies—a center offering Speech, OT, and ABA services, along with options for adult learners. With three locations across Illinois, a.c.e therapies focuses on skills that truly matter across the lifespan. In our conversation, Cindy shares why focusing on meaningful skills and goals is so important for increasing quality of life and “making ...
Do you feel like most CEUs aren’t very beneficial? You’re not alone—60% of my audience across the field feels the same way. That’s why I created The ABA Speech Connection CEU Membership—a program designed to foster collaboration, provide access to current research, and deliver engaging, practical CEUs that actually help you support your learners in communicating with the world. ABA Speech Connection is both ASHA and ACE approved, with a strong focus on meaningful outcomes. Since launching, ...
Dr. Erin Michaud, SLP and BCBA-D with over 20 years of experience in communication development and ABA, joins the podcast to share the groundbreaking work of The Early Markers of Autism Project—a program changing the landscape of early autism identification and intervention. This hands-on, in-person research and treatment study works with infants from both high-risk populations (siblings of children with autism, with a 20% recurrence rate) and low-risk populations. By tracking social interact...
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