ABA MOM

🎃 Tricks, Treats & Triggers: Surviving Halloween with ABA! 👻 | ABA MOM Podcast Halloween SpecialHalloween is full of costumes, candy, and spooky fun! But for some children and families, it can also bring sensory overload, unexpected transitions, communication challenges, and overwhelming experiences.In this special Halloween episode of the ABA MOM Podcast, host Allie Langan, MA, BCBA, explores how Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) strategies can help make Halloween more enjoyable, inclusive, and less stressful for everyone!🍬 In this episode, we discuss:🎃 Sensory sensitivities and Halloween overstimulation👻 Costume struggles and respecting individual preferences🍭 Teaching functional communication during trick-or-treating🕸️ Managing transitions, waiting, and challenging behaviors🧡 Using reinforcement, visual supports, and preparation🦇 Promoting inclusion and acceptance for individuals with disabilities🎉 Why Halloween should be about making memories, not meeting expectations!Whether you're a parent, caregiver, RBT, BCBA, or simply interested in understanding behavior, this episode offers practical strategies and a fresh perspective on celebrating Halloween.Remember: Success doesn't have to mean visiting every house or wearing the perfect costume. Sometimes, one house, one piece of candy, or simply enjoying the evening together is more than enough!🎙️ Join the ABA MOM community!👍 LIKE this video if you found it helpful!💬 COMMENT: What's your biggest Halloween challenge or favorite Halloween tradition?🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more conversations about ABA, parenting, behavior, and everyday life!📢 SHARE this episode with a parent, caregiver, or ABA professional!🎃 Happy Halloween from the ABA MOM Podcast! 👻#ABAMOMPodcast #HalloweenSpecial #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #ABA #AutismAcceptance #HalloweenTips #BehaviorAnalysis #BCBA #RBT #ParentingTips #SensoryFriendlyHalloween #InclusiveHalloween

Episode 72: 5&Why with Andrea PrescottIn Episode 72 of ABA MOM, host Allie Langan, BCBA, sits down with Andrea Prescott to talk about 5&Why and her work connecting families in the special-needs community with resources, inclusive experiences, businesses, and organizations that can help them thrive.Andrea shares the story and purpose behind 5&Why, a resource designed to make it easier for families to discover sensory-friendly events, autism-friendly experiences, adaptive activities, inclusive programs, and other opportunities throughout Northeast Florida. (5&Why)The conversation also explores Andrea’s connection with Bright Feats, a resource that helps families navigate the often-overwhelming world of special-needs services and community supports. The 5&Why Inclusive Guide features Bright Feats resources and connects families with organizations serving individuals of all abilities. (5&Why)Allie and Andrea discuss the importance of community, inclusion, advocacy, and making reliable resources easier for parents and caregivers to find. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, ABA professional, educator, or community provider, this episode highlights how stronger connections can make a meaningful difference for families.🎙️ Host: Allie Langan, BCBA 🎙️ Guest: Andrea Prescott 📍 Episode 72 – 5&WhyLearn more about 5&Why and explore its Special Needs & Inclusive Experiences Guide.

Studying for the BCBA exam can feel overwhelming—but what if you could approach it with more confidence, better strategies, and a deeper understanding of the science instead of simply trying to memorize everything? On this episode of the ABA MOM Podcast, hosts Allie Langan, BCBA, and Erica Mendes, RBT sit down with Nick Ostosh, MA, BCBA, founder of Understanding Behavior, to talk all things BCBA exam prep. Nick shares his journey in behavior analysis, his passion for teaching, and what he has learned from helping future BCBAs prepare for one of the biggest tests of their careers. Whether you're currently studying for the BCBA exam, working toward certification, supervising future BCBAs, or just love talking about the science of behavior analysis, you won't want to miss this conversation. 💬 QUESTION FOR YOU: If you're studying for the BCBA exam right now, what topic gives you the MOST trouble? Drop it in the comments! 👇 👨‍🏫 Learn more about Nick Ostosh & Understanding Behavior: https://understandingbehavior.shop/pages/meet-the-team 🎧 Subscribe to ABA MOM for conversations about ABA, becoming a BCBA, parenting, clinical practice, and the real-life side of behavior analysis. 👍 Like this episode 💬 Comment your toughest BCBA exam topic 📲 Share it with a future BCBA 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! #BCBA #BCBAExam #BCBAExamPrep #BCBATestPrep #BehaviorAnalysis #ABA #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #FutureBCBA #BCBAStudent #BCBAStudy #BCBACandidate #ABACommunity #BehaviorAnalyst #ABAMOM #BCBAStudyTips

Social skills don’t stop being important when childhood ends. In this episode of the ABA MOM Podcast, Allie Langan, BCBA, talks about how we can adapt social-skills teaching to better support teenagers and adults in ways that are practical, age-appropriate, and meaningful to their everyday lives.We explore what social skills can look like beyond traditional childhood goals—including navigating conversations, building friendships, handling disagreements, participating in group activities, advocating for yourself, and developing greater independence in the community.In this episode, we discuss:✨ Modifying social activities so they are age-appropriate ✨ Moving beyond traditional “play skills” for teens and adults ✨ Conversation and cooperative communication skills ✨ Waiting, turn-taking, and flexibility ✨ Self-advocacy and communicating wants and needs ✨ Practicing social skills during real-life activities ✨ Community participation and independence ✨ Choosing goals that are meaningful to the individual ✨ Using interests and preferred activities to make social learning more naturalThe goal isn’t to make someone appear more “typical.” It’s to help individuals develop communication, self-advocacy, relationships, and independence in ways that improve their quality of life.Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, RBT, BCBA, educator, or support professional, this episode offers practical ideas you can use when supporting teens and adults.💬 Join the conversation: What social or independence skill do you think is most important for teens and adults to learn?👍 Like this episode if you found it helpful 💬 Leave us a comment 🔔 Subscribe to the ABA MOM Podcast for more conversations about ABA, parenting, advocacy, and real-life support.#ABAMOM #ABA #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #SocialSkills #Autism #AutismSupport #BCBA #RBT #TeensWithAutism #AdultsWithAutism #LifeSkills #IndependentLiving #SelfAdvocacy #SpecialNeedsParenting

What does raising a child with special needs look like through a dad’s eyes?On this episode of ABA MOM, Allie sits down with Joey from Cool Daddy Talks for an open and meaningful conversation about fatherhood, raising a son with special needs, advocacy, behavior, therapy, and learning to celebrate progress that may look different from everyone else's.Joey shares his family's journey and talks about the realities that don't always make it onto social media—the uncertainty, difficult moments, unexpected victories, and the ways becoming his son's dad has changed his perspective on parenting.We also get into what it's like navigating the world of therapies and services as a parent, learning to look beyond behavior to understand what a child may be communicating, and why fathers need a voice in the special-needs parenting community too.❤️ In this episode, we talk about:Joey and his son's storyFatherhood and special-needs parentingAdjusting expectations and redefining milestonesDatingThis isn't an episode about defining a child by a diagnosis. It's about fatherhood, connection, advocacy, growth, and seeing the person before the label.👨‍👦 Follow Joey — Cool Daddy TalksFacebook — Cool Daddy Talks Instagram — @cool.daddy.talks TikTok — @cool_daddy_talks🎙️ ABOUT ABA MOMABA MOM brings together the worlds of Applied Behavior Analysis, parenting, special needs, family life, and the people living it every day. We believe some of the most important conversations happen when we stop talking aboutfamilies and start talking with them.If this conversation resonates with you, LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it with another parent, dad, therapist, RBT, BCBA, teacher, or advocate who needs to hear it.Tell us in the comments. We want to celebrate it with you. ❤️#ABAMOM #CoolDaddyTalks #SpecialNeedsDad #SpecialNeedsParenting #SpecialNeedsFamily #Fatherhood #AutismDad #AutismParenting #ABA #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #BCBA #RBT #ParentingPodcast #SpecialNeedsParent #DisabilityParenting #ParentAdvocacy