#225: Assessment and Intervention of Executive Functioning Skills with Stephanie Howard

Stephanie Howard, a BCBA and mother, faced a turning point when her son was diagnosed with ADHD at age five. She realized the same executive functioning tools she used professionally could support both her parenting and her son's development.

Executive functioning—skills like planning, impulse control, and focus—is often disrupted in ADHD, autism, and trauma. It’s more than behavior; it’s about how the brain organizes and responds to the world.

Stephanie shares, for listeners, the Executive Functioning Skill Questionnaire and other free resources that have helped her understand and support her son’s needs. These tools are designed to guide both parents and professionals in identifying strengths and areas for growth.

She also shares some of the specific goals she’s set at home, showing how executive functioning skills can be built through everyday routines. Programs like the Flexible and Focused Program and ROPES help break down executive dysfunction into manageable steps.

To generalize these skills, Stephanie offers practical tips: use timers and task lists, give clear warnings before transitions, and turn tasks into games to hold attention. She highlights the power of caregiver education, understanding the difference between antecedents and consequences, and working with a team.

For Stephanie, it’s not just about managing behavior—it’s about supporting the brain.

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What’s Inside:

• What is Executive Functioning?
• Assessment for EF skills (FREE resources).
• Goal examples to use in therapy and at home.
• Managing and supporting Executive Dysfunction. 

Mentioned In This Episode:
25 Executive Skills Questionnaire — Peg Dawson & Richard Guare Step I: Read each item below and then rate that item based
Executive Skills Questionnaire – Revised (ESQ-R) – NovoPsych
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