The ABA Speech Podcast - Easy Strategies For Parents and Professionals

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 mi...

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 tra...

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 rol...

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 bu...

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...

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 app...

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% recurrenc...

Cindy Watson, celebrating 30 years as an SLP and making her third appearance on the podcast, returns with BCBA Ashley Snavely to share how their clinic blends multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary care.

“We were missing something,” Cindy reflects. Already offering PT, OT, and Speech, their team recognized therapists needed tools to address challenging behaviors. Adding ABA was the evidence-based solution. In this episode, Cindy an...

Ron Demuesy joins me to unpack the vital and often nuanced role of school-based BCBAs. Unlike outsourced consultants, in-house BCBAs provide consistent presence, accessibility, and a deeper connection with students and staff.

Ron shares key insights for success:

• Mind your language: Be technically accurate without drowning in jargon.
• Ditch the forms: Gather meaningful information through conversation, not paperwork.
• Focus on skill-b...

On today’s episode, I’m joined by Allyson Wharam, BCBA, instructional designer, and founder of Sidekick Learning. Allyson is the creator of one of the most comprehensive and thoughtfully designed 40-hour RBT courses I’ve come across. Her background in instructional design brings a fresh and interactive approach to RBT and BCBA training.

We talk about how the RBT certification has grown rapidly and why quality training is m...

Jennifer Houston joins me to share her journey from speech‑language pathologist (SLP) to dual‑credentialed SLP/Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)—a rare “unicorn” duo found in fewer than 500 professionals worldwide. After more than two decades of diverse SLP roles, Jennifer found herself increasingly drawn to addressing challenging behaviors across her caseload. Motivated by this evolving passion and a push from her boss, she ...

We’ve made it to the final installment of my mini summer series!

In today’s episode, I’m asking an important question: Do you feel valued at work?
Feeling valued and building mutual trust are key ingredients for meaningful collaboration, which is essential in the work we do as providers.

I’m sharing practical, collaborative phrases you can use to build trust and strengthen your professional relationships. (You’ll also find a link...

Welcome to Part 3 of my mini-series answering your burning questions! Today, we're diving into the topic of verbal imitation.

When it comes to verbal imitation and echoic goals, context is everything. These goals must be functional and meaningful to the individual child in order to support communication development.

As an SLP collaborating with a BCBA, and vice versa, rely on assessment tools and an SLP's robust training in...

In this installment of minisodes, we tackle a common AAC challenge: what happens when professionals don’t agree? The BCBA recommends PECS, the SLP suggests a dynamic device… Now what? Welcome to the standard trial of non-collaborative chaos.

There are plenty of barriers to AAC collaboration, but also practical steps that can lead to smoother teamwork. The first is building familiarity. AAC can feel overwhelming, but taking time to l...

Responding with “Where’s the research for that?” may be quick, but it can strain professional relationships. Today, we’re diving into a simple framework you can start using in your school or clinic—starting tomorrow!

So, how do we navigate disagreements when our training and backgrounds differ? The truth is—our way isn’t the only way.

Consider this quote from the article Maintaining Professional Relationships in an Interdisciplinary ...

There may be two sides of the IEP table, but at the end of the day, we’re all on the same team — the learner’s.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Ryan Hogan, also known as @TheWorldsOkayestSchoolPsych, the creator behind the popular, lighthearted school psych meme account on Instagram.

We talked about the intersection of ABA, special education, and school-based work in the social media space. Ryan shared some great insights, especi...

Leila Farschian, Special Educator and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), is someone who gets things done. She has lived these problems in the field and is actively working to solve them. Her story offers practical insight and inspiration to you in your daily work. 

As founder of the Global Schoolhouse Project, Leila partners with the International Healthcare Network on Closing the Digital Divide, a project bringing digital dev...

I am talking all things biz with Mellanie Page, founder and CEO of The ABA Collective. Mellanie, a trailblazer in the field, creates high-quality programs that go beyond the traditional boundaries of ABA. Mellanie joins us to talk about entrepreneurship, finding your niche, and the value of starting before everything feels perfect.

If you’ve got that entrepreneurial spark, a voice nudging you toward something more —you’re in the rig...

For BCBA Maggie Haraburda, founder of Unfurling Littles, play is anything that sparks joy. Her approach to ABA therapy blends child-led play with ACT-integrated strategies, centering on the child’s motivation and individuality.

In our conversation, Maggie highlights the “Dos and Don’ts” of play therapy: join the child’s world before introducing new elements, build from what already brings them joy, and act as a play partner—not a di...