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

Collaboration in schools can feel messy, complicated, and sometimes even uncomfortable, but it is also where some of the most meaningful progress for our students can happen.

In this conversation, I sit down with Ashley Patton to talk about what real collaboration looks like between teachers, BCBAs, speech therapists, and other service providers in school settings. Ashley brings a unique perspective because she has worked as a classroom teacher, a school-based BCBA, and a consultant supporting school teams. That experience gives her a deep understanding of the pressures educators face and how behavior and communication strategies actually fit into busy classrooms.

We talk about the importance of listening first when working with teachers and building trust before offering strategies. Ashley shares practical ways teams can embed communication goals naturally into classroom routines without overwhelming teachers who already have so much on their plates.

We also discuss replacement behaviors, functional communication, and why practicing these skills before challenging moments occur can make such a big difference for students. Ashley offers thoughtful insights about simplifying data collection, supporting teachers with manageable systems, and focusing on strategies that are realistic for the classroom.

Finally, we talk about Ashley’s Class on Task Behavior Analyst in School Summit and why creating community for professionals working in schools is so important.

If you support students in schools, this episode is full of practical reminders about how collaboration, communication, and small systems can create big change.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:
Why collaboration can feel challenging for teachers and how to build trust with school teams
How replacement behaviors support both regulation and communication in the classroom
Practical ways to embed communication goals into everyday classroom routines
Strategies for simplifying data collection so teachers can realistically implement supports

Mentioned In This Episode:
Class on Task
Class on Task Summit
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home

How can technology help us diagnose autism earlier and get kids the support they need sooner?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Cheryl Tierney to talk about an exciting advancement in autism diagnostics and how technology is helping clinicians and families access answers faster. With long waitlists and limited specialists in many areas, getting an autism diagnosis can sometimes take months or even years. Dr. Tierney shares how new technology is helping change that.

We dive into the EarliPoint system, an FDA-cleared diagnostic aid that uses eye-tracking technology to analyze a child’s viewing behavior while watching short social videos. The system collects an incredible 120 data points per second, giving clinicians objective data to support diagnostic decision-making. Even more exciting, the assessment takes only about 12 minutes and can be used with children as young as 16 months.

Beyond diagnosis, we also talk about how this technology can support clinicians like speech therapists, BCBAs, and occupational therapists by providing data on social engagement, receptive language indicators, and problem-solving skills. That means we can track progress over time and better understand whether interventions are truly moving the needle.

I also loved our conversation about interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of having someone “quarterback” a child’s care so families receive consistent guidance. This episode highlights how innovation, research, and teamwork can make earlier diagnosis and better support possible for so many families.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:
Why skipping foundational ABA texts worries me for the future of the field
The ethical responsibility professionals have to collaborate across disciplines
Why refusing services based on another therapy provider can harm learners

Mentioned In This Episode:
EarliPoint Health
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home

Two trends I’m seeing in speech therapy and ABA have been on my mind lately, and honestly, they worry me about the future of our fields.

First, I saw a discussion where future BCBAs were debating whether they even needed to read the Cooper book. For me, that text was foundational when learning the science of behavior analysis. When professionals start skipping core readings just to pass a test, it raises questions about how strong our foundation really is as a field.

The second concern came from a speech therapy discussion where a private practice owner planned to refuse services to any child who also receives ABA. That really stopped me in my tracks. Our ethical codes call us to collaborate, and our learners deserve coordinated care, even when collaboration isn’t always easy.

These conversations matter because the strength of our fields depends on professionals who value the science and are willing to work together to support the students we serve.
#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:
Why skipping foundational ABA texts worries me for the future of the field
The ethical responsibility professionals have to collaborate across disciplines
Why refusing services based on another therapy provider can harm learners

Mentioned In This Episode:
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home

What if we could safely practice real-world situations before our students ever experience them?
In this episode, I’m joined by Marsha and Rita from Floreo to talk about how virtual reality is supporting autistic learners in building social, communication, safety, and life skills. Floreo is a VR platform that allows learners to step into immersive environments like airport security lines, grocery stores, and even digital conversations, all while being coached in real time by a therapist, teacher, or parent.
What I love most is how functional these lessons are. From responding to TSA questions to recognizing red flags in online interactions, these scenarios reflect the real challenges our students face. We also discuss the growing research behind VR-assisted therapy, including published studies showing improvements in social skills and skill maintenance.
We talk through how VR can fit naturally into speech therapy and ABA sessions, with pre-teaching, guided practice, and generalization built in. Plus, we cover funding options, including school-based access and the temporary VR-assisted therapy billing modifier 0770T.
Technology is powerful when it’s clinically driven, and this conversation highlights how innovation can truly empower our learners.
#autism #speechtherapy
What’s Inside:
How VR supports social, communication, and life skills
Research behind VR-assisted therapy
Ways to integrate VR into speech and ABA sessions
Mentioned In This Episode:
FloreoVR
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home

If AAC has ever felt intimidating, you are not alone, and this episode is going to give you a clear, practical path forward.
In this conversation, I sat down with Gabriella Wendling, an AAC specialist who has dedicated her entire career to assistive technology and augmentative communication. We talk honestly about how most of us received minimal AAC training in graduate school and how real confidence comes from experience, collaboration, and ongoing learning.
We walk through what AAC evaluations actually look like, including timelines, feature matching, and access considerations like switches and eye gaze. Gabriella explains why getting the device is only the first step and why delays are often related to funding, not clinician performance.
One of my favorite parts of this episode is our discussion about what happens after the device arrives. Gabriella shares her coaching-based model for training communication partners, including teachers and families. She emphasizes micro goals, small, meaningful targets that fit naturally into daily routines, so AAC becomes functional instead of overwhelming.
We also tackle a hot topic around prompting and unpack why modeling and systematic prompting are essential for emergent communicators when done thoughtfully and ethically.
If you want AAC implementation that is sustainable, collaborative, and truly supportive for students, this episode will leave you encouraged and equipped.
#autism #speechtherapy
What’s Inside:
What AAC evaluations really involve
Why communication partner coaching is critical
How micro goals create meaningful progress
A thoughtful discussion on prompting and independence
Mentioned In This Episode:
AAC & Me
AAC & Me on Instagram
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home