Autism Outreach - Easy Strategies For Parents and Professionals

Getting an autism evaluation for a child can be a daunting process, fraught with long waitlists, high out-of-pocket costs, and navigating complicated systems. Every moment matters when it comes to early intervention, and Dr. Michael Perisa of Zest Pediatrics is working to simplify the journey for families.Zest Pediatrics, the first pediatric direct primary care network in the country, offers a membership-based model that removes many of the headaches families face with traditional primary care. By operating outside of insurance restrictions, Zest Pediatrics delivers care in a way that prioritizes what children truly need, without delays or limitations.Dr. Perisa and his team across Zest Pediatrics are uniquely equipped to provide timely autism evaluations. With specialized training and the flexibility to focus on individual patients, they can intervene quickly to ensure children are seen and supported. An autism evaluation at Zest Pediatrics includes a comprehensive history intake, a behavioral assessment, and a standardized questionnaire, all analyzed to determine a diagnosis or not.Because Zest Pediatrics doesn’t bill insurance, they offer evaluations at a flat rate of $1,250 and are actively collaborating with communities and therapy centers to help reduce financial burdens for families. If you have concerns about your child and need a faster path to evaluation, visit zestpeds.com/autism to learn more.Speaking with Dr. Michael Perisa highlighted the importance of making care more accessible for children and families navigating autism concerns. Early intervention is critical, and Zest Pediatrics is paving the way for better, more efficient solutions. #autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside:The challenges of getting an Autism EvaluationWhat is a Pediatric Direct Primary Care Network?How does Zest Pediatrics serve the Autism Community?The cost and components of an Autism Evaluation.Mentioned In This Episode:Zest Pediatric Network  Autism - Zest Pediatric Network ABA Speech: HomeJoin the aba speech connection membership

Enjoy this replay of this favorite two-part episode!In part one of my interview with Dr. Edythe Strand. A renowned speech pathologist and former professor at Mayo College, Dr. Strand has led groundbreaking research on developmental, acquired, and progressive apraxia of speech.Dr. Strand explains that apraxia is not a medical diagnosis but a label for a speech-sound disorder impacting the movements required to produce speech. Unlike other speech disorders, apraxia affects programming and planning movements, leading to awkward transitions, distorted sounds, and inconsistency. Therapy focuses on movement, not just sound production. Using Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC), clinicians emphasize the physical gestures that create sounds rather than isolated phonemes.Dynamic assessments are crucial for evaluating Apraxia. Dr. Strand’s own Dynamic Evaluation of Motor-Speech Skill (DEMS) provides insight into a child’s preferred cueing and severity of their disorder. This method contrasts with traditional static assessments, which rely on single responses to stimuli.In part two of this interview, Dr. Strand delves deeper into DTTC, a treatment she developed for children with severe apraxia. Unlike typical therapies, DTTC involves a hierarchy of cues to teach motor speech skills. Dr. Strand highlights the importance of functional, fundamental words in therapy for children with severe Apraxia, particularly those with autism.Dr. Strand’s passion for helping children communicate shines through her work, blending research and practice to improve lives. Don’t miss the valuable resources she shares in this episode and the links to her groundbreaking research!#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:The characteristics of Apraxia.What is Dynamic Assessment?How to approach therapy with students who have Apraxia?What is DTTC treatment?Taking data with DTTC and Dynamic Assessment.Choosing important words for treatment.Is there a connection between Apraxia and Autism? Mentioned In This Episode:ABA Speech: HomeChild Apraxia TreatmentApraxia-kids: HomeVideos for Parents and Clinicians:Overview of possible causes and types of problems in speech developmentDefinitions and Descriptions of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)Examples of different levels of severity in Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)Differentiating Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) from other types of speech sound disordersDiagnosis of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) Treatment of Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) How parents can help their child with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS): Other resourcesChildhood Apraxia of Speech:  Information for Parents Eye-Opening Moments PodcastEye-Opening Moments are stories of adversity, encounters, and perspectives. They are...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Enjoy this replay of one of my favorite episodes! Executive functioning skills are essential for all ages, and in this episode, we dive into this critical topic with Sara Ward, an SLP specializing in executive functioning. Sara brings a unique perspective, sharing practical strategies for assessment and intervention that can transform how we support students.Sara simplifies executive functioning for young children as “sequencing” and explains how it evolves into planning across growing windows of time and space for teens and adults. A neurotypical brain visualizes where it needs to be in the future to plan and act. However, parents and professionals often become a “prosthetic frontal lobe” by overprompting. Sara emphasizes the importance of teaching students to visualize and take ownership of their tasks.One standout strategy Sara shares is using gestures to support task planning. When children physically act out steps with their hands, the connected language often follows, helping them internalize the process of execution.For assessment, Sara suggests tools like the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale, which distinguishes attention issues from executive skill deficits, and the Clinical Executive Function Inventory (CEFI) for behavior insights. She also advocates for viewing speech and language assessments through an executive functioning lens.This episode is packed with actionable strategies and tools that I’m excited to bring to my therapy sessions and IEP meetings. I hope you find these insights as inspiring and practical as I did!#autism #speectherapyWhat’s Inside:What is executive functioning?Why are executive function skills important?Assessment and intervention for executive function skills.Executive functioning in young children, teens, and adults.Mentioned In This Episode:ABA Speech: HomeCognitive Connections: Executive FunctionEye-Opening Moments PodcastEye-Opening Moments are stories of adversity, encounters, and perspectives. They are...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Attending ASHA 2024, the largest conference for speech-language pathologists (SLPs), was an incredible experience for networking and professional growth. As the national association for speech therapy, ASHA’s annual event is a hub for innovation, collaboration, and learning.I kicked off the conference by attending an insightful talk by the Speech Production Lab on speech motor chaining, setting a high bar for the days ahead. Later, the reception for CEU providers offered a fun and engaging opportunity to connect with peers and discuss the field's nuances.Day two was packed with impactful sessions, covering topics like MTSS, group therapy for complex learners, and a critical appraisal of gestalt language processing—a particularly hot topic. I also relished conversations with other SLPs, dually certified SLP/BCBAs, former podcast guests, and ABA Speech members.While some discussions highlighted tensions around controversial issues, this only strengthened my commitment to fostering kind and cohesive collaboration. The work we do as therapists and providers is vital, and this event reinforced how meaningful and inspiring our shared mission is.What’s Inside:What is ASHA?Highlights of ASHA 2024.Nuances, hot topics, and the need for collaboration in the field of SLP.  Mentioned In This Episode:Join the ABA SPEECH Connection - Professionals Join the ABA SPEECH Connection - Parents Rose Griffin (@abaspeechbyrose) on Instagram