The ABA Speech Podcast- Easy Strategies for Speech Therapists, BCBAs, and RBTs
Join Rose Griffin, a dedicated Speech Therapist and BCBA from ABA SPEECH, as she shares her compassionate approach to supporting the communication needs of autistic individuals. With 20 years of experience, Rose is committed to respecting and understanding the diverse ways autistic people communicate and interact with the world.
This podcast is a resource for professionals and parents alike, offering practical strategies that honor each person's unique communication style. Rose covers a wide range of topics, including how to recognize and support autistic communication from an early age, the distinctions between autism and speech differences, and effective, respectful approaches to fostering communication, whether a child is non-speaking, minimally speaking, or verbal.
Through a mix of interviews and solo episodes, Rose explores how to enhance meaningful connections, address challenges with empathy, and celebrate the strengths of autistic individuals. Whether you're a parent, therapist, or educator, you'll find valuable insights and actionable advice to create supportive environments that empower communication and honor neurodiversity.
Hit subscribe and learn more at www.abaspeech.org.
The ABA Speech Podcast- Easy Strategies for Speech Therapists, BCBAs, and RBTs
#257: The Importance of Matching as a Skill with Emily Kearney
Emily Kearney, BCBA, who has been working in the field since 1999, joins the show to dive into a topic we haven’t explored in depth before: matching as a skill. Though it may seem simple, matching is foundational for learners of all ages. This critical skill supports language, play, leisure, problem solving, and actions across the lifespan.
We discuss how matching isn’t always identical—it can be based on features, categories, or associations—and how it develops from early learning readiness into more complex skills for older learners. Emily highlights teaching strategies like multiple exemplar training and ensuring stimulus control by using the variety of cues learners encounter in real-world settings. For example, a “cup” can vary in material, size, color, shape, or function, but learning to recognize it in all its forms builds observation skills, problem-solving, and perseverance.
For older learners, we explore adding a language component, asking questions like “how do you know it’s a match?” to encourage reasoning and verbalization. Matching isn’t just a simple game; it's a prerequisite for broader communication, life, and learning.
For questions or mentorship opportunities, reach out to Emily at emily@kearneybehaviorconsulting.com.
#autism #speechtherapy
What’s Inside:
- Why matching is a critical skill across all ages
- Matching isn't about just finding identical matches
- Teaching strategies including multiple exemplar training and stimulus control
- Real-world examples to generalize matching skills across environments
- The language component of matching for older learners
Mentioned In This Episode:
