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The How to ABA Podcast
We are Shira and Shayna and we are so excited to bring you our first podcast episode of How to ABA! We are both BCBAs with over twenty years of experience, and as you can imagine, we have created and gathered so many resources in that time. We want to share them with you! That’s why we are here, and that’s why we created this podcast. If you are new to the world of ABA, are looking for new resources, or just looking for a fresh perspective, you’re in the right place!
Episodes
219 episodes
Choosing the Right Assessment: Practical Tips for BCBAs
Assessments are essential in ABA, but are we always using them the right way? Too often, assessments become a box-checking exercise rather than a true guide to meaningful intervention. In this conversation, we revisit the foundations of ABA ass...
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Episode 219
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38:46
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Creating Meaningful Outcomes in ABA with Dr. Anika Hoybjerg
What does it take to grow an ABA practice while creating tools that transform the way we assess and support learners? In this conversation with Dr. Anika Hoybjerg, CEO of ABA Education Center and co-creator of The MOTAS assessment, we explore h...
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Episode 218
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33:32
Hard Conversations, Soft Skills: Navigating Difficult Parent and Staff Interactions
Hard conversations are part of ABA practice, whether it is addressing a parent’s concerns or coaching a staff member. These moments can feel stressful, yet when handled with empathy and clarity, they can actually build trust and strengthen rela...
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Episode 217
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17:27
From Clinical to Compassionate: Soft Skills Every BCBA Needs to Thrive
Being a skilled BCBA isn’t just about assessments and behavior plans. It’s also about human connection. In this episode, we dive into the soft skills that elevate clinical practice, from building trust with caregivers to using plain language an...
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Episode 216
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15:50
Language, Labels, and Learning Styles: Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All
Labels matter. In this conversation, we dive into the language we use as ABA professionals and how it shapes the way we see learners, their needs, and their potential. Terms like “non-verbal,” “low-functioning,” and “compliance” may seem conven...
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Episode 215
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13:43
Rethinking "Noncompliance": Behavior or Bias?
Is “non-compliance” really the problem, or just a reflection of our own expectations? Here, we unpack one of the most overused and misunderstood terms in ABA: non-compliance. We explore why this label can mask important context, such as unmet n...
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Episode 214
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14:29
Using BST and Video Modeling to Teach Social Skills
Teaching social skills doesn’t always stick, but what if we could make it both effective and engaging? In this conversation, we explore how pairing Behavioral Skills Training (BST) with video modeling can create more meaningful, lasting social ...
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Episode 213
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10:29
The Multicultural Classroom with Lorena and Roberto Germán
For Lorena and Roberto Germán, teaching isn’t just about content; it’s about connection. In this episode, they share how their work through Multicultural Classroom transforms how educators approach professional development, cultural responsiven...
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Episode 212
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26:07
Are Social Skills Groups Really Effective?
Are social skills groups a powerful way to build real-life connections, or just another artificial setting that doesn’t translate beyond the session? In this episode, we dive into the debate, weighing the pros and cons of group-based instructio...
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Episode 211
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15:13
Video Modeling and Model Me Kids with Sue Klein
For over 20 years, Model Me Kids has helped learners build real-world social skills through evidence-based video modeling. We sat down with founder Sue Klein to explore how it all began, from cutting out magazine clippings and mailing DVDs to l...
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Episode 210
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22:11
Building Social Skills Goals
Have you ever written a social skills goal that looked great on paper but didn’t lead to real-life success? In this conversation, we dive into how to create meaningful social skills goals that build genuine connection, confidence, and independe...
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Episode 209
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15:47
The Power of Sensory Social Routines
Ever wonder how playful moments like peekaboo or a silly song can support meaningful progress in young children with autism? Here, we explore sensory social routines and how the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) uses them to build engagement, com...
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Episode 208
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18:32
What to Do When Kids Struggle to Engage in Play
Play is a fundamental part of childhood, so what happens when a child struggles to engage in it? In this episode, we explore the many forms play can take, why it's essential for development, and how to support learners who find it challenging.<...
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Episode 207
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18:35
Play Through the Ages (Play vs Leisure Skills)
Leisure skills, unlike developmental play, support lifelong engagement, independence, and quality of life, whether it's crochet, reading, or structured hobbies. In this discussion, we explore how play skills evolve across ages and how ABA progr...
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Episode 206
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13:50
Independent Activity Schedules
An independent activity schedule (IAS) is a tool made up of pictures or written cues that guides a child through a series of tasks on their own. It promotes independence and reduces the need for constant supervision, making it a valuable strate...
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Episode 205
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24:07
What Drives Challenging Behaviors? The Role of Antecedents, Triggers, and Functions
When it comes to successful interventions, knowing the “why” behind behaviors is key. As practitioners, we may have learned in school that there are four functions of behavior: escape, attention, tangible, and sensory. However, in practice, thi...
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Episode 204
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16:55
Balancing Safety and Compassion in Interventions
As BCBAs, each day we walk a fine line between keeping children safe while ensuring our interventions are compassionate, ethical, and effective. Prioritizing safety in behavior management is a non-negotiable and it doesn't have to come at the e...
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Episode 203
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15:40
Proactive and Reactive Strategies for Challenging Behaviors
Challenging behaviors don't just happen out of nowhere. They have patterns, triggers, and underlying causes. The key to success is all about preventing them in the first place instead of reacting to the behaviors when they occur. Here, we discu...
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Episode 202
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17:03
Skills-Based Treatment for Challenging Behavior
When managing challenging behavior, our goal as behavior therapists is to reduce these behaviors and teach new skills. Here, we discuss how to do so without using strategies like extinction and planned ignoring. Through skill-based treatment, w...
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Episode 201
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14:58
What Is Co-Regulation?
Before our learners can independently manage their emotions, they need to first master co-regulation. For children, this looks like a trusted adult helping them to navigate big feelings by offering calm, supportive guidance. Here, we discuss ho...
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Episode 200
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13:40
Teaching Kids About Emotions: The Foundation of Regulation
For many children, understanding and expressing emotions can be a challenge. They may struggle with recognizing their own feelings, reading emotions in others, or knowing how to respond appropriately in different situations. The good news is th...
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Episode 199
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12:00
Parenting, ABA, and Emotional Regulation with Leanne Page
Leanne Page is a mom, a BCBA, and the founder of Parenting with ABA. When she became a mother, Leanne realized how her training and education in behavior analysis gave her a leg up on discipline issues. She’s worked as a special education teach...
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Episode 198
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29:24
Building a Regulation Toolbox: Calming Strategies for Children and Adults
Self-regulation is a challenge for many of our learners. Having a personalized regulation toolbox makes a huge difference in a child's ability to navigate their emotions and daily challenges. This toolbox is made up of a set of calming strategi...
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Episode 197
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14:42
What Is Emotional Regulation? Why It's Crucial for Development and Well-being
Emotional regulation is a foundational skill that influences how we manage stress, handle challenges, and connect with others. Here, we define emotional regulation and dive into all the reasons why it’s so important for our development and well...
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Episode 196
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17:04
Bridging the Gap Between BCBAs and Educators with Amanda Wilson
Amanda Wilson is a school psychologist, BCBA, and the founder of Navigating Behavior Change. She has over 18 years of experience within the public school setting, and as a military wife, she has had the opportunity to work in various regions ac...
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Episode 195
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26:30