On-Time Autism Intervention Podcast

In this episode, Ashley and Jess talk about supporting feeding and mealtime with Dr. Yev Veverka. Yev has been both a practitioner and researcher in the area of mealtime and is an author of the book, Meaningful Mealtimes: Practical Strategies for All Young Eaters. We discuss common feeding challenges and low-pressure, practical ways to support children with mealtime. Resources: https://www.feedingmatters.org/

Summary  In episode 15 of the On-time Autism Intervention Podcast, Ashley and Jessica are excited to welcome back Luisa. Luisa is the parent of an autistic son and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). In episode 3, Luisa shared her journey through her son's referral and diagnosis and now she is back over 2 years later to give us an update and share insights from the other side! She reflects on what she wishes she had known back then and offers heartfelt advice on how to deal with the complicated feelings that often come from an autism diagnosis, including knowing when to act and when to pause and process. Ashley, Jessica, and Luisa also discuss ways that providers can step back and let parents "drive the bus" on the journey through diagnosis, acceptance, and support. Luisa offers her lived experience and perspective as a mental health professional working with families. There is something special about hearing from a parent who has been there, and we hope you enjoy this episode!   Resources:  Today's guest, Luisa Bakhoum offers individual and family counseling services in Spanish and English through her practice, Conscious Family Paths. https://www.consciousfamilypaths.com/   OTAI Podcast Episode 3 (Google Podcasts) In the third episode of the On-time Autism Intervention Podcast, Jessica and Ashley dive into the parent experience and parent orientation towards a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This week they welcome a special parent guest, Luisa! Luisa describes the process of referral and diagnosis and reflects on the many feelings she has experienced throughout this new journey with her child. Regardless of what phase of the journey you are in, Luisa's story offers valuable perspective and hope for any parent in any stage of the diagnostic process with their child. We hope you enjoy this episode! 

Summary  In episode 14, Jess and Ashley welcome Sarah, MOT, OTR/L, an Occupational Therapist (OT) with the Autism Center at the University of Washington. Today, Sarah will answer the burning question, "What is occupational therapy?" In today's discussion we look at how occupational therapy strategies can support young autistic children and their families with everyday routines from tummy time to toileting, why parent coaching leads to better outcomes, and the importance of play. Sensory processing struggles can often get in the way of learning and lead to meltdowns, so Sarah will also offer strategies caregivers can try at home. And last, but not least, we will talk about the critical role of caregivers and collaboration on early intervention teams. We hope you enjoy the episode!       Resources:  At-home sensory processing tips and strategies. sensory-processing.pdf    For OTs and Early Intervention Providers: Parent coaching pioneers, Drs. Rush and Sheldon share important insights on incorporating parent coaching into early intervention practice.   https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1837&context=ojot 

In this episode, Ashley and Jess get a chance to chat with Dr. Annette Estes. Dr. Estes is the Director of the University of Washington Autism Center and an expert on sleep in autism. We discuss sleep needs for children, goals for sleep health, and simple tips you can start right away to help everyone get those zzzzzz's.  Resources: Sleep Better! A Guide to Improving Sleep for Children with Special Needs by V. Mark Durand  Solving Sleep Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders by Terry Katz and Beth Ann Malowhttps://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/2018-08/Sleep%20Tool%20Kit.pdf

In the second part of this conversation, speech-language pathologist Kelleen tells us about speech services for children under 3. We discuss the structure of speech sessions, prelinguistic activities that help young children communicate, and tools used for modeling communication (like Augmentative and Alternative Communication, AAC). We also delve into the roles of parent and caregivers in helping their children express themselves during and outside of speech sessions, and provide tips to best support your child in their communication journey. See the links below to some of the resources mentioned in the episode! Resources Play based toys examples https://ei.northwestern.edu/for-parents/toy-recommendations https://thedabblingspeechie.com/2022/03/cause-and-effect-toys/ More Than Words - Hanen Program at UWAC https://depts.washington.edu/uwautism/clinical-services/treatment/hanen-more-than-words-program/ UWAC Speech-Language Therapy Webpage https://depts.washington.edu/uwautism/clinical-services/treatment/speech-language-therapy/

This episode's guest is Kelleen, a licensed and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certified speech-language pathologist. In our discussion, she introduces us to the world of speech language pathology and explains how this therapy helps children with autism. We discuss the differences between speech (codes), language and communication, tools and concepts for addressing each of these components with a child, what echolalia is, and what language development looks like for children under the age of three. This episode is part one of a two-part series on speech therapy, we will continue our conversation on speech pathology in the next episode! Resources: UWAC Speech-Language Therapy Webpage https://depts.washington.edu/uwautism/clinical-services/treatment/speech-language-therapy/

Our guest today is Armando, who tells us about his experiences being diagnosed with autism at 3 years old. While his parents were told he would never speak, this didn't stop Armando from learning to do just that. He tells us about his journey from being ashamed of his diagnosis to becoming a host of his own podcast, a private consultant, and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. He is dedicated to showing that the experiences and potential of Autistic people are not pre-determined by what others think is possible. We discuss being both Autistic and a BCBA in a world in which ABA is often criticized by Autistic people; what it looks like to partner with families as their “co-pilot”; and how to set realistic, developmentally-appropriate goals for children who are indeed children, regardless of their diagnosis. Resources : A Different Path – Armando's podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/1TvFg76HNyUC9jJ3D4uxiv Autism International – consulting with Armando www.autismintl.com Facebook/Instagram: @autismintl Armando's Email autismintlconsulting@gmail.com

In this episode, Jess and Ashley chat with a parent about her experience interviewing ABA providers to find the right fit for her child and family. Join us to hear this family's early journey with home-based ABA therapy. Topics discussed in this episode include: Considerations for interviewing possible ABA providers to find the right fit. What ABA looks like for one family, including examples of in-home sessions and community outings with ABA support. The importance of advocating for family priorities within ABA therapy.

In this episode Jess and Ashley chat about developmentally appropriate ABA for children under 3. Join us as we discuss some examples of what ABA might look like for young children or possible differences between ways ABA services might be structured. This episode is intended to help parents prepare for early conversations with ABA agencies and begin to consider how different recommendations and applications of ABA services align with their family. Jess and Ashley dive into the location of ABA services (home vs. clinic-based services), the intensity of service hours, and the style of therapy (play-based vs. more structured). Lastly, we explore examples of what to expect from a high-quality ABA that is developmentally appropriate and effective at improving the quality of life of children. At the end of the day, ABA services should meaningfully engage children in learning opportunities, be specifically tailored, and should align with what works best for families and individuals.

Many parents, especially those with recently diagnosed children under 3, question what is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)? Why is this recommended for my child with autism? In Episode 8, the On Time Autism Intervention Podcast presents an introduction to ABA. Ashley and guest Dr. Ilene Schwartz, professor of Special Education at The University of Washington and the Director of the Haring Center for Inclusive Education, dive into the naturalistic, practical science of ABA. Join Ashley and Ilene in a conversation meant to broadly introduce our audience to ABA. Follow along as Ilene dives into real life examples of behavior, consequences, reinforcement, and the importance of communication. At the end of the day, ABA strives to support families and individuals to improve their quality of life. For every family, what that means and looks like will be different and Applied Behavior Analysis is a tool for getting there. Resources Questions to ask ABA providers What parents need to know about ABA - video Finding the right autism services for your child Autism Science Foundation statement on ABA

Many parents, especially those with recently diagnosed children under 3, question what is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)? Why is this recommended for my child with autism? In Episode 8, the On Time Autism Intervention Podcast presents an introduction to ABA. Ashley and guest Dr. Ilene Schwartz, professor of Special Education at The University of Washington and the Director of the Haring Center for Inclusive Education, dive into the naturalistic, practical science of ABA. Join Ashley and Ilene in a conversation meant to broadly introduce our audience to ABA. Follow along as Ilene dives into real life examples of behavior, consequences, reinforcement, and the importance of communication. At the end of the day, ABA strives to support families and individuals to improve their quality of life. For every family, what that means and looks like will be different and Applied Behavior Analysis is a tool for getting there. Resources Questions to ask ABA providers What parents need to know about ABA - video Finding the right autism services for your child Autism Science Foundation statement on ABA

At the suggestion of a listener, Ashley and Jessica dive into some of the common myths about autism in Episode 7 of the On Time Autism Intervention Podcast. Take a pause with Ashley and Jessica as they challenge some commonly held beliefs about autism. To help with this exploration, Kate, a special educator for Early Supports for Infant and Toddlers (ESIT) joins to present some common questions that come from families new to an autism diagnosis. Ashley, Jessica, and Kate explore person/identity first language, what an autism diagnosis may mean for a child, questions about future communication development, and touch on origins and cultural understanding of autism. Ashley and Jessica introduce the conversation about the Neurodiversity movement and plan to explore this topic further in future episodes. Resources: Handout on Bilingualism and ASD https://depts.washington.edu/uwautism/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/BilingualismASD-Handout-Final-Draft.pdf

Today Jessica and Ashley have something a bit different in store for you. Join us as we take a moment to pause and breathe together. In this mini-episode, Jessica and Ashley will share a resource for parents – a guided journal for parents to use as they begin their entry into the world of parenting a child on autism spectrum. Next Jessica and Ashley will walk parents through a moment of guided deep breathing and guided full body relaxation. Feel free to return to this episode any time you need a breather – you can skip and start at minute 8 if you simply want the guided breathing and relaxation exercises! We will be back to a more regular episode soon. Stay tuned! Resources My ASD Journey Guided Journal for Parents and Caregivers: https://depts.washington.edu/uwautism/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/My-ASD-Journey-Guided-Journal.pdf

In this episode Ashley and Jessica welcome Silvia, a mother of a young child recently diagnosed with autism, to hear about her experience receiving the diagnosis. Silvia shares what she loves about her son, when she first noticed her child's developmental differences, and how she became connected to the autism diagnostic process. Her experience includes advocacy, curiosity, and the natural trepidation and overwhelming feelings of navigating the diagnostic process and results. She reflects on the joys of parenting a child with autism and celebrates the journey she has undergone with her son. Jessica supplements Silvia's experience with a further explanation of how she gives diagnostic feedback in her practice. Join Ashley, Jessica and Silvia in a highly relatable, first-hand account of receiving an autism diagnosis for your child.

Join Ashley and Jessica as they dive into Episode 4 of the On Time Autism Intervention Podcast. In this episode, Jessica and Ashley will guide you through the diagnostic process. The diagnostic process involves multiple components, including interview and report of the parent/caregiver, observation of your child's play and communication by the expert, and a developmental assessment. Jessica explores the play-based tools and assessments used, what evaluators are looking for, and how evaluators observations inform an accurate diagnosis. Lastly, Jessica and Ashley provide advice for how to harness this information, about the diagnostic process, to get started in pursuing diagnosis for your young child. Resources Further information about what an Autism diagnosis process looks like at the University of Washington Autism Center: https://depts.washington.edu/uwautism/clinical-services/evaluations/diagnostic-evaluation/ Disclaimer: This podcast represents the opinions of Ashley Penney, PhD and Jessica Greenson, PhD and our guests on the show. The content here should not be taken as clinical or medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Because each child is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional with any specific questions. Views and opinions expressed on the podcast are our own. While we make every effort to ensure that the information we are sharing is accurate, we welcome any comments, suggestions, or correction of errors. This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast. In no way does listening, reading, emailing, or interacting on social media with our content establish a doctor-patient relationship.

In the third episode of the On-time Autism Intervention Podcast, Jessica and Ashley dive into the parent experience and parent orientation towards a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This week they welcome a special parent guest, Luisa! Luisa describes the process of referral and diagnosis and reflects on the many feelings she has experienced throughout this new journey with her child. Regardless of what phase of the journey you are in, Luisa's story offers valuable perspective and hope for any parent in any stage of the diagnostic process with their child. We hope you enjoy this episode!

During the second part of episode two, Jessica and Ashley continue their conversation with Emilie, a birth to three special education teacher, about the referral, eligibility and assessment process of accessing early intervention services. Beyond the eligibility process, Emilie discusses the different types of providers in early intervention services and their role in empowering families to support their child. She also walks listeners through the services available to meet a child's needs based on family readiness. Families will engage with a Family Resources Coordinator (FRC) through their entire process in seeking early intervention services to help them navigate the extensive process. Emilie reflects on how the role of the FRC is an integral piece in families having as much information as possible during the entire process. Emilie also switches hats as a birth to three special educator to a mother of a young autistic child. She speaks to her experience with the diagnostic process and how she enjoys all the strengths and challenges her son brings to the world. A few resources mentioned in the show: When exploring the strengths and challenges of your child, consult with your child's healthcare provider and/or call Help Me Grow Washington Hotline – Here is the number to call if you would like to request a developmental evaluation through your local B-3 ESIT program: 1-800-322-2588 Disclaimer: This podcast represents the opinions of Ashley Penney, PhD and Jessica Greenson, PhD and our guests on the show. The content here should not be taken as clinical or medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Because each child is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional with any specific questions. Views and opinions expressed on the podcast are our own. While we make every effort to ensure that the information we are sharing is accurate, we welcome any comments, suggestions, or correction of errors. This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast. In no way does listening, reading, emailing, or interacting on social media with our content establish a doctor-patient relationship.

In the second episode of the On-Time Autism Intervention podcast, Jessica and Ashley dive into assessment and eligibility for birth to three (B-3) services. They discuss how and when children qualify for early intervention services and the family friendly supports that are established after initial assessment. Jessica and Ashley invite Emilie, a B-3 special education teacher to further explore the eligibility and assessment process. Emilie discusses how to get connected to assessment and services, the holistic, multidisciplinary assessment that occurs after connection to B-3 agencies, ways the comprehensive initial assessment is conducted and how information is gather about your child, how eligibility is determine, the next steps following eligibility determination, and more. To explore Early Intervention Eligibility and Assessment further, listen to Part 2 of this episode. A few resources mentioned in the show: Help Me Grow Washington Hotline – Here is the number to call if you would like to request a developmental evaluation through your local B-3 ESIT program: 1-800-322-2588 Disclaimer: This podcast represents the opinions of Ashley Penney, PhD and Jessica Greenson, PhD and our guests on the show. The content here should not be taken as clinical or medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Because each child is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional with any specific questions. Views and opinions expressed on the podcast are our own. While we make every effort to ensure that the information we are sharing is accurate, we welcome any comments, suggestions, or correction of errors. This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast. In no way does listening, reading, emailing, or interacting on social media with our content establish a doctor-patient relationship.

In our first episode Jessica and Ashley will discuss screening and referral for an autism diagnosis. We talk about a commonly used screening tool called the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) as well as what families should do as soon as concerns about autism are present. In the past few years, we have partnered with several Seattle-area birth to three (B-3) early intervention agencies (called Early Supports for Infants and Toddlers – ESIT, here in Washington) and believe so strongly in the work they are doing. We recommend that the first call families make after autism screening or concerns about autism are expressed is to a local B-3 or ESIT program. In this episode we also chat with a local pediatrician, Dr. Liana McCabe from Virginia Mason Medical Center, to hear what she says to parents when there are concerns about autism for their young child, how she learns more about those concerns, screens for autism, and more. A few resources mentioned in the show: Websites with good information about autism for young children (0-3) the “autism navigator” site includes many free videos of parents working with their children https://autismnavigator.com/ Help Me Grow Washington Hotline – Here is the number to call if you would like to request a developmental evaluation through your local B-3 ESIT program: 1-800-322-2588 Disclaimer: This podcast represents the opinions of Ashley Penney, PhD and Jessica Greenson, PhD and our guests on the show. The content here should not be taken as clinical or medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Because each child is so unique, please consult your healthcare professional with any specific questions. Views and opinions expressed on the podcast are our own. While we make every effort to ensure that the information we are sharing is accurate, we welcome any comments, suggestions, or correction of errors. This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast. In no way does listening, reading, emailing, or interacting on social media with our content establish a doctor-patient relationship.