Spitting is a complex ADL that can be a real challenge to teach to kids in the spectrum. Especially when kids are nonverbal or have conditions like pica, ABAs and OTs have to use prompts as imitation and language are simply ineffective.   They discuss the case of Andre and how strategies like TAG teaching and tools like straws were effective in teaching mouth manipulation. They also discuss the many advantages of video modeling as a standardized way of teaching, as well as the best way social...

Habitual behaviors can be interruptive on a student's development. In this episode, Mandy and Adito discuss the case of Matt's detrimental nail biting and skin picking and the effective strategies they use to reverse it.   Mandy shares her own struggles with nail-biting and her own personal strategies to extinguish this behavior. Mandy and Aditi also dive into the deeper reasons behind these automatic behaviors and how the differences between attention-maintained behaviors, habits, or...

Telehealth consultations have unique problems that are magnified when addressing challenging behaviors in kids. From distraction to motivation to parent training, we discuss the most common problems and tangible tips to improve student engagement. It is critical to first teach parents the basics of reinforcement for them to follow through with the necessary changes that make virtual consultations effective. Kids act very differently at home so learning how that environment is like is also...

One of the most effective ways to teach kids with limited skills is with activity schedules. These can be checklists or simple visual stimuli that allow kids to match activities to tasks that need completing. Recent studies reinforce its effectiveness and Mandy and Aditi's own personal experiences provide you with actionable tips that you can apply to your own clients. Activity schedules are flexible and you can program them based on the skill levels of your students with high rates of...

Shoe tying is particularly tricky to teach to kids who are on the spectrum. This episode shares strategies to overcome obstacles in teaching this ADL, as well as adaptations you can use with students.    Mandy and Aditi share the various component skills needed for shoe tying and the effectiveness of using precision teaching, tag teaching for instructing without distracting, and video modeling.    HIGHLIGHTS 01:48 Shoutout to the Complete Anatomy App 03:33 Recap on Sam's fine motor, fluency,...

Teaching basic activities of daily living (ADL) to children with autism requires a more involved and understanding approach. This was the case with Sam whose progress in fluency was positively impacted by applying the Big 6 + 6.  In the beginning, Sam exhibited many errors in component skills but instruction with the Big 6 quickly improved his ability to play and manipulate objects. Teaching these component skills enabled Sam to engage with his environment and practice higher-level skills...

Mandy and Aditi continue to examine Sam, a 9-year old client with autism with aggressive behavior. As OT's and ABA's have different assessment tools for fine motor development, this episode explores the goals and methodologies they use to improve Sam's fine motor skills.  ABA tests range from handwriting and the grip and pinch strength test while OT assessments use examples like the Silly Bug, the Superman extension pose, and core strength. These assess behavioral fluency and aims which are...

Aggressive behavior in children can be a real challenge for therapists and family members. This episode examines the case of Sam, an extremely aggressive child, and the OT and ABA behavior strategies that worked and didn't work for him.Mandy explains how she began her collaboration with an OT to work out a behavior plan for Sam and the steps they took to produce improvements. Mandy and Aditi explore the points of collaboration between the two professionals and how their interaction can be...

Evidence-based practice can be a touchy subject for ABAs and OTs alike. Dr. Josh Pritchard of the Lodestone Academy shares his insights on collaboration and the strengths and weaknesses of single-case design versus group-case design.Dr. Pritchard discusses the groundbreaking study that put standards in place for sensory integrations for children with ASD. He further provides ways that ABAs and OTs can improve their collaboration by using measurements to determine the effectiveness of their...

Bedtime resistance and frequent night wakings are a source of frustration for many parents. This episode talks about the biggest mistakes parents make in establishing sleep patterns, as well as the Bedtime Pass, an effective intervention designed to address bedtime resistance.They also discuss the case of Liv and her mum and how they used the Bedtime Pass to modify sleep behaviors. This case was particularly difficult because of the deteriorated relationship between mother and daughter....

Sleeping challenges in infants and toddlers, especially those with ASD, can prove debilitating to parents. Mandy and Aditi discuss sleep patterns and disorders and give two perspectives on this complex yet essential aspect of life.They share their personal experiences with sleep issues and define what sleep is according to sensory and behavior perspectives. Mandy and Aditi also explore how both fields approach interventions, the importance of documentation for effective intervention, and the...

ABAs and OTs look at early learning from two very different lenses. Mandy and Aditi define terms according to their sciences and give their insights on the case of Stella, a premature baby.They take a closer look at the sensory and behavioral aspects of early motor development and the roles of classical and operant conditioning. Mandy and Aditi also explore tactile defensiveness, habituation, and desensitization which are all used to accelerate early learning and therapeutic...

This episode of The ABA & OT Podcast with Mandy and Aditi talks about the impact of sensory and behavior on early survival skills. They begin with a case study on Aditi's son Tristan who was diagnosed with failure to thrive. Mandy and Aditi refer to a behavioral feeding program where differential reinforcement was used alongside other interventions to build adaptive eating repertoires. 

This episode of The ABA & OT Podcast with Mandy and Aditi discusses why professionals from the two fields find it difficult to be friends. The hosts debunk the biggest myths of their practices and explain the reasons behind this stereotyping. They also perform a role-play and introduce the ABA and OT Ice Breaker that members from either profession can use to open a conversation that fosters collaboration and leads to positive results.

This is the debut episode of The ABA & OT Podcast with Mandy and Aditi. Today, they discuss the goals of the podcast which center on inter-professional collaboration, education on challenging behavior, and having conversations on the wealth of intersections between the two fields.Mandy tells the story of her daughter's autism which sparked her interest in applied behavioral analysis (ABA).