On-Time Autism Intervention Podcast Ashley Penney and Jessica Greenson

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