The ABA Speech Podcast- Easy Strategies for Speech Therapists, BCBAs, and RBTs

Rose Griffin
  • 4.8 (88)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 5h ago

    #303: Setting Up Systems that Support ABA, SLP and OT Services with Dr. Stephanie Nostin

    Strong collaboration doesn't happen by accident. It takes intentional systems, ongoing communication, and a team that's willing to grow together! Dr. Stephanie Nostin shares how she helped build speech and occupational therapy services within Verbal Beginnings, a large ABA organization. I love hearing how her team has created systems that make interdisciplinary collaboration more effective while supporting clinicians and families. We explore how technology can simplify data collection, streamline documentation, and help providers develop coordinated treatment plans. One of my biggest takeaways is the importance of listening to employee feedback and refining systems over time. These changes can make a real difference in reducing clinician burnout! We also get into AAC and how Stephanie's team prepares BCBAs, RBTs, and families to confidently support device use. I especially love their approach to hands-on caregiver training before sending a device home. #autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside: Building collaborative ABA, speech, and OT services within a growing organizationUsing technology to streamline documentation, data collection, and treatment planningCreating sustainable systems through employee feedback and ongoing trainingSupporting AAC implementation through team collaboration and caregiver educationMentioned In This Episode: Verbal Beginnings Say It With Me by Rose Griffin AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection ABA Speech: Home

  2. Oct 13

    #302: Speech Therapy, ABA and AA with Elaine Keuning & Dr. Sarah Heller

    I’m joined by Elaine Keuning and Dr. Sarah Heller to explore what meaningful collaboration between speech therapy and ABA can look like, especially when supporting AAC users with complex communication needs. We talk about those sometimes “prickly” beginnings between professionals and how curiosity, respect, and a shared goal can help teams find common ground. We also dig into AAC beyond programming. A communication device needs to travel with the learner, become part of everyday routines, and support communication that matters now and years from now. I loved our discussion about thinking beyond percentages and trials and recognizing meaningful progress in the small shifts, like bringing the device on a walk, modeling away from the work table, or seeing a learner begin to seek out their communication system. #autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside: Building stronger SLP and BCBA collaboration through shared roles and respectSupporting AAC across environments, routines, and everyday lifeHelping families and teams think about communication with the long term in mindRecognizing the small but meaningful signs of AAC progressMentioned In This Episode: Meaningful Metrics Online Academy Dr. Sarah Heller Williams Speech and Language Pathology PLLC Say It With Me by Rose Griffin AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection ABA Speech: Home

  3. Oct 6

    #301: Assent-Based Care with Cristina Theis

    Teaching someone to say “no” is just as important as teaching them to say “yes.” I’m joined by Cristina Theis, Director of Training & Educational Development at Firefly Autism, to explore what assent-based care actually looks like in practice, especially when supporting autistic learners with complex communication and behavioral needs. We talk about moving beyond simply using terms like assent-based or trauma-informed and making sure those values show up in our everyday clinical decisions. Cristina shares why self-advocacy and communication come first, including teaching learners meaningful, understandable ways to tell us when they are, or are not, comfortable participating. We also dig into interdisciplinary collaboration and why shared values can help BCBAs, SLPs, OTs, educators, and other professionals work through differences in clinical recommendations. I especially love Cristina’s reminder that collaboration does not mean abandoning the science. We can try something, collect data, look at the results, and come back together as a team. #autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside: What assent and assent withdrawal can look like in practiceWhy teaching “no” supports autonomy and self-advocacyUsing shared values to strengthen interdisciplinary collaborationBalancing compassionate care, clinical judgment, and dataMentioned In This Episode: Firefly Autism Firefly Autism on Instagram Say It With Me by Rose Griffin AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection ABA Speech: Home

  4. Sep 29

    #300: Celebrating Episode 300 with Dr. DeMuesy

    Three hundred episodes, six years of learning together, and so many meaningful connections along the way. What better way to celebrate than with a little reflection, practical insight, and fun? For this milestone, I’m welcoming back my friend and colleague Dr. Ron DeMuesy. We talk about how much the field has changed, Ron’s journey to earning his PhD, and his work supporting compassionate approaches to severe problem behavior in public schools. Ron also shares practical thoughts on PFA, SBT, collaboration, and why understanding the environment matters when we’re supporting students and school teams. We also dig into what school-based BCBAs need to know, including the importance of listening before giving advice, recognizing staff strengths, and building behavior plans collaboratively. And because this is episode 300, we finish with a lightning round and reflect on where the podcast has been and where I hope it goes next. #autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside: Using PFA and SBT to support students with severe problem behaviorCreating safer, more collaborative school environmentsWhat new and school-based BCBAs need to know about listening, relationships, and FBAsReflections and rapid-fire questions celebrating 300 episodesMentioned In This Episode: Don’t Shoot the Dog! by Karen Pryor FTF Behavioral Consulting Ohio Association for Behavior Analysis John Carroll University ABA Program Say It With Me by Rose Griffin AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection ABA Speech: Home

  5. Sep 22

    #299: My 5 Most Asked Questions

    What are clinicians really asking when they want to feel more confident supporting autistic learners? I’m answering the five questions that show up most often in my inbox, DMs, course evaluations, and conversations with members of the ABA Speech Connection. AAC is at the top of the list. I’m sharing why becoming comfortable with a learner’s device matters, what to consider during the AAC assessment process, and why vocabulary should be meaningful across the learner’s day. Our students deserve access to communication now, not after we feel perfectly prepared. I’m also digging into SLP-BCBA collaboration and gestalt language processing. Curiosity, communication, and strong soft skills can make a huge difference when professionals approach treatment differently. We can stay grounded in evidence-based practice while listening to one another and keeping the learner at the center. We’ll also look at joint attention, naturalistic intervention, and parent training. Whether we’re using books, music, and play or helping families understand communication goals, we need to know why we’re teaching a skill and how it will make a meaningful difference in everyday life. #autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside: Getting started with AAC assessment, vocabulary, and implementationStrengthening SLP-BCBA collaboration, especially around AAC and gestalt language processingBuilding joint attention through naturalistic, functional interventionMaking parent training more meaningful by understanding communication goals and developmental milestonesMentioned In This Episode: Gestalt Super Pack ASHA Episode #121: Core Vocabulary and Typical Language Development with Allison Bean and Bethany Frick Semmler Say It With Me by Rose Griffin AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection ABA Speech: Home

  6. Sep 15

    #298: What You Need to Know About Selective Mutism with Chelsea Gamache

    Selective mutism isn’t a choice, defiance, or simply being shy. It’s about being unable to speak when speaking is socially expected because anxiety can make communication feel incredibly difficult. Chelsea Gamache brings such an important perspective to this topic, both as a BCBA and as someone diagnosed with selective mutism at age five. We talk about what selective mutism can actually look like, including whispering, using an altered voice, or communicating freely at home while being unable to speak at school or in the community. One of my biggest takeaways is the importance of meeting learners where they are. We can use behavioral principles like positive reinforcement, gradual exposure, shaping, stimulus fading, and visual supports, but we also have to understand the anxiety component. Communication should never become something we pressure out of a learner. #autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside: Why selective mutism is different from shyness, defiance, or choosing not to speakHow pressure to communicate can make people and environments feel unsafeUsing gradual exposure, reinforcement, shaping, and stimulus fading compassionatelyWhy collaboration, family involvement, and learner autonomy matterMentioned In This Episode: Chelsea on TikTok Outloud the Selective Mutism Podcast SMART Center I Am Brave Child Mind Institute Boston Child Study Center Selective Mutism Association Say It With Me by Rose Griffin AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection

  7. Sep 8

    #297: Supporting Functional Communication Skills with Ashley Whitaker

    Functional communication is about more than getting a learner to request. It’s about helping them communicate what they want and need spontaneously, across people, places, and real-life situations. Ashley Whitaker joins me to share practical clinical shifts that can make a big difference for autistic learners, especially those who are prompt dependent or seem stuck in their communication progress. We talk about why a simple prompt like “What do you want?” can unintentionally become a barrier to spontaneous communication, and how we can create a stronger connection between motivation and independent requesting. We also dig into data collection and why tracking both prompted and spontaneous communication gives us valuable information about whether a learner needs more opportunities or a change in programming. Ashley shares practical ways to build communication opportunities throughout the day without making every interaction feel like a structured therapy trial. Finally, we explore speech clarity and teaching functional communication before moments of escalation. When learners practice responses like “more time,” “all done,” or “no” outside of crisis situations, we can help them build communication skills they can actually access when they need them most. #autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside: Reducing verbal prompts to encourage spontaneous communicationUsing prompted and independent communication data to guide programmingSupporting speech clarity with slower, exaggerated vocal modelsPracticing functional communication before escalation occursMentioned In This Episode: VB-MAPP The Verbal Behavior Approach Lighthouse Autism Center Say It With Me by Rose Griffin AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection ABA Speech: Home

  8. Sep 1

    #296: Social Skills and Mealtimes with Dr. Katherine Bateman

    Mealtimes are full of natural opportunities for communication, connection, and friendship, but we may be overlooking just how valuable those moments can be. Dr. Katherine Bateman joins me to explore Snack Talk, a simple visual communication support designed to help learners engage with peers during meals and snacks. We talk about using personalized questions and visual choices to make communication accessible across modalities, including speech, gestures, AAC, and other forms of communication. What I love about Snack Talk is how practical it is. We can build visuals around what our learners genuinely enjoy, rotate topics to keep them meaningful, and use prompting to support engagement without making implementation complicated. Katie also shares how this approach can help educators become more intentional during typically unstructured times while creating opportunities for SLPs, BCBAs, teachers, and paraprofessionals to collaborate. Ultimately, this is about more than answering social questions. It is about belonging, friendship, and giving learners meaningful ways to connect with the people around them. #autism #speechtherapy What’s Inside: Why mealtimes are an underused opportunity for social communicationHow Snack Talk supports different communication modalitiesWays to individualize visual supports around interests, culture, and preferencesUsing Snack Talk to foster peer relationships and interdisciplinary collaborationMentioned In This Episode: Visual Supports to Increase Conversation Engagement for Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorder During Mealtimes Snack Talk Haring Center for Inclusive Education, University of Washington Say It With Me by Rose Griffin AAC Mastery for SLPs and BCBAs Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection ABA Speech: Home

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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.

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