Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki

Teaching Autism

Hi, I’m Nikki —a passionate special educator, autism specialist, and founder of Teaching Autism. With over a decade of experience creating hands-on, engaging resources for educators worldwide, I’m here to make your teaching journey easier, more effective, and a lot more fun! With each episode, I’ll bring you practical tips, creative strategies, and inspiring insights to help you thrive in your autism and special education classroom. From tackling behavior challenges to creating meaningful lesson plans, we’ll dive deep into what works—and what doesn’t—in the world of special education. You’ll find: ✅ Real-world strategies you can use tomorrow. ✅ Expert advice for creating inclusive, student-centered classrooms. ✅ Honest conversations about the joys and challenges of teaching. ✅ Plenty of laughs, relatable moments, and inspiration to keep you going. Whether you’re a seasoned educator, new to special education, or simply looking to level up your teaching game, this podcast is your go-to resource for empowering yourself and your students. Join me on this journey, and let’s build better classrooms together! Hit “subscribe” and tune in to each episode to fill your teaching toolbox with fresh ideas, tools, and motivation. Let’s make teaching less stressful and a whole lot more impactful!

  1. 2d ago

    The Function of Avoiding Praise

    In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re unpacking something that can feel surprisingly personal as educators and parents. Why do some students avoid praise? Why do they shrug off encouragement, get silly, look away, minimize their work, or even become dysregulated right after being complimented? We explore how praise is not always experienced as positive or motivating, especially for autistic students and learners who experience high levels of anxiety, masking, social pressure, or nervous system overwhelm. We dive into the hidden demands that can come with praise, including processing social interaction, managing eye contact, interpreting tone, responding verbally, and coping with the sudden feeling of being “seen.” I also talk about how praise can accidentally increase pressure for some students, particularly those who are perfectionistic, highly masked, or used to praise being linked to compliance and expectations. Sometimes avoiding praise is not rejection of kindness at all. It is a way of reducing social load, avoiding the spotlight, or protecting nervous system safety. This episode is full of gentle, practical shifts to help you encourage students in ways that feel regulating rather than overwhelming. We discuss low intensity acknowledgment, private praise, reducing social demand, and why process-based feedback often works better than big emotional praise. Instead of asking, “Why are they being ungrateful?” this episode encourages us to ask, “What about this moment feels unsafe for them?” That small shift can completely change the way we support our students.

    10 min

  2. May 28

    Behavior That Escalates After Success

    In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about a behavior pattern that can feel incredibly confusing at first. Why do some students seem to fall apart after they’ve done really well? After they’ve achieved something difficult, completed a task, or successfully coped through a challenging situation, behavior can suddenly escalate. We explore why this is usually not defiance, attention seeking, or self sabotage, but instead a nervous system response to the enormous amount of energy success can cost autistic students and other learners with additional needs. We dive into the hidden effort behind “doing well,” including masking, suppressing sensory needs, managing anxiety, holding eye contact, processing instructions, and pushing through executive functioning challenges. I also talk about performance regulation, decompression after effort, and why success does not automatically mean a child has spare emotional capacity left. Sometimes the behavior you see after success is simply the nervous system releasing pressure after holding everything together for too long. This episode is packed with gentle mindset shifts and practical strategies to help educators and parents respond differently. We discuss why planning regulation after effort matters just as much as celebrating achievement, how to reduce demand stacking, and simple language shifts that can completely change the trajectory of a student’s nervous system. Instead of asking, “Why would they ruin that moment?” this episode encourages us to ask, “How much did that moment cost them?”

    10 min

  3. May 21

    Why Some Students Only Meltdown with Safe Adults

    In this episode of Teaching Autism and Special Education with Nikki, we’re exploring why some students only meltdown with certain adults and what that actually tells us about safety, trust, and nervous system regulation. We talk about the “safe person effect,” restraint collapse, and why children often hold everything together in high pressure environments before finally unraveling with the people they feel safest around. If you’ve ever wondered why a student is “fine” for other staff members but falls apart with you, this episode will help reframe that experience through a compassionate, neuro-affirming lens. I also dive into the emotional side of being the safe adult. It can feel personal, exhausting, and confusing when a child only seems to meltdown with you, but often it’s a sign that they no longer feel the need to mask or suppress their stress. We discuss the impact of masking, why safety does not mean having no boundaries, and practical ways to support students through co-regulation, decompression, and predictable support strategies. Whether you’re a teacher, therapist, support staff member, or parent, this episode is a reminder that meltdowns are not performances. They are nervous system overload responses. Sometimes the biggest question is not “Why are they doing this with me?” but “What have they been holding in all day?”

    12 min

  4. May 14

    The Hidden Function of “Silly” Behavior

    In this episode, I’m diving into something I see constantly in autism and special education classrooms: “silly” behavior. The giggling, noises, dramatic movements, baby voices, and chaos energy can often look disruptive on the surface, but in many cases, there’s something much deeper happening underneath. I’m talking about why silly behavior is often linked to regulation, anxiety, sensory needs, task avoidance, and connection seeking rather than simply “attention seeking.” In this episode, I share: The hidden functions behind silly behavior Why autistic students may become the “class clown” What behavior might actually be communicating Practical, neuro-affirming ways to respond calmly and supportively If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what’s really underneath those big silly moments in the classroom, this episode is for you. ✨ My favorite movement breaks mentioned in this episode: Movement Break Cards Yoga Cards Dinosaur Movement Breaks ALL My Movement Breaks (Including themes) Free Ice Cream Movement Breaks I've also put together a blog post that talks all about movement breaks, what they are and their benefits.

    12 min

  5. May 7

    The Art of the Positive Email: How to Strengthen Family Trust

    In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about something small that makes a huge difference: the positive email. Not the reminder. Not the concern. Not the “we need to talk.” Just a simple message that says, “I wanted to share something good.” Because in special education, families hear about challenges a lot. And when every message from school feels heavy, trust gets fragile. This episode is about flipping that script and using proactive, positive communication to build calmer, more collaborative relationships with families. In this episode, we talk about: Why positive communication matters more than we realise How parents often feel when they see a school email pop up The impact positive emails have on trust and collaboration How regular positives make IEP meetings smoother Why partnership works better than defensiveness What actually makes a positive email effective A simple three-part formula you can use every time Why specific wins matter more than generic praise How often to send positive emails without overwhelming yourself Easy ways to build it into your weekly routine What to focus on beyond compliance and behaviour Highlighting effort, growth, and connection How positive emails soften difficult conversations later Keeping communication professional but warm Why parents need to know that you genuinely like their child Ready-to-use positive email scripts How positive communication protects your energy long term Big takeaways: Trust is built before problems arise, not during them Parents relax when communication is not always negative Small messages can have a big emotional impact Consistency matters more than perfection Positive emails now prevent conflict later If you’ve ever wished parent communication felt calmer, more supportive, and less stressful, this episode will give you a simple shift that changes everything.

    8 min

  6. Apr 30

    How to Handle Parent Conflict Calmly and Professionally

    In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about something every special education teacher faces at some point: parent conflict. The difficult email. The tense meeting. The phone call that makes your heart race before you even answer. Even when you are doing everything right, parent conflict can still happen. This episode is about how to handle those moments calmly, professionally, and in a way that protects your energy while keeping the focus where it belongs: on the student. In this episode, we talk about: Why parent conflict is rarely personal, even when it feels that way Understanding the fear and frustration that often sit underneath strong emotions Why pausing before responding can save you a lot of stress How to buy yourself time without escalating a situation Sticking to facts instead of emotions in difficult conversations Using grounded, professional language that keeps things calm Validating feelings without agreeing to unreasonable demands Setting boundaries that protect your time and wellbeing Why boundaries are professional, not rude How to avoid getting pulled into power struggles When and how to pause a conversation that is escalating The importance of documentation and keeping a clear paper trail How follow-up emails protect everyone involved Redirecting conversations back to the shared goal of supporting the student Knowing when to bring in support staff or administrators Letting go of conflict once the day is over Big takeaways: Parent conflict is about concern, not your competence Calm responses de-escalate more than explanations ever will Facts create clarity when emotions run high Boundaries protect your ability to show up well long term You do not have to carry conflict home with you If you have ever left a meeting feeling shaken, replayed an email in your head all evening, or questioned yourself after a difficult parent interaction, this episode is for you.

    9 min

  7. Apr 23

    How to Stop Taking Student Behavior Personally

    In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about one of the hardest emotional parts of teaching that nobody really prepares you for: taking student behavior personally. Because when a student shouts at you, refuses your help, or pushes back against everything you offer, it hurts. You care. You try.... And when that care feels rejected, it can sting deeply. This episode is about understanding why behavior feels so personal, how to separate your worth from a student’s dysregulation, and how to protect your emotional energy so you can respond with empathy instead of reacting from hurt. In this episode, we talk about: Why student behavior can feel like a personal attack The emotional toll of caring deeply as a teacher Why behavior is communication, not character What students are really saying underneath refusal, shouting, or aggression How to de-personalize difficult moments in real time Translating behavior into need instead of intent What healthy emotional distance actually looks like Why reflecting helps but replaying drains you Letting go of incidents instead of carrying them home Separating the child from the behavior Why students are always bigger than their hardest moments How your own regulation impacts the classroom Small ways to protect your nervous system during the day Redefining what success looks like in SPED Giving yourself the same empathy you give your students Big takeaways: Behavior is information, not a personal rejection Students are having a hard time, not giving you a hard time Caring deeply does not mean absorbing everything Staying calm is powerful, even when nothing else changes You are allowed to protect your emotional space If you’ve ever gone home replaying a moment that hurt, wondering what you did wrong, or feeling emotionally worn down by behavior, this episode is for you.

    8 min

  8. Apr 16

    How to Stay Empathetic When You’re Exhausted

    In this episode of Teaching Autism & Special Education with Nikki, we’re talking about something that so many teachers quietly struggle with, staying empathetic when you’re completely drained. If you’re tired, irritable, emotionally flat, or feel like you’re running on fumes… that doesn’t make you a bad teacher. It makes you human. This episode is about protecting your energy, understanding compassion fatigue, and finding realistic ways to keep showing up with empathy... without burning yourself out. In this episode, we talk about: Why exhaustion doesn’t mean you’ve stopped caring Letting go of the guilt that says you must always be patient and positive What compassion fatigue really looks like in educators Why empathy hurts when your cup is empty Redefining self-care in a way that actually fits teacher life Small, realistic ways to protect your energy during the day Finding micro-moments of regulation in the middle of chaos How to separate empathy from emotional overload Building boundaries that protect your kindness long-term Letting yourself feel hard emotions without fixing them Why “being present” is sometimes enough How to refill your cup intentionally, not performatively Remembering that rest doesn’t erase your impact Big takeaways: You don’t have to be endlessly patient to be a good teacher Empathy doesn’t mean absorbing everyone else’s emotions Boundaries make compassion sustainable Small moments of regulation matter Caring for yourself is part of caring for your students If you’ve ever ended the day feeling guilty for being tired, short-tempered, or emotionally done — this episode is for you.

    8 min
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4.5
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

Hi, I’m Nikki —a passionate special educator, autism specialist, and founder of Teaching Autism. With over a decade of experience creating hands-on, engaging resources for educators worldwide, I’m here to make your teaching journey easier, more effective, and a lot more fun! With each episode, I’ll bring you practical tips, creative strategies, and inspiring insights to help you thrive in your autism and special education classroom. From tackling behavior challenges to creating meaningful lesson plans, we’ll dive deep into what works—and what doesn’t—in the world of special education. You’ll find: ✅ Real-world strategies you can use tomorrow. ✅ Expert advice for creating inclusive, student-centered classrooms. ✅ Honest conversations about the joys and challenges of teaching. ✅ Plenty of laughs, relatable moments, and inspiration to keep you going. Whether you’re a seasoned educator, new to special education, or simply looking to level up your teaching game, this podcast is your go-to resource for empowering yourself and your students. Join me on this journey, and let’s build better classrooms together! Hit “subscribe” and tune in to each episode to fill your teaching toolbox with fresh ideas, tools, and motivation. Let’s make teaching less stressful and a whole lot more impactful!

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