In episode 18, Jess co-hosts with Kimmy, who listeners will remember from the last episode, who is a BCBA and the older sibling of an autistic adult. Today, they welcome Heather Hazlett, PhD., a licensed psychologist who participates in clinical work and is an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina (UNC). Her training is in child neuropsychology, and her research focuses on brain development in neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism. Dr Hazlett is a researcher in the Baby Siblings Research Consortium, and she discusses some of these research findings and how they pertain to families today with Jess and Kimmy. We hope you enjoy the episode!
Resources –
Disclaimer: This podcast represents the opinions of Dr. Jessica Greenson, PhD, our cohost, and guest(s) 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 corrections 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 episode 17, Jess welcomes Kelleen and Kimmy, who are both older siblings of autistic adults. Kelleen is an SLP, and Kimmy is a BCBA, both at the University of Washington’s Autism Center. In today’s discussion, they share how their experiences with their autistic siblings shaped them as people, but also as compassionate practitioners and advocates in their fields. We look at the joys and challenges they experienced as older siblings and some of the issues that continue to arise as they navigate the present and future. And last, but not least, they offer parents some helpful advice for helping their neurotypical children understand and embrace autism. We hope you enjoy the episode!
Resources –
Websites for Siblings:
Sesame Street (young children) – http://autism.sesamestreet.org/
Rocking Mountain Sibs – https://www.rmsibs.com/
A Sibling's Guide to Autism – https://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/2018-08/Siblings%20Guide%20to%20Autism.pdf
Siblings of Autism – https://siblingsofautism.org/
Sibling Leadership Network – https://siblingleadership.org/
Sibling Support Project – https://siblingsupport.org/
The Organization for Autism Research has a number of sibling resources – https://researchautism.org/how-we-help/families/sibling-support/
The Arc of New Jersey has several helpful resources for siblings of all ages – https://www.thearcfamilyinstitute.org/resources/sibling-resources/young-sibs.html
Parent to Parent – https://www.p2pusa.org/
The Sibling Transformation Project – https://www.siblingtransformation.org/
Growing Up Alongside a Sibling with a Disability –https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/11/parenting/children-sibling-disability.html
Books for Parents about Siblings:
Siblings of Children with Autism: A Guide for Families by Sandra Harris PhD & Beth Glasberg PhD
Autism Spectrum Disorder Sibling Support: 15 Practical Tips for Parents & Caregivers by Trish Thorpe
Here are links to picture book lists featuring Autistic children.
Sibling books:
Benji, the Bad Day, and Me by Sally J. Pla
My Brother Otto by Meg Raby (preschool to early elementary)
My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete & Ryan Elizabeth Peete (elementary age)
Leah's Voice by Lori DeMonia (elementary age)
Tacos Anyone? By Marvie Ellis (elementary age) - Bilingual book
Brotherly Feelings: Me, My Emotions, and My Brother with Asperger's Syndrome by Sam Frender & Rob Schiffmiller (elementary age)
What About Me? A book by and for an Autism Sibling by Brennan & Mandy Farmer (elementary age)
Understanding Samantha: A Sibling's Perspective of Autism by Dustin Daniels (elementary age)
Everybody is Different by Fiona Bleach (elementary/middle school age)
Autism: The Invisible Cord by Barbara Cain (middle school)
Rules by Cynthia Lord (middle school)
The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida (middle school)
Same but Different: Teen Life on the Autism Express by Holly Robinson Peete, Ryan Elizabeth Peete, & RJ Peete (middle school/high school)
The Sibling Survival Guide: Indispensable Information for Brothers & Sisters of Adults with Disabilities by Don Meyer & Emily Holl (high school/adults)
Memoirs by Siblings:
Boy Alone: A Brother's Memoir by Karl Greensfeld
How to be a Sister: A love story with a twist of autism by Eileen Garvin
The Ride Together: A Brother & Sister's Memoir of Autism in the Family by Paul & Judy Karasik
At Home in the Land of Oz: My Sister, Autism, and Me by Anne Barnhill
Crystal Puzzle: Growing Up with a Sister with Asperger's by Ashley Nance
How autism shapes sibling relationships By Emily Laber-Warren
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 Malow
https://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
More Than Words - Hanen Program at UWAC
UWAC Speech-Language Therapy Webpage
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:
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 :
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:
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
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
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:
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:
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.