Today I’m talking to Stefanie from Lilly’s Voice. Stefanie started this non-profit because after jumping through hoops to get her daughter, who is autistic and non-speaking, an AAC device, she decided to support other parents trying to do the same. She now provides AAC devices AND TRAINING for families who have been denied by insurance or can’t afford the outrageous out-of-pocket costs of acquiring an AAC device. Read our conversation below! Meet Stefanie and Discover the Mission of Lilly’s Voice Tara: Hi Stefanie! Can you tell us about yourself and Lilly’s Voice? Stefanie: Hi, I’m Stefa ..read more

Have you grabbed your free ticket to the Preschool Autism Summit yet? In today’s post, I’ll share all things summit with you: how it came to be, when it’s taking place, who is speaking, and what they’ll be discussing. Plus, I’ll tell you how to snag your free ticket today. As a speech-language pathologist with over two decades of experience running my own communication-based classroom, I’m thrilled to share actionable tips and strategies for supporting young autistic children. My goal is to help you feel more confident and successful when teaching your autistic child or students at the early ..read more

I was lucky enough to meet a young woman named Lindsey and chat with her and her mom. Lindsey is autistic and struggled with things like communication and social interaction as she grew up. She endured bullying and isolation. She is a testament to perseverance. In a word, she’s amazing. Read our conversation below! Growing Up Autistic Tara: I was wondering, Lindsey, if you could introduce yourself and tell us who you are. Lindsey: My name is Lindsey Moreland. I was diagnosed with autism at 28 months old. My parents were given very little hope of what I would become as an a ..read more

Nicole Casey is a speech/language pathologist who, like me, has a passion for working with autistic kids. In recent years she has taken a deep dive into learning more about gestalt language processing. The thing about Nicole is that she doesn’t hold back and her love for what she does shines through. Read on to hear all about what gestalt language processing is and how it differs from analytic language processing, key indicators that a child might be a gestalt language processor, where to start with gestalt language processors, and strategies to use. Interview with Nicole Casey, SLP ..read more

I had the best time talking to Destiny Huff about IEP accommodations and modifications that are neurodiversity-affirming. I know that we are all trying to write IEP’s that are strengths-based and neuro-diversity affirming, so you are definitely going to want to carve out the time to read this post! We also chat about how we can partner with advocates like Destiny, vs seeing them as an adversary. Meet Destiny Huff Tara: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and what you do? Destiny: Sure. I’m a mental health professional with nearly 15 years of experience. My background include ..read more

Are you struggling with potty training your autistic child or your students? Whether you are a parent or a special educator, this will give you so many ideas to get started. I was able to talk with Molly Johnson and potty training autistic kids is her jam. Molly is a wealth of knowledge and full of actionable ideas for parents and educators. Let’s get started! Tara: I’m thrilled to talk to you about potty training! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? Molly: Absolutely. My name is Molly Johnson, and I am an autism consultant. I help parents with behaviors and skill ..read more

You don’t want to miss this fascinating conversation I had with Kayla, a special education educator turned travel advisor, who specializes in helping families with special needs, particularly those with autism, navigate the complexities of travel. Here’s an insightful look into Kayla’s journey, her dual careers, and her mission to make travel accessible and enjoyable for all families. Kayla has a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by families with special needs children and has dedicated her professional life to both education and travel planning. You can read my conversat ..read more

I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to talk to Abbey Romeo and her mother Christine, both of whom were featured on the Netflix show Love on the Spectrum U.S. On this special episode, Abbey shares her journey of growing up autistic, discussing the challenges she has faced and how she has learned to navigate them. Christine offers her perspective as Abbey’s mother, detailing the support she has provided and the unique experiences they have encountered together. They explore the process of receiving Abbey’s diagnosis, emphasizing what strategies have been beneficial and what have not.&nbs ..read more

Have you been hearing the talk lately about hand over hand prompting? Have you heard discussions surrounding this type of physical prompting and how it violates bodily autonomy and is not neurodiversity-affirming? I’m thrilled to share a thought-provoking discussion with Diamond Rashad, a passionate pediatric occupational therapist based in Georgia. Diamond’s unique perspective stems from her own neurodivergent experiences and her dedication to fostering a supportive and understanding environment for her clients. Let’s dive into her views on hand-over-hand prompting and why it’s crucial ..read more

Sometimes we need to go back to the basics. May is National Speech Language and Hearing Month. I had the privilege of chatting with Megan Peveto, who is a speech/language pathologist who specializes in toddler language development. Megan brings us back to the basics when it comes to language development for neurotypical children. We discussed language development stages and what it means to be an analytic language processor vs a gestalt language processor. Read our conversation below. A Conversation on Language Development Tara: Hi Megan. Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? Megan: Ab ..read more