The Autism Little Learners Podcast

AAC modeling in daily routines doesn't have to be perfect to make a meaningful difference. In fact, what if trying to do AAC perfectly is actually getting in the way of doing it consistently?

You listen to a podcast, attend a training, and learn all these wonderful strategies for supporting AAC users. You're ready to keep AAC accessible, presume competence, model without expectation, honor all communication, and move beyond requesting. And then Monday morning happens. Someone can't find their backpack, a child needs help opening breakfast, a para calls in sick, and your circle time materials have...

Understanding the different communicative functions of AAC means looking beyond "I want" and helping autistic preschoolers communicate what really matters to them.

Their family celebrates when Lily says NO.

That's what Stefanie, Lily's mom, told me, and this week you'll hear her tell it herself. Including the morning Lily looked at her mom and said, "Words inside."

This is week four of our AAC Awareness Month series, and it picks up right where last week's episode on modeling without expectation left off. Once we're modeling AAC, the next question is: modeling what?

What color is it? Where's the dog? Show me red. Tell me with your talker. If you support AAC users, you might be really good at quiz mode. I know I was.

As an SLP, I was trained to elicit responses. I wanted repetitions. I wanted data. I wanted to know: can they do it? And here's the tricky part: quiz mode feels like teaching. We're trying to help. But communication isn't supposed to feel like a test all day.

This is part 3 of our AAC Month series. Last week, in Episode 195, we talked about...

As we continue AAC Awareness Month, I want to talk about an idea that kept far too many children from getting access to robust communication for far too long:

The idea that a child has to be "ready" for AAC.

Maybe they need to point first. Match pictures. Understand cause and effect. Show intentional communication. Sit and attend. Or start with something "simpler" before they can have access to a robust AAC system.

Many of us were actually trained to think this way. I was too.

But today we know something...

A quick heads up before you listen: Jordyn prepared some answers ahead of time and responded to others in real time, so you'll hear pauses between each question and Jordyn's answer. I challenge you to resist the urge to fast-forward through the wait time. Sitting with that silence is one of the most important skills of a good communication partner — in this episode, and in your classroom. As we get ready to kick off AAC Awareness Month on October 1st, I'm bringing back one of my most meaningful conversations for this special encore episode. I'm joined by Jordyn Zimmerman, an au...

When an autistic child is melting down, refusing, running away, or saying "no," what looks like challenging behavior may actually be a stress response or an important form of communication.

In this episode, Tara is revisiting the way we think about behavior in autistic preschoolers and asking us to look underneath what we can see on the outside.

Instead of starting with "How do I stop this behavior?" we can get curious about what the child's nervous system may be communicating. Are they overwhelmed? Is the environment unpredictable? Are they trying to tell us no...

Transitions are often the first part of the preschool day to fall apart for autistic children, especially when routines change, activities end, or expectations shift quickly.

Every. Single. Year.

In this episode, Tara is talking less about transition tricks and more about why transitions are genuinely so hard for many autistic preschoolers.

A transition can involve much more than moving from one activity to another. A child may need to shift their attention, leave a deeply engaging activity, process new sensory input, understand what is happening next, and regulate the emotions that come...

If you're looking for the best visual supports for autistic preschoolers, these five foundational tools can make classroom routines, transitions, communication, and everyday expectations easier to understand.

In this episode, Tara is going back to the basics and sharing five of her favorite visual supports for young autistic children. These are the supports she returns to again and again because they are practical, flexible, and easy to use in preschool classrooms, therapy spaces, and at home.

Visual supports can make routines more predictable and reduce the amount of spoken language a child has to process...

Supporting regulation in the classroom starts with understanding what an autistic child's nervous system needs before we focus on expectations, participation, or learning. That's why regulation is the focus of Week 3 of our Back to School Foundations series.

By early September, you've probably moved past those first days of school when everyone is learning names, exploring the classroom, and figuring each other out. Your routines are starting to take shape, expectations are increasing, and you may also be seeing more dysregulation show up.

This is often when we start wondering, What can I do to...

Building a positive connection with autistic students is one of the most important things we can focus on at the beginning of a new school year. That's why I'm making connection the focus of Week 2 of our Back to School Foundations series.

There's something about that second week of school, too. The first few days are behind you, the excitement and whirlwind of getting everyone through the door has settled just a little, and you start realizing, I have a whole room full of children I'm still getting to know.

And that takes time.

This is Week 1 of 6 in the Back to School Foundations replay series. While I'm in Portland helping my daughter move into her first house, I'm revisiting six episodes I think will help most as you head back to school. New season starts Tuesday, September 29th, with five weeks on AAC for AAC Awareness Month.

So much of what goes wrong in September is really about something that was never put in place in August. Three things. That's it. Here's what they are.

I'm starting this series at the very beginning, with the framework I built...

"Don't buy him letters." That's what a professional told Cari Ebert when her son Aaron was two. He was "obsessed," they said, and needed to be moved toward more appropriate play. Cari ignored them. Those letters were how Aaron showed joy, and how she connected with him. Nearly two decades later, that same deep interest in letters, numbers, and dates is what landed him a job he loves. That moment is the heart of today's episode, because it's exactly what happens when we treat autism as a journey instead of a tragedy. This is Cari's keynote from this year's...

The one who melts down at the smallest request, who seems to dig in the moment you say "do this."...you know this child. In this episode I sit down with Casey Ehrlich, PhD — social scientist, founder of At Peace Parents, and a leader in the first peer-reviewed PDA research in the United States — to talk about PDA: what it is, why it's a nervous system response rather than defiance, and what actually helps.

PDA isn't defiance. It's a survival-level drive for autonomy — and once you see that, you respond to the child in front of you comple...

That child who waits for you to start every sentence? In this replay I sit down with SLP Alexandria Zachos — founder of Meaningful Speech — to talk about how years of prompting quietly create prompt dependence, and how silence, connection, and a child-led approach help gestalt language processors find their own spontaneous voice.

Prompting doesn't lead to spontaneous language. Connection, silence, and meeting a child where they are do.

Gestalt language processing (GLP) is a normal, natural way of developing language — just a different path than the analytic, word-by-word route most of us were taught. Alex walks...

Teaching autistic preschoolers can feel lonely. This is the episode where I pull back the curtain on the membership that became the opposite of that island — where it came from, what's inside, and the community that surprised me most.

Teaching young autistic children can feel like being on an island. The membership is the opposite of that.

I'll tell you how it began in grief, after I lost my dad in 2019, and grew into a genuine passion for helping educators and parents feel less overwhelmed and celebrate the small wins that build on each other.

My non-speaking three-year-old student told me "This is boring" on his AAC device.

That moment changed everything for me, because that is communication, and that is competence. It's exactly what today's episode is about: presuming competence, an idea that quietly shapes everything else we do with young autistic children.

Because so often, the ability was there all along. What was missing wasn't the child's capacity. It was the tools, and an adult willing to believe there was something worth saying.

This conversation explores what presuming competence actually means, why it matters so much...

What if defiance is really dysregulation? In this episode I sit down with Alyssa Blask Campbell — New York Times bestselling author of Tiny Humans, Big Emotions, founder of Seed & Sow, and co-creator of the Collaborative Emotion Processing method — to talk about emotional intelligence, unique nervous systems, and why the behavior we find hardest is so often a child asking for support.

When we see challenging behavior, we're usually looking at a nervous system that needs support — not a child who needs fixing.

Alyssa breaks down the five components of emotional intelligence — self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, and soci...

Imagine understanding every word around you while the adults talk over you like you're not even there — and not having a reliable way to communicate until you're almost 19. That's part of Jordyn Zimmerman's story. Jordyn is an autistic woman who is non-speaking and a full-time AAC user, and in this conversation she shares, from lived experience, what will change how you show up in your classroom.

Communication is a basic human right. It is never something a student has to earn, and there are no prerequisites for AAC. None.

We talk about why a lack of...

He was banging his head on the floor, and Tara remembers the tears sliding down her cheeks and the only words she could find: "How can I help you?" That moment, and dozens of others over 25 years in the classrooms, the real origin story of the Preschool Autism Summit.

In this episode, we flip the script. Instead of Tara behind the mic, her teammate Shawna takes over as host and interviews Tara about how the summit actually began, long before it was an annual event with 30 presentations and thousands of attendees.

What started as one...

What if behavior isn't something to stop, but something to listen to? In this episode, we're talking about one of the biggest mindset shifts happening in autism education right now: moving from compliance-based teaching toward connection, regulation, and understanding.

Because what often gets labeled as "behavior" in preschool classrooms is actually communication.

I'll walk you through what changes when educators stop asking, "How do I stop this behavior?" and start asking, "What is this child telling me right now?"

This conversation explores the nervous system underneath behavior, the long-term impact of compliance-focused practices...

In this episode, we're talking about something so many of us were taught to do with the best of intentions, but that can quietly work against us: prompting.

Because when nearly every interaction becomes a question, a direction, or a cue, communication can actually shrink instead of grow.

I'll walk you through what happens when a child learns that communication only ever shows up after an adult prompts them, and how that can lead to waiting, shorter responses, or disengaging altogether.

This conversation explores the difference between testing and communicating, why processing time...

In this episode, we're talking about echolalia, what it really is, what it's doing, and why so many autistic children communicate this way. For years, many educators and therapists were taught to reduce echolalia or move children "past it." But research, autistic voices, and deeper understanding of gestalt language processing have helped shift that thinking in important ways.

Echolalia is not meaningless repetition. It is communication. Today's conversation explores:

what echolalia actually is

the difference between immediate and delayed echolalia

how gestalt language processors acquire language differently

why scripts...

In this episode, we're talking about something that often gets overlooked in early language development: symbolic sounds and exclamatory words. The "vrooooms," "uh-ohs," "wheees," and "mooos" that many children use before traditional words are not meaningless sounds. They are real communication.

This conversation explores why these early sounds matter so much, especially for autistic preschoolers, minimally speaking children, and children just beginning their communication journey.

We'll talk about:

● why symbolic sounds are often easier for children to produce than traditional words

● how exclamatory words help build joint attention and connection

...

In this episode, we bring everything together and move into the how. After exploring what deep interests are and why forcing engagement backfires, we now look at how to actually incorporate a child's deep interests to support meaningful learning.

If you've ever planned a thoughtful activity only to watch a child walk away, this conversation will help you shift how you approach teaching. Instead of trying to pull children into activities that don't feel meaningful to them, we explore how to bring learning into what they already love.

This episode walks through practical ways to...

In this encore episode, we're revisiting one of the most meaningful conversations from the early days of the podcast — a wide-ranging chat with speech-language pathologist Nicole Casey about gestalt language processing, echolalia, and what it really takes to support autistic communicators.

What if the words a child is repeating aren't random?

Gestalt language processing (GLP) is a natural way of acquiring language where children begin with whole strings of intonationally-defined language — often lifted from songs, shows, or meaningful moments — instead of starting with single words. These "gestalts" are not literal, but they carry deep meaning. And wh...

In this episode, we gently shift how we understand one of the most common challenges in classrooms and therapy spaces: low engagement. When a child walks away, refuses, shuts down, or pushes materials aside, it can feel confusing and frustrating, especially when you're trying to help them learn.

But what if disengagement isn't defiance?

This episode explores why forcing engagement through prompting, token systems, and increased demands often backfires, especially for autistic children whose nervous systems may already be overwhelmed. We walk through how traditional compliance-based approaches can unintentionally increase dysregulation and reduce trust, even...

In this episode, we explore a powerful shift in how we understand one of the most recognizable traits in autistic children: their deep interests. If you've ever watched a child return to the same topic, object, or activity again and again with intense focus, you may have wondered whether it's something to redirect or expand.

But what if the interest isn't the problem?

This episode walks through why many educators and autistic adults are moving away from the term "special interests" and toward "deep interests," and why that language shift matters. We explore how deep...

In this episode, we continue the play series by talking about the gentle bridge from exploratory play into functional play. If a child loves dumping toys, spinning wheels, dropping objects, or lining things up, it can be tempting to rush toward "using the toy the right way."

But functional play grows best when it feels safe, connected, and joyful. This episode explores how to support the shift from sensory-driven exploratory play into one-step and early multi-step functional play without turning it into a power struggle.

Instead of forcing imitation or moving too quickly into adult-led...

In this episode, we continue the play series with an important reframe for educators, therapists, and caregivers: Exploratory play is not a problem to fix. It is a stage to understand. When a child dumps toys, spins wheels, mouths objects, drops items, or repeats the same action over and over, it can be easy for adults to feel pressure to stop it.

But what if the behavior isn't the problem?

This episode explores why exploratory play is a foundational stage of development, especially for young autistic children, and how repetitive sensory-driven play often supports regulation...

In this episode, we continue the play series with one of the most common questions educators and caregivers ask: How do I help expand play without taking over? It can be tempting to jump in quickly when a child is lining up cars, spinning wheels, dumping toys, or repeating the same action over and over.

But meaningful play growth does not come from control. It comes from connection. This episode explores how to gently widen play skills while still honoring autistic play as meaningful, sensory-rich, and deeply connected to regulation.

Instead of redirecting repetitive or...

In this episode, we begin a brand new series all about play with a foundational idea that challenges many traditional beliefs:

Autistic play is real play.

Not practice play.

Not "pre-play."

Not something that needs to be fixed before it counts.

For many years, educators and caregivers were taught that certain types of play were more valuable or developmentally appropriate than others. But when we assume that only certain forms of play "count," we risk missing the meaning behind what children are already doing.

This episode explores...

Your visual schedule helps students understand the structure of the day. But what helps them understand what's happening inside each activity?

In this episode, we explore mini-schedules, a visual support that breaks down the steps within an activity so students can see what they are doing right now, how much there is to do, and when the activity will end.

Even when a daily visual schedule is working well, some moments of the day can still feel unpredictable or overwhelming. Mini-schedules provide clarity within those moments, helping reduce uncertainty and supporting participation.

What if the reason a visual schedule "isn't working"… isn't because the child can't use visuals. What if the real issue is that one small piece of the system needs adjusting?

In this episode, we walk through the most common reasons visual schedules fall apart in classrooms and therapy spaces. From schedule length to symbol clarity to how the schedule is introduced, small adjustments can make a big difference.

Instead of abandoning visual schedules altogether, this episode offers a troubleshooting lens. Because when the schedule fits the child's developmental level and nervous system capacity, it be...

What if the reason your visual schedule isn't working… isn't because the child "doesn't respond to visuals"… but because the symbols you chose aren't meaningful to them yet? In this episode, we'll explore something that often gets overlooked in conversations about visual schedules: symbol selection.

Because not all pictures are created equal.

We talk through the continuum from less abstract to more abstract symbols, how to recognize when a symbol isn't connecting, and how to adjust in ways that increase clarity instead of frustration.

This isn't about making your visuals look better. It's abou...

What if the reason a visual schedule "isn't working" isn't because the child can't handle it — but because we've accidentally made it too big… or too small… or too adult-centered?

In this episode, we'll unpack one of the most common questions educators ask: "How long should a visual schedule be?"

And the answer isn't about minutes. It's about nervous systems.

Together, we explore how schedule length impacts regulation, why longer isn't always better, and how to adjust visual supports in ways that reduce cognitive load instead of increasing it.

Because visual schedu...

What if AAC feels heavy in your classroom, not because you're doing it wrong — but because you've been carrying pressure that was never meant to be there?

In this episode, we reflect on what unfolded during AAC Bootcamp and explore the invisible weight educators, SLPs, and caregivers often carry when supporting AAC users. From second-guessing modeling to worrying about prompt dependency, progress monitoring, and team hesitation, this conversation gently reframes what AAC is actually meant to be.

AAC is not about performance. It is about exposure.

You'll hear real classroom examples of what mo...

For years, autistic play has been misunderstood, redirected, or even discouraged. But what if the very things we've been trying to "fix" are actually authentic expressions of joy, regulation, and connection?

In this replay of my powerful conversation with nationally recognized pediatric SLP, speaker, and neurodiversity-affirming advocate Cari Ebert, we explore why autistic play is real play — and why honoring it changes everything.

Together, we unpack deep interests, regulation-first teaching, expanding play without pressure, and what it truly means to presume competence.

This episode will gently challenge old assumptions and give you practical, re...

Winter often brings changes in schedules, energy levels, and tolerance — and when the world outside the classroom feels less predictable, nervous systems feel it. This episode focuses on supporting regulation and emotional safety when routines feel harder to maintain.

In this episode, we explore how disrupted routines, stress outside of school, and unpredictable changes can impact regulation for autistic children.

So often, these moments are framed as behavior issues or skill challenges. But when we shift toward regulation, predictability, and connection, we begin to see changes in:

regulation

engagement

co...

In this episode, we're talking about what truly changes when AAC is modeled all day—not just during instruction, but during play, routines, transitions, and real-life moments.

So often, AAC is treated as something that happens only at the table or during therapy. But when modeling AAC becomes part of the entire day, communication shifts from a task to a relationship.

This episode explores how modeling AAC without expectation builds regulation, engagement, trust, and spontaneous communication over time.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What "all-day AAC modeling" actually means (and what it...

In this episode, we're unpacking a common—and harmful—myth in autism and AAC support: the idea that communication must be earned.

You'll hear why treating AAC as a reward makes regulation harder, not easier—and how unconditional access to communication supports regulation, trust, and participation, especially during autism meltdowns.

This episode reframes AAC as access, not a behavior strategy, and offers practical ways to support communication during real-life moments of distress.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why AAC should never be used as a reward

How communication and regula...