Best Shira Karpel Podcasts (2024)

1
7 Dimensions of ABA 14:22

10h ago14:22

14:22

ABA is a data-driven and evidence-based field. The 7 dimensions of ABA are the core principles that ensure effectiveness in each treatment plan. As BCBAs, we had to memorize these 7 dimensions for our exam, but it may have been a while since you last revisited them. Here, we recap each dimension and show you how to apply them in your own ABA progra…

1
Teaching Body Parts and Pain 14:13

4d ago14:13

14:13

Teaching body parts is an essential skill we must teach our learners. They get hurt just like we do, but often have difficulty expressing when and where they are in pain. Here, we dive into some of the best ways to teach body parts. Sometimes, problem behaviors are a result of our learners being in pain but not being able to explain it. We need to …

1
Crisis Intervention 10:18

20d ago10:18

10:18

We turn to crisis intervention plans when our learners show severe problem behavior that could cause harm to themselves or others. Here, we dive into how to best implement a crisis intervention plan and why practicing the associated skills is so important. We start by defining crisis intervention and discuss some of the underlying reasons for chall…

1
Creating Meaningful Goals 15:12

27d ago15:12

15:12

Our main goal when working with our learners is that they make progress and become as happy and independent as possible. Here, we discuss how to choose meaningful goals to help them succeed. The BCBA code of ethics talks about assessments and says that, as professionals, we must implement them before we design any behavior change intervention. Howe…

1
Teaching Flexibility 13:55

1M ago13:55

13:55

Many of our learners struggle with rigid behavior and showing flexibility, which is part of the diagnostic criteria for autism. This can impact the lives of our learners in a negative way, but fortunately, there are ways to help them overcome these struggles. Here, we discuss the best ways to incorporate teaching flexibility into our programs. We s…

1
Teaching Social Skills in ABA 12:22

1M ago12:22

12:22

Social skills lessons are designed to strengthen social interaction and communication skills, which can be a challenge for our learners. Here, we discuss how to approach teaching social skills to effectively target social communication goals. Social skills vary depending on personality preferences, and we cover how to determine which ones to focus …

1
Trauma Informed Care 11:58

2M ago11:58

11:58

Trauma informed care is a trending topic in our field and here, we discuss how to best incorporate it into our practice. When we talk about trauma, we’re not just referring to the big things, but really anything that happens in our learners’ lives that can make them a bit more sensitive. We want our students’ experience with us to be positive, so w…

1
Intake Process 15:55

2M ago15:55

15:55

As BCBAs, we know the intake process with our learners sometimes takes up a ton of time. Fortunately, there are ways to streamline the process so you don’t have to spend hours on assessments. What things seem like on paper isn’t always what they are in person, and we should look at things from a place of clinical judgment and relationship building.…

1
Direct Instruction Programs 20:31

2M ago20:31

20:31

We typically use direct instruction programs with some of our advanced learners, especially when working towards academic goals. Direct instruction programs are based on ABA principles and designed around reviewing previously mastered skills and moving in small increments to help our learners feel successful. Here, we cover some of our favorite dir…

1
Toilet Training 21:10

2M ago21:10

21:10

Toilet training is one of the most important skills we can teach our learners. When it comes to our learners with special needs or autism, it means we can promote their dignity. We feel strongly that toilet training should be introduced as soon as a child is ready. Here, we talk about prerequisite skills, intrinsic motivation, and how to build mome…

1
Evolution of Discrete Trial Training (DTT) 11:33

3M ago11:33

11:33

Our approach to Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT) today might look a lot different to what we did in the past, or how we were taught in school. In the past, DTT was heavy on memorization, and it often lacked a natural environment component. Here, we discuss the evolution of DTT, what’s changed, and how we can apply it in our current work. We talk about…

1
Behavior Management- Person Centered Approach 16:38

3M ago16:38

16:38

Through our ABA education, we learned a lot about rules and procedures around behavior management. However, sometimes rigid traditional methods fail to work, and we need to turn to an empathetic, person-centered approach instead. Acknowledging how our learners are feeling in the moment can sometimes be far more effective than trying to push ahead. …

1
Hanley's Approach to Teaching Tolerance and Delay 11:20

3M ago11:20

11:20

Here at How to ABA, we get a lot of questions regarding Hanley’s approach to tolerance and delay. We’ve created our own user-friendly data sheet based on Hanley’s course that you can download and reuse. Here, we walk through our data sheet and show you how to use it in your practice. We also provide tips to help you and your learners have a success…

1
The Importance of Science in Autism Treatment with David Celiberti 32:48

3M ago32:48

32:48

David Celiberti, Ph.D., BCBA, is the part time Executive Director of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) and Past-President of its Board of Directors, a role he served from 2006 to 2012. He is the Co-Editor of ASAT’s newsletter, Science in Autism Treatment. Dr. Celiberti has served on a number of advisory boards and special inter…

1
Extinction 20:39

3M ago20:39

20:39

Extinction is a buzzword we hear frequently in the world of ABA; however, what does it truly mean? Many people may think extinction is the same thing as ignoring, which is a misuse and misunderstanding. Extinction really means to stop providing reinforcement where it once was. It does not mean ignoring or following through on demands in spite of wh…

1
Behavior Contracts 17:57

4M ago17:57

17:57

For learners who can understand delayed reinforcement, we often use behavior contracts. These tools can be a great way to help learners understand and integrate those unwritten rules we see in places like school and the workplace. Behavior contracts are also a form of agreement between practitioners and learners, or even parents and children. Here,…

1
Teaching Life Skills 11:39

4M ago11:39

11:39

Life skills are critical to a learner becoming independent. Here, we cover why teaching life skills is important and how we can do it effectively. Life skills include executive functioning skills, personal care, daily living skills, occupational skills, and so much more. The ability of an individual to enhance their life skills has a direct impact …

1
Types of ABA Data Sheets 24:10

4M ago24:10

24:10

As ABA practitioners, we use a lot of datasheets. It can be tough to know which ones to use in specific situations, and here, we break things down. Data is only as helpful as how we use it, and datasheets can be as basic as simply writing things down. Datasheets should reflect the environment they’re used in, for example, a classroom datasheet will…

1
Combining Empowerment with ABA with Iveth Aguilar 24:54

4M ago24:54

24:54

Iveth Aguilar is a BCBA and women’s empowerment coach. She’s the founder of Empower Her, a coaching program that helps women to stop settling, overcome fear and insecurities, heal scarcity mindsets, and cultivate the confidence to step fully into their power. Iveth combines nervous system regulation and embodiment practices with ABA for a holistic …

1
IEP Advocacy with Annie McLaughlin 29:23

5M ago29:23

29:23

Annie McLaughlin is a BCBA and IEP advocate. Annie started her career as a special education teacher, where she met a consultant who introduced her to behavioral analysis. From there, she went back to school for her BCBA and got her doctorate in special education. Down the road, she received the opportunity to assist a family navigate the special e…

1
Behaview with Payam Moghaddam and Shadi Hortamani 29:46

5M ago29:46

29:46

Payam Moghaddam and Shadi Hortamani are the founders of Behaview, a staff training and supervision solution for ABA providers. Behaview simplifies staff training and supervision for BCBAs with its comprehensive scheduling, remote supervision, data tracking, individualized progress reports, and BCBA fieldwork tracking. Behaview is built with ABA’s u…

1
What Is an ABA Contingency Map? 11:23

5M ago11:23

11:23

It can be tough for our learners to understand what they may have done wrong and how they can do it better. One of the best ways to guide them is with a contingency map. Here, we walk through the ins and outs of ABA contingency maps and how to utilize them in practice. We often use contingency maps in two ways: as a reflection of something that hap…

1
Exploring Play and Intrinsic Motivation with Steve Ward, Madelyn Vickery, and April Dyal 29:57

5M ago29:57

29:57

Steve Ward is back on the show, along with his co-authors, Madelyn Vickery and April Dyal. They’re coming out with their most recent book, which includes over 2,100 inexpensive ideas for play and intrinsic motivation. Steve is the founder of Whole Child Consulting, and his work is mainly focused on social repertoires and shaping behaviors. We recen…

1
Parent Coaching 16:57

6M ago16:57

16:57

Parents are always the experts when it comes to their kids. We get a lot of questions around parent training and how to best approach it, and here we’re sharing some tips and best practices. As professionals, we need to remember to take the parent’s perspective and acknowledge their busy lifestyles and challenges. Although we went to school for man…

1
Practical ABA Programs 13:30

6M ago13:30

13:30

As practitioners, we often learn to use assessments to help plan our programs. However, we can also miss the big picture. Here, we’re diving into how to use practical programs with our learners. Kids are multi-faceted and while assessments can be helpful, they can also prevent us from tailoring programs to each unique individual. We cover some of t…

1
Mentorship Meeting Sneak Peek 17:20

6M ago17:20

17:20

Our community offers a private place for you to chat with other practitioners and share what's working and what's not working. Here, we’re giving you an inside look into one of our mentorship meetings for our Pro Members. Each meeting is jam-packed full of helpful tips for ABA professionals. In this session, we spent time answering questions on a w…

1
Shaping 11:06

6M ago11:06

11:06

Although shaping is a basic concept in ABA, it’s often overlooked when creating behavior plans. Here, we discuss how to use shaping when teaching our learners important skills. Shaping is a key element in our toolbox as practitioners, and it’s really underrated. We often look to reinforcement as our go-to, but we forget to break the skill down into…

1
Behavioral Skills Training 11:15

7M ago11:15

11:15

When you hear the term “BST model,” what comes to mind? Typically, we think of staff training or social skills, but in ABA, we can use it for so much more. Here, we cover the various applications of behavioral skills training in more detail. The more you can practice a scenario in a calm, relaxed environment, the better prepared you are to handle i…

1
Teaching Manding in ABA 24:09

7M ago24:09

24:09

One of the first things we teach our learners is requesting, or manding. As ABA professionals, it’s important to know why teaching manding is important as well as the best ways to do it, especially with beginner learners. If you’ve ever traveled to another country that doesn’t speak your language, the first thing you’ll want to learn is how to get …

1
Growing Your Small Business in ABA 18:38

7M ago18:38

18:38

Starting a small business in ABA can be a challenge. Here, we provide useful tips to reduce overwhelm and make the process run smoothly. Many of us spend the majority of our ABA education learning job-related skills, but we’re not always equipped with the business knowledge needed to run our own clinics. Owning a business is stressful at times, but…

1
Year in Review, Expanding Reach and Products 16:24

7M ago16:24

16:24

2023 was an awesome year full of amazing experiences. As we close out the year, we wanted to share everything How to ABA has done through a year in review. One of the most significant things we did was launch our Bx Blueprint, which is a series of videos for paraprofessionals and RBTS. It’s 20 hours of content and it’s perfect for RBTs looking for …

1
Compassionately Targeting Challenging Behavior 13:28

7M ago13:28

13:28

As BCBAs, part of our job is to target challenging behavior. Here, we discuss how to do so in a compassionate way so that our learners feel safe. Sometimes, our learners just need our empathy and support after a rough day. As behavior analysts, we have to shift our focus from a follow-through perspective to how to best support those we work with. T…

1
Writing Behavior Intervention Plans with Morgan van Diepen 28:17

8M ago28:17

28:17

Morgan van Diepen is the founder of ABA Visualized, a company whose goal is to make behavioral expertise approachable, accessible, and relatable. As a BCBA working abroad and then with the vibrant international community in Los Angeles, Morgan quickly developed a passion for supporting under-serviced families. She realized the recurring barriers af…

1
Classroom Reinforcement 26:41

8M ago26:41

26:41

Students aren’t always intrinsically motivated in the classroom. It’s important to include some type of reinforcement for these students to motivate them and encourage more positive behaviors. One of the most common objections we get from teachers is that reinforcement isn’t needed, but there will always be those few learners who have challenges or…

1
Teaching WH Questions 13:31

8M ago13:31

13:31

As ABA practitioners, we’re familiar with the terminology of FFCs, which stands for feature, function, and class. Here, we dive into what comes after we teach FFCs and how to assist learners who have a hard time with those “WH” questions. In many cases, we simply teach learners to memorize responses to these questions, but they don’t actually under…

1
Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress for Learners with Autism 15:09

8M ago15:09

15:09

The holidays are fast approaching and we’re starting to plan for the upcoming busy season. Parties and gatherings with a lot of people can be stressful and overwhelming for many of our learners. Here, we dive into ways we can help decrease stress throughout the holiday season. The first thing we discuss is how to use a visual schedule. The unpredic…

1
Expanding the Definition of Inclusion in ABA with Chris Collins 20:40

9M ago20:40

20:40

Chris Collins is the Executive Director of Ability to Include, and he joins us here for a chat about what he’s been up to in the field. Since the last time we spoke to Chris, he’s expanded his business ventures. Today, he’s focused on social skills within team sports. As an RBT, Chris coached soccer and realized there was room for ABA strategies on…

1
How to Teach Social Skills Using ACT 16:17

9M ago16:17

16:17

In the past, we’ve touched on how to teach basic social skills. However, with some learners, we have to go beyond simple contingency management and reinforcement techniques. We’ve been exploring how to teach social skills using ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. ACT is rooted in Relational Frame Theory (RFT), which you may be familiar with as…

1
Professional Communication and Feedback Tips for ABA Professionals 17:48

9M ago17:48

17:48

Working with clients is just one part of our jobs as ABA professionals. Another important part is communicating with supervisors, parents, co-workers, and other stakeholders we interact with day to day. Here, we’re covering all things related to professional communication and feedback. Communication isn’t always easy, especially when it involves an…

1
Being an Awesome ABA Instructor 12:43

9M ago12:43

12:43

Being a fantastic ABA instructor goes way beyond the duties listed in the job description. Here, we cover the qualities that help you move from good to great. The first thing on the list is forming strong relationships. Really engaging with parents and kids and what motivates our students goes a long way. Showing empathy and being compassionate go …

1
Are Social Stories Effective in ABA? 8:57

10M ago8:57

8:57

Social stories, or social narratives, are a great tool to use in ABA. However, there’s no documented evidence to suggest they eliminate negative behavior. Here, we discuss why we still use social stories and how to utilize them correctly. In ABA, we typically use social stories as a piece of a larger treatment puzzle. It’s important to note that so…

1
What Is Professionalism in ABA? 16:37

10M ago16:37

16:37

ABA professionals play a significant role in helping individuals achieve their goals and improve their quality of life. We should all be aware of what an appropriate level of professionalism is and how we can show it in our roles as ABA therapists, RBTs, and paraprofessionals. Here, we start out by defining professionalism, which goes beyond simply…

1
Generalization and Maintenance 18:29

10M ago18:29

18:29

It’s important to teach our learners new skills. It’s just as important to make sure previously mastered skills are generalized and maintained. Here, we cover the best ways to incorporate generalization and maintenance into our learners’ programming. Generalization is the ability to show the same skill under different conditions, which includes dif…

1
Measurement in ABA 19:17

10M ago19:17

19:17

ABA is all about data. Here, we dive into why measurement is so important and how to make sure we’re taking and reporting accurate data. Two of the seven dimensions of ABA are to be effective and to be analytic. In other words, we want to make decisions based on subjectivity and something tangible, not just an opinion. This helps us assess whether …

1
How to Communicate with Parents Effectively for ABA Sessions 19:50

10M ago19:50

19:50

Working with clients is only one aspect of our job. Communicating with parents and making sure they feel comfortable with us is another key skill to master. Here, we provide insights and guidance into how to do this effectively. The most communication with parents is typically through a paraprofessional, ABA therapist, teacher, or support staff. Th…

1
BX Blueprint: ABA Professional Training Course 12:34

11M ago12:34

12:34

RBTs, paraprofessionals, therapists, and aides all work with our learners every single day. We’re introducing a brand-new training course called the Bx Blueprint and it’s been created specifically for these roles. Onboarding new staff takes up a considerable amount of our time as ABA professionals and can often be overwhelming for both new hires an…

1
How to Diversify Your Business as a BCBA with Tina Guidry 27:27

11M ago27:27

27:27

Tiny Guidry is the owner of Clinician with a Mission. We first connected with Tina during the pandemic, and we hosted a joint webinar together all about telehealth and setting ourselves up for success. She started her career back in the ‘90’s when she became an advocate for her son, who received a mood disorder diagnosis. Tina’s true passion is hel…

1
How to Maintain Client Dignity in ABA 13:11

11M ago13:11

13:11

A high-quality ABA program treats clients with dignity and respect. Here, we cover how to make sure that we’re maintaining that dignity in ABA sessions. Simple gestures like knocking on a door before entering go a long way in helping clients feel comfortable and respected. The needs of our learners and clients always come first and we have to think…

1
Direct Instruction Strategies for Teaching Children with Autism How to Read with Lisa Gelberman 29:39

11M ago29:39

29:39

We recently sat down with Lisa Gelberman, the founder and creator of Literacy Decoded. For the first 15 years of her career, she taught in an elementary school and then went into special education. She became a resource teacher where she pulled kids out for specific subject areas, and she eventually started teaching an ASD community class. There, L…

1
Errorless Teaching 13:54

12M ago13:54

13:54

Errorless teaching is an instructional strategy that ensures a student responds correctly. Here, we discuss why errorless teaching is important and how we can use it to benefit our learners. It’s essentially a way to prompt before a response so that an error is not made. In other words, the prompting happens right after the instruction, even before…

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Shira Karpel Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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