What happens to behavior in your classroom when you forget the reinforcers? If the answer is 'everything falls apart' - that tells you something important about your system. In this episode, we're talking about the difference between reinforcement and bribery, how well-intentioned reward systems create dependency, and what it looks like to build toward natural reinforcers so students aren't permanently tethered to a token board or prize box.Deci, Koestner & Ryan (1999). A meta-analytic review of experiments examining the effects of extrinsic rewards. Psychological Bulletin.Cooper, Heron & Heward (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.Come join the conversation! Find us on Instagram at @theautismhelper and TikTok at @theautismhelper - drop your hot take in the comments and let us know where you land on this one.----------------------------------------------Interested in our Year-Long Curriculum Access Subscription? Learn more about it here: https://theautismhelper.com/tah-curriculum-access/Join the waitlist for our Professional Development Membership: https://shop.theautismhelper.com/pages/membership-waitlistWant more information about The Autism Helper Courses? Visit: https://theautismhelper.com/courses/Looking for a specific product or resource? Find it in our new Autism Helper Store! https://shop.theautismhelper.com/Or visit The Autism Helper store on TpT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Autism-HelperStay up to date on all things Autism Helper by downloading our new, FREE app! Available on both the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-autism-helper/id1557724340 & Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mightybell.theautismhelper&hl=en_US&gl=USGet all updates from The Autism Helper Podcast by clicking subscribe above. Head over to theautismhelper.com for more info. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest @theautismhelper.Our Sponsors:* Check out Factor and use my code factormeals.com/sasha50off for a great deal: https://www.factor75.com* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/SASHA for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If a student can label colors at your table but not point to one at snack - did they really learn colors? Generalization is the actual destination of all our instruction, and most of us plan for skill acquisition and call it done. In this episode, we talk about what generalization actually means, why we skip it, and simple ways to build it into your teaching without starting from scratch.Stokes & Baer (1977). An implicit technology of generalization. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.Horner et al. (1988). The role of response efficiency in the reduction of problem behaviors. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps.Come join the conversation! Find us on Instagram at @theautismhelper and TikTok at @theautismhelper - drop your hot take in the comments and let us know where you land on this one.----------------------------------------------Interested in our Year-Long Curriculum Access Subscription? Learn more about it here: https://theautismhelper.com/tah-curriculum-access/Join the waitlist for our Professional Development Membership: https://shop.theautismhelper.com/pages/membership-waitlistWant more information about The Autism Helper Courses? Visit: https://theautismhelper.com/courses/Looking for a specific product or resource? Find it in our new Autism Helper Store! https://shop.theautismhelper.com/Or visit The Autism Helper store on TpT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Autism-HelperStay up to date on all things Autism Helper by downloading our new, FREE app! Available on both the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-autism-helper/id1557724340 & Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mightybell.theautismhelper&hl=en_US&gl=USGet all updates from The Autism Helper Podcast by clicking subscribe above. Head over to theautismhelper.com for more info. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest @theautismhelper.Our Sponsors:* Check out Factor and use my code factormeals.com/sasha50off for a great deal: https://www.factor75.com* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/SASHA for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Most paras spend their days doing proximity support - hovering at a student's elbow - and research is pretty clear that this actually works against independence and peer connection. But here's the thing: it's not the para's fault. In this episode, we talk about why paras default to hovering, what a well-utilized para actually looks like, and practical ways to redistribute support so your whole classroom benefits - not just one student.Giangreco et al. (1997). You're welcome: Problematic paraprofessional supports in inclusive schools. Journal of Special Education.Giangreco, M.F. (2010). Utilization of teacher assistants in inclusive schools. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.Come join the conversation! Find us on Instagram at @theautismhelper and TikTok at @theautismhelper - drop your hot take in the comments and let us know where you land on this one.----------------------------------------------Interested in our Year-Long Curriculum Access Subscription? Learn more about it here: https://theautismhelper.com/tah-curriculum-access/Join the waitlist for our Professional Development Membership: https://shop.theautismhelper.com/pages/membership-waitlistWant more information about The Autism Helper Courses? Visit: https://theautismhelper.com/courses/Looking for a specific product or resource? Find it in our new Autism Helper Store! https://shop.theautismhelper.com/Or visit The Autism Helper store on TpT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Autism-HelperStay up to date on all things Autism Helper by downloading our new, FREE app! Available on both the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-autism-helper/id1557724340 & Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mightybell.theautismhelper&hl=en_US&gl=USGet all updates from The Autism Helper Podcast by clicking subscribe above. Head over to theautismhelper.com for more info. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest @theautismhelper.Our Sponsors:* Check out Factor and use my code factormeals.com/sasha50off for a great deal: https://www.factor75.com* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/SASHA for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If your student hit every IEP goal this year but still can't ask for help, order food, or navigate a transition independently - did the goals do their job? In this episode, we're getting into the compliance trap in IEP writing, why teachers write goals they know students can hit, and what truly functional and ambitious goal-writing actually looks like. This one is for anyone who's ever felt like their IEP goals were more about paperwork than progress.Ruble et al. (2010). Examination of IEP goals for children with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities.Kurth & Mastergeorge (2010). Academic and cognitive profiles of students with autism. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities.Come join the conversation! Find us on Instagram at @theautismhelper and TikTok at @theautismhelper - drop your hot take in the comments and let us know where you land on this one.----------------------------------------------Interested in our Year-Long Curriculum Access Subscription? Learn more about it here: https://theautismhelper.com/tah-curriculum-access/Join the waitlist for our Professional Development Membership: https://shop.theautismhelper.com/pages/membership-waitlistWant more information about The Autism Helper Courses? Visit: https://theautismhelper.com/courses/Looking for a specific product or resource? Find it in our new Autism Helper Store! https://shop.theautismhelper.com/Or visit The Autism Helper store on TpT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Autism-HelperStay up to date on all things Autism Helper by downloading our new, FREE app! Available on both the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-autism-helper/id1557724340 & Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mightybell.theautismhelper&hl=en_US&gl=USGet all updates from The Autism Helper Podcast by clicking subscribe above. Head over to theautismhelper.com for more info. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest @theautismhelper.Our Sponsors:* Check out Factor and use my code factormeals.com/sasha50off for a great deal: https://www.factor75.com* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/SASHA for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sensory break has become a catch-all phrase we use when we're not sure what else to do - and that's a problem. In this episode, we're separating sensory-seeking behavior from escape behavior, talking about what a real OT-designed sensory diet actually involves, and getting honest about when our sensory tools might be reinforcing avoidance instead of supporting regulation. If you've ever wondered whether your sensory setup is helping or just busy work, this episode is for you.Marco et al. (2011). Sensory processing in autism. Nature Reviews Neuroscience.Watling & Hauer (2015). Effectiveness of Ayres sensory integration and sensory-based interventions. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.Come join the conversation! Find us on Instagram at @theautismhelper and TikTok at @theautismhelper - drop your hot take in the comments and let us know where you land on this one.----------------------------------------------Interested in our Year-Long Curriculum Access Subscription? Learn more about it here: https://theautismhelper.com/tah-curriculum-access/Join the waitlist for our Professional Development Membership: https://shop.theautismhelper.com/pages/membership-waitlistWant more information about The Autism Helper Courses? Visit: https://theautismhelper.com/courses/Looking for a specific product or resource? Find it in our new Autism Helper Store! https://shop.theautismhelper.com/Or visit The Autism Helper store on TpT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Autism-HelperStay up to date on all things Autism Helper by downloading our new, FREE app! Available on both the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-autism-helper/id1557724340 & Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mightybell.theautismhelper&hl=en_US&gl=USGet all updates from The Autism Helper Podcast by clicking subscribe above. Head over to theautismhelper.com for more info. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest @theautismhelper.Our Sponsors:* Check out Factor and use my code factormeals.com/sasha50off for a great deal: https://www.factor75.com* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/SASHA for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Think about the last five things you communicated to a parent. Were any of them good news? In this episode, we're talking about why home-school communication in special ed defaults to problems, incidents, and behavior data - and what families actually want to hear. We get into the trust gap that teachers unintentionally create, and share simple shifts that build stronger partnerships and better outcomes for students.Epstein, J.L. (2001). School, family, and community partnerships. Westview Press.Hess et al. (2006). IEP facilitation: A promising practice. Teaching Exceptional Children.Come join the conversation! Find us on Instagram at @theautismhelper and TikTok at @theautismhelper - drop your hot take in the comments and let us know where you land on this one.----------------------------------------------Interested in our Year-Long Curriculum Access Subscription? Learn more about it here: https://theautismhelper.com/tah-curriculum-access/Join the waitlist for our Professional Development Membership: https://shop.theautismhelper.com/pages/membership-waitlistWant more information about The Autism Helper Courses? Visit: https://theautismhelper.com/courses/Looking for a specific product or resource? Find it in our new Autism Helper Store! https://shop.theautismhelper.com/Or visit The Autism Helper store on TpT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Autism-HelperStay up to date on all things Autism Helper by downloading our new, FREE app! Available on both the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-autism-helper/id1557724340 & Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mightybell.theautismhelper&hl=en_US&gl=USGet all updates from The Autism Helper Podcast by clicking subscribe above. Head over to theautismhelper.com for more info. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest @theautismhelper.Our Sponsors:* Check out Factor and use my code factormeals.com/sasha50off for a great deal: https://www.factor75.com* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/SASHA for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A behavior plan without a strong skill-building component isn't a plan - it's a patch. In this episode, we talk about why so many BIPs are heavy on consequences and light on replacement skills, and why that matters for long-term outcomes. We get into the skill-based treatment model, what functional communication training actually looks like in practice, and how to shift your team's thinking from reactive to proactive.Carr et al. (1994). Communication-based intervention for problem behavior. Paul H. Brookes.Rajaraman et al. (2021). Toward a universally accepted definition of skill-based treatment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.Come join the conversation! Find us on Instagram at @theautismhelper and TikTok at @theautismhelper - drop your hot take in the comments and let us know where you land on this one.----------------------------------------------Interested in our Year-Long Curriculum Access Subscription? Learn more about it here: https://theautismhelper.com/tah-curriculum-access/Join the waitlist for our Professional Development Membership: https://shop.theautismhelper.com/pages/membership-waitlistWant more information about The Autism Helper Courses? Visit: https://theautismhelper.com/courses/Looking for a specific product or resource? Find it in our new Autism Helper Store! https://shop.theautismhelper.com/Or visit The Autism Helper store on TpT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Autism-HelperStay up to date on all things Autism Helper by downloading our new, FREE app! Available on both the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-autism-helper/id1557724340 & Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mightybell.theautismhelper&hl=en_US&gl=USGet all updates from The Autism Helper Podcast by clicking subscribe above. Head over to theautismhelper.com for more info. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest @theautismhelper.Our Sponsors:* Check out Factor and use my code factormeals.com/sasha50off for a great deal: https://www.factor75.com* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/SASHA for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Inclusion is one of the most important values in special education - and one of the most misunderstood placement decisions. In this episode, we're unpacking the difference between inclusion as a philosophy and inclusion as a checkbox. We look at what IDEA actually says about least restrictive environment, what meaningful participation really looks like, and how to have honest LRE conversations at the IEP table without shame or judgment.IDEA (2004). Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. U.S. Department of Education.Kauffman et al. (2020). The scandalous neglect of children's mental health. Exceptionality.Come join the conversation! Find us on Instagram at @theautismhelper and TikTok at @theautismhelper - drop your hot take in the comments and let us know where you land on this one.----------------------------------------------Interested in our Year-Long Curriculum Access Subscription? Learn more about it here: https://theautismhelper.com/tah-curriculum-access/Join the waitlist for our Professional Development Membership: https://shop.theautismhelper.com/pages/membership-waitlistWant more information about The Autism Helper Courses? Visit: https://theautismhelper.com/courses/Looking for a specific product or resource? Find it in our new Autism Helper Store! https://shop.theautismhelper.com/Or visit The Autism Helper store on TpT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Autism-HelperStay up to date on all things Autism Helper by downloading our new, FREE app! Available on both the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-autism-helper/id1557724340 & Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mightybell.theautismhelper&hl=en_US&gl=USGet all updates from The Autism Helper Podcast by clicking subscribe above. Head over to theautismhelper.com for more info. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest @theautismhelper.Our Sponsors:* Check out Factor and use my code factormeals.com/sasha50off for a great deal: https://www.factor75.com* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/SASHA for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Token boards are everywhere in autism classrooms - but how many of them are actually working? In this episode, we're getting into what makes a token economy effective vs. what makes it just another laminated thing on the wall. We cover the three things that need to be in place before a token system will work, the most common mistakes teachers make, and how to build systems that are actually matched to the individual student.Cooper, Heron & Heward (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.Hackenberg, T.D. (2009). Token reinforcement: A review and analysis. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.Come join the conversation! Find us on Instagram at @theautismhelper and TikTok at @theautismhelper - drop your hot take in the comments and let us know where you land on this one.----------------------------------------------Interested in our Year-Long Curriculum Access Subscription? Learn more about it here: https://theautismhelper.com/tah-curriculum-access/Join the waitlist for our Professional Development Membership: https://shop.theautismhelper.com/pages/membership-waitlistWant more information about The Autism Helper Courses? Visit: https://theautismhelper.com/courses/Looking for a specific product or resource? Find it in our new Autism Helper Store! https://shop.theautismhelper.com/Or visit The Autism Helper store on TpT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Autism-HelperStay up to date on all things Autism Helper by downloading our new, FREE app! Available on both the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-autism-helper/id1557724340 & Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mightybell.theautismhelper&hl=en_US&gl=USGet all updates from The Autism Helper Podcast by clicking subscribe above. Head over to theautismhelper.com for more info. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest @theautismhelper.Our Sponsors:* Check out Factor and use my code factormeals.com/sasha50off for a great deal: https://www.factor75.com* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/SASHA for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Prompting is one of the most powerful tools we have - and one of the easiest to misuse. In this episode, we're talking about prompt dependency: what it is, how well-meaning teachers accidentally create it, and what to do instead. If you've ever had a student who shuts down the second you step back, this one is for you. We break down prompting hierarchies and what the research says about building real independence.Engelmann & Carnine (1982). Theory of instruction. ADI Press.Browder et al. (2009). Aligning instruction with academic content standards. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities.Come join the conversation! Find us on Instagram at @theautismhelper and TikTok at @theautismhelper - drop your hot take in the comments and let us know where you land on this one.----------------------------------------------Interested in our Year-Long Curriculum Access Subscription? Learn more about it here: https://theautismhelper.com/tah-curriculum-access/Join the waitlist for our Professional Development Membership: https://shop.theautismhelper.com/pages/membership-waitlistWant more information about The Autism Helper Courses? Visit: https://theautismhelper.com/courses/Looking for a specific product or resource? Find it in our new Autism Helper Store! https://shop.theautismhelper.com/Or visit The Autism Helper store on TpT: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Autism-HelperStay up to date on all things Autism Helper by downloading our new, FREE app! Available on both the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-autism-helper/id1557724340 & Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mightybell.theautismhelper&hl=en_US&gl=USGet all updates from The Autism Helper Podcast by clicking subscribe above. Head over to theautismhelper.com for more info. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest @theautismhelper.Our Sponsors:* Check out Factor and use my code factormeals.com/sasha50off for a great deal: https://www.factor75.com* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/SASHA for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy