The ABA and PT Podcast

All Episodes (39)

From new to old

From new to old From old to new

1. 

   1. Episode #16 – Try the Chart - Dr. Hank Pennypacker

   Dr. Hank Pennypacker, a pioneer in the Science of Human Behavior, shared profound insights about the standard celeration chart in amongst the many wisdoms he describtes in this podcast. Despite its limited adoption, he emphasized the immeasurable value of the chart to those wanting to make accurate predictions about behavior.Dr. Pennypacker passionately advocates for the widespread use of precise measurement to fields involving human behavior and why percent correct lacks the arguably greatest c

   Jun 09,2023 54:16
2. 

   2. Episode #15 - The Carolyne Letters with Dr. Abigail Calkin

   In this episode, we take a quick side step from ABA to talk about one of the most hotly debated issues in the US right now and one that Precision Teacher Abigail Calkin writes about in her book, The Carolyne Letters; A Story of Birth, Abortion, and Adoption .In this episode, Abigail poses questions and talks about the complexities of pregnancy and parenthood and the impact those complexities have on family units.Abigail Calkin, a published author and a precision teacher, will shed some light on

   Oct 27,2022 02:06:14
3. 

   3. Episode #14 - The Truth Behind Neuropsychological Testing with Dr. Kimberly Berens

   Be prepared for Dr. Kimberly Berens’ extraordinarily important message regarding learning disabilities! In the US, 20% of kids are considered to have a learning disability of some kind. Dr. Berens explains in Episode 14 of the podcast that only a tiny fraction of children—less than 1%—have a real neurological impairment. This suggests that more kids are being labeled with learning disabilities that are Explanatory Fictions, as opposed to measuring learning across time and assessing for skill def

   Oct 19,2022 01:27:29
4. 

   4. Episode #13 - All in with Patrick McGreevy - Part 2

   This is Part 2 of Patrick McGreevy's ABA & PT Podcast interview.In this episode, we'll learn more about how the standard celeration chart works and how a slight difference in its size can cause the frequency multiplier to be distorted. Patrick emphasizes the benefits of using frequency data over percentage correct, among other things. He also recalls the final moments of Ogden's life. Join our The ABA and PT Podcast Facebook Group to get access to the following resources:Facebook group link: htt

   Sep 30,2022 01:14:15
5. 

   5. #12 - All in with Dr Patrick McGreevy Part. 1

   If you were Dr Ogden R. Lindsley’s student, you were either all in or you weren’t, because precision teaching necessitates passion, dedication and an adherence to B.F. Skinner’s discovery of Rate of Response as the primary and most sensitive measure of behavior. From the first time Patrick McGreevy heard Ogden speak he was “all in”!This is Part 1 of the recording of my interview with Dr Patrick McGreevy, or Brother Pat as Og called him. In part 1 he shares how he fell in love with teaching child

   Sep 20,2022 55:34
6. 

   6. #11 - The Butterfly Effect with Jack Auman

   Precision teachers, according to Jack Auman, have an impact on students similar to the Butterfly Effect because of the small changes that can have enormous positive outcomes.In this episode, Jack talks about his journey to Precision Teaching after he met Steve Graf. From scorekeeping at a baseball game together to the adventures that they had together. He goes on to discuss Steve's brilliant ideas and how he used his own programming knowledge to bring them to life. Join our The ABA and PT Podcas

   Jun 24,2022 01:16:03
7. 

   7. #10 A Living Human Treasure with Dr. Carl Koenig

   This episode tells the story of a humble, passionate, and inspiring human being who gave his all for the science of Precision Teaching. Dr. Carl Koenig was instrumental in the creation of the behavior chart, now called the Standard Celeration Chart and the foundations of Precision Teaching. Carl spent over a decade of his life working alongside Dr. Ogden Lindsley through the highs and lows of shaping Precision Teaching in the 60s and 70s.In this episode, he will take us on a journey beginning wi

   May 14,2022 01:00:00
8. 

   8. #9 Richard McManus - Making the Impossible Possible Precision Teaching

   Richard McManus is the owner of The Fluency Factory, a PT learning lab in Massachusetts, and has been a Precision Teacher for more than 4 decades. In this episode, Richard recounts his life experience, beginning with his father's early influence, and his progressive use of inclusivity. He also talks about the individuals that have inspired him to advocate for the underprivileged. With his courage and resilience, Richard has influenced so many teachers, parents, and students. He firmly believes t

   Apr 13,2022 01:04:57
9. 

   9. #8 Michael Maloney - How to be An Educational Ninja using Direct Instruction and Precision Teaching

   Michael Maloney is a researcher and educator with over 50 years of combined experience in both private and public schools. Together with his colleague, Eric Haughton, he integrated behavior analysis, direct instruction, and precision teaching into a highly effective learning approach. Michael takes us on a journey through his life, from being fired for disrupting the learning system at the school where he worked to meeting remarkable individuals that contributed to his incredible work.  Join our

   Mar 23,2022 01:37:27
10. 

    10. #7 Clay Starlin - Incorporating Precise Measurement into Education

    It’s an absolute honor to have one of the pioneers of precision teaching on the show, Dr. Clay Starlin. You’ll hear in this episode how he paved the way for teachers and disenfranchised children as he takes us on a journey through the profession that he has loved for nearly five decades of his life.You'll learn about his childhood, his own struggles with reading as a child, and what ultimately motivated him to focus on improving student outcomes through the use of precise measurement. He also ta

    Mar 05,2022 01:25:54
11. 

    11. #6 Elizabeth Haughton - Pinpointing

    Elizabeth Haughton is a highly recognized educational consultant, the Founder of the Haughton Learning Center, and recipient of both the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ and the ‘Our Teacher Award’ from the Standard Celeration Society.Elizabeth spent roughly 5 decades of her life helping children using her research-based methods to improve teaching and learning strategies.It’s a privilege to have Elizabeth back on the show to talk more about her insightful discoveries and learning methods. In this e

    Feb 17,2022 01:09:48
12. 

    12. #5 Elizabeth Haughton - Heart + Science

    Elizabeth Haughton is a highly recognized educational consultant, the Founder of the Haughton Learning Center, and recipient of both the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ and the ‘Our Teacher Award’ from the Standard Celeration Society.She has been a precision teacher for more than 50 years and joins us today to talk about her combination of heart and science within her teaching model.She explains how she incorporated precision teaching with her students in a classroom setting and what led her to ope

    Jan 12,2022 01:46:01
13. 

    13. #4 So Many Lessons, So Little Time

    Dr. John Eshleman has dedicated his life to making our science successful for all. Standing in Ogden Lindsley's wish for the use of plain English in Precision Teaching, he has the ability to express complex scientific phenomena in understandable language.John joins us in this episode to discuss a variety of topics from the richness of SAFMEDS to his explanation of Ogden's “Common Language for Analyzing Behavior”. He shares his views on how our rich underpinnings have been watered down in a rush

    Dec 08,2021 01:44:13
14. 

    14. #3 Dr Kim - The State of Play in ABA

    In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kimberly Nix Berens; a scientist-educator and Founder of Fit Learning. As she shares her story of how she found her way through Behavior Science and Precision Teaching, Dr. Kim also provides tons of anecdotes from her learning experiences with mentors, the development of Precision Teaching, and her personal encounter with Ogden Lindsley. She speaks of her vision for automation of data to allow the collection of data in classrooms, the challenges faced in Beha

    Nov 24,2021 01:12:40
15. 

    15. #2 Dr Abigail Calkin - An Extraordinary Life - Part 2

    In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Abigail B. Calkin as she continues to share her extraordinary journey through Behavior Analysis and Precision Teaching, especially on her move to Kansas to earn a Ph.D. under the supervision of Ogden Lindsley.She also taps into some interesting parts of her life where she developed the one-minute timing method in order to change her behavior and relationships, how she learned Russian using SAFMEDS, and how charting has helped her find out and minimize her epi

    Nov 10,2021 02:00:54
16. 

    16. #1 Dr Abigail Calkin - An Extraordinary Life

    This episode is part one of a two-part series featuring Dr. Abigail B. Calkin; a teacher, writer, and poet who has combined Precision Teaching and inner behavior in her work with adults and children.Abigail takes us back to her extraordinary journey through psychology and teaching, then to Behavior Analysis and Precision Teaching. From her early life to her schooling experiences, she cites the significant events that lead her on a bold, courageous, and extraordinary life. In part 1, she recounts

    Oct 27,2021 01:39:36
17. 

    17. #0 Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

    In this bridging episode of The ABA & PT podcast (formerly known as The ABA & OT podcast), Mandy explains the podcast relaunch with the new direction— which is now centered around the journeys and discoveries of the giants in the field of Precision Teaching & ABA.  RESOURCESJoin The ABA and PT Podcast Facebook Group to get access to the following resources:Facebook group link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/397478901376425 

    Oct 27,2021 02:46
18. 

    18. The ABA & OT Podcast #22 Speech and the Standard Celeration Chart

    Time constraints are making it difficult for behavioral therapists to analyze the data they’ve collected. Bethan's goal is to bring charting to people in order to help them produce an efficient and measurable output.Bethan Mair Williams has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist in the British public health sector for over 20 years. She has an amazing organization called the British Royal College Clinical Excellence Network for Speech Therapists. In today's episode, Bethan shares a very uniqu

    Aug 19,2021 51:22
19. 

    19. The ABA & OT Podcast #21 The Trick to Writing ‘SMART‘er Goals - Part 2

    This episode is a continuation of the previous episode featuring Liz Lefebre and Amy Evans, both highly acclaimed practitioners of Precision Teaching. They highlight a thinking process of how to get precise when writing your goals. Combining measurable data in the SMART approach, practitioners can set even more attainable goals for the learners. HIGHLIGHTS02:14 Being Specific on what you’re teaching and what the students are supposed to do06:59 Setting measurable frequencies09:43  Making the goa

    Aug 04,2021 18:15
20. 

    20. The ABA & OT Podcast #20 The Trick to Writing ‘SMART‘er Goals - Part 1

    This episode is part one of a two-part series featuring Liz Lefebre and Amy Evans, both highly acclaimed practitioners of Precision Teaching, as they discuss how to write more accurately measurable goals and their benefits. SMART goals are more overarching while precision teaching uses a more fine-tuned approach. By observing a learner's component skills and using charts, teachers can come up with more accurate goals and develop tailor-fit interventions. This includes determining pinpoints and a

    Jul 21,2021 44:28
21. 

    21. The ABA & OT Podcast #19: Consequence is King!

    The ABCs of behavior is an important tool to analyze whether a certain behavior is likely to happen again or not. The key here is that consequence matters. For OTs, it is possible to measure the effectiveness of interventions by hypothesizing and data-taking.Discussed today is the case of Johnny's rocking and some antecedent (environmental) interventions that could usher in permanent change and affect the consequences of this action. Also discussed today are ways to get assent from clients to he

    Jul 07,2021 46:07
22. 

    22. The ABA & OT Podcast #18: Why Percent Correct Is Not Good Enough? with Rick Kubina

    Using percent correct has become the industry standard in behavior analysis. Dr. Rick Kubina, CentralReach’s Director of Research and Professor of Special Education at The Pennsylvania State University, joins the show today to shed light on a more objective way of looking at data using precision teaching. Though percent correct is useful in coming up with ratios, it is not always the best measure because of the ease with which the results can be manipulated. Precision teaching looks at the numbe

    Jun 16,2021 01:01:51
23. 

    23. The ABA & OT Podcast #17: You Can‘t Improve What You Can‘t Measure

    Taking data vastly improves the performance of both students and teachers alike. ABAs and OTs can determine the best course of action for increasing or reducing behaviors with data to back them up, while students also feel more motivated with their increased awareness. Discussed today are the practical reasons for taking data, specific steps you can take to start taking data, and the common barriers to taking good data. Data collection goals between ABAs and OTs may also be different, so Mandy a

    Jun 02,2021 43:28
24. 

    24. The ABA & OT Podcast #16: How to Play Nice in the Sandbox: Tips for Collaboration with Sasha Long

    Today's episode features Sasha Long, BCBA and Founder of The Autism Helper. There are areas for improvement in the relationship between ABA and OT, so Sasha shares her experiences and tips to help make the work more collaborative and effective.  The differences in approach between the fields of ABA and OT present an opportunity to enhance both practices. By honestly touching on the pain points of this relationship, Mandy, Aditi, and Sasha recognize the benefits that each field brings to the tabl

    May 19,2021 50:22
25. 

    25. The ABA & OT Podcast #15: How to Teach Spitting for Toothbrushing, Rinsing and Other Oral Care Skills

    Spitting is a complex ADL that can be a real challenge to teach to kids in the spectrum. Especially when kids are nonverbal or have conditions like pica, ABAs and OTs have to use prompts as imitation and language are simply ineffective.  They discuss the case of Andre and how strategies like TAG teaching and tools like straws were effective in teaching mouth manipulation. They also discuss the many advantages of video modeling as a standardized way of teaching, as well as the best way social sto

    May 05,2021 43:35
26. 

    26. The ABA & OT Podcast #14: Picking, Pulling, Biting: Addressing Habitual Behaviors

    Habitual behaviors can be interruptive on a student's development. In this episode, Mandy and Adito discuss the case of Matt's detrimental nail biting and skin picking and the effective strategies they use to reverse it.  Mandy shares her own struggles with nail-biting and her own personal strategies to extinguish this behavior. Mandy and Aditi also dive into the deeper reasons behind these automatic behaviors and how the differences between attention-maintained behaviors, habits, or something e

    Apr 21,2021 44:03
27. 

    27. The ABA & OT Podcast #13: Challenging behaviors on Telehealth

    Telehealth consultations have unique problems that are magnified when addressing challenging behaviors in kids. From distraction to motivation to parent training, we discuss the most common problems and tangible tips to improve student engagement.It is critical to first teach parents the basics of reinforcement for them to follow through with the necessary changes that make virtual consultations effective. Kids act very differently at home so learning how that environment is like is also necessa

    Apr 07,2021 48:02
28. 

    28. The ABA & OT Podcast #12: Promoting Independence Using Visual Schedules

    One of the most effective ways to teach kids with limited skills is with activity schedules. These can be checklists or simple visual stimuli that allow kids to match activities to tasks that need completing.Recent studies reinforce its effectiveness and Mandy and Aditi's own personal experiences provide you with actionable tips that you can apply to your own clients. Activity schedules are flexible and you can program them based on the skill levels of your students with high rates of reinforcem

    Mar 24,2021 44:11
29. 

    29. The ABA & OT Podcast #11: Shoe-Tying: Using Precision Teaching, Fluency and/or Video Modeling

    Shoe tying is particularly tricky to teach to kids who are on the spectrum. This episode shares strategies to overcome obstacles in teaching this ADL, as well as adaptations you can use with students.   Mandy and Aditi share the various component skills needed for shoe tying and the effectiveness of using precision teaching, tag teaching for instructing without distracting, and video modeling.   HIGHLIGHTS01:48 Shoutout to the Complete Anatomy App03:33 Recap on Sam's fine motor, fluency, foundat

    Mar 10,2021 47:38
30. 

    30. The ABA & OT Podcast #10: The Big 6

    Teaching basic activities of daily living (ADL) to children with autism requires a more involved and understanding approach. This was the case with Sam whose progress in fluency was positively impacted by applying the Big 6 + 6. In the beginning, Sam exhibited many errors in component skills but instruction with the Big 6 quickly improved his ability to play and manipulate objects. Teaching these component skills enabled Sam to engage with his environment and practice higher-level skills used in

    Feb 24,2021 45:29
31. 

    31. The ABA & OT Podcast #9: ABA & OT Collaboration on Fine Motor Assessment

    Mandy and Aditi continue to examine Sam, a 9-year old client with autism with aggressive behavior. As OT's and ABA's have different assessment tools for fine motor development, this episode explores the goals and methodologies they use to improve Sam's fine motor skills.  ABA tests range from handwriting and the grip and pinch strength test while OT assessments use examples like the Silly Bug, the Superman extension pose, and core strength. These assess behavioral fluency and aims which are refl

    Feb 10,2021 44:50
32. 

    32. The ABA & OT Podcast #8: How to Collaborate When Challenging Behavior Is Getting in the Way - Shining the Light on Problem Behavior

    Aggressive behavior in children can be a real challenge for therapists and family members. This episode examines the case of Sam, an extremely aggressive child, and the OT and ABA behavior strategies that worked and didn't work for him.Mandy explains how she began her collaboration with an OT to work out a behavior plan for Sam and the steps they took to produce improvements. Mandy and Aditi explore the points of collaboration between the two professionals and how their interaction can be used a

    Jan 20,2021 42:09
33. 

    33. The ABA & OT Podcast #7: The What and How of Evidence Practice

    Evidence-based practice can be a touchy subject for ABAs and OTs alike. Dr. Josh Pritchard of the Lodestone Academy shares his insights on collaboration and the strengths and weaknesses of single-case design versus group-case design.Dr. Pritchard discusses the groundbreaking study that put standards in place for sensory integrations for children with ASD. He further provides ways that ABAs and OTs can improve their collaboration by using measurements to determine the effectiveness of their inter

    Jan 06,2021 47:04
34. 

    34. The ABA & OT Podcast #6: Childhood Sleep Struggles - The Bedtime Pass

    Bedtime resistance and frequent night wakings are a source of frustration for many parents. This episode talks about the biggest mistakes parents make in establishing sleep patterns, as well as the Bedtime Pass, an effective intervention designed to address bedtime resistance.They also discuss the case of Liv and her mum and how they used the Bedtime Pass to modify sleep behaviors. This case was particularly difficult because of the deteriorated relationship between mother and daughter. However,

    Dec 16,2020 45:03
35. 

    35. The ABA & OT Podcast #5: Sensory vs. Behavior: Addressing sleep issues in infants/ toddlers

    Sleeping challenges in infants and toddlers, especially those with ASD, can prove debilitating to parents. Mandy and Aditi discuss sleep patterns and disorders and give two perspectives on this complex yet essential aspect of life.They share their personal experiences with sleep issues and define what sleep is according to sensory and behavior perspectives. Mandy and Aditi also explore how both fields approach interventions, the importance of documentation for effective intervention, and the way

    Dec 09,2020 01:11:13
36. 

    36. The ABA & OT Podcast #4: Sensory vs. Behavior - Do you see what I see? Early learning

    ABAs and OTs look at early learning from two very different lenses. Mandy and Aditi define terms according to their sciences and give their insights on the case of Stella, a premature baby.They take a closer look at the sensory and behavioral aspects of early motor development and the roles of classical and operant conditioning. Mandy and Aditi also explore tactile defensiveness, habituation, and desensitization which are all used to accelerate early learning and therapeutic outcomes.HIGHLIGHTS0

    Nov 25,2020 56:30
37. 

    37. The ABA & OT Podcast #3: Sensory vs Behavior Beginnings - Addressing Failure to Thrive in Infants

    What is the impact of sensory and behavior on early survival skills? Mandy and Aditi begin with a case study on Aditi's son Tristan who was diagnosed with failure to thrive. Mandy and Aditi also refer to a behavioral feeding program where differential reinforcement was used alongside other interventions to build adaptive eating repertoires. They also talk how a collaborative sensory and behavior approach can develop a hypothesis and the need to exercise caution when using profession-specific ter

    Oct 31,2020 46:46
38. 

    38. The ABA and OT Podcast #2: Why we can‘t we be friends?

    Mandy and Aditi discuss why professionals from the two fields find it difficult to be friends. The hosts debunk the biggest myths of their practices and explain the reasons behind this stereotyping.  They also perform a role-play and introduce the ABA and OT Ice Breaker that members from either profession can use to open a conversation that fosters collaboration and leads to positive results. HIGHLIGHTS 06:27 Honoring Dr. Jose Martinez-Diaz 13:52 Myth 1: OT and ABA have different guiding theorie

    Oct 31,2020 48:08
39. 

    39. The ABA & OT Podcast #1: The Who, What, Where & Why of our Podcast

    In this debut episode of The ABA & OT Podcast, Mandy and Aditi discuss the goals of the podcast which center on inter-professional collaboration, education on challenging behavior, and having conversations on the wealth of intersections between the two fields. Mandy tells the story of her daughter's autism which sparked her interest in applied behavioral analysis (ABA). Similarly, Aditi also shares her journey in occupational therapy (OT) and her goal to treat her son's ADHD. The two then discus

    Oct 31,2020 20:55