When Ben was younger, he did a lot of self-talk, especially around things he had memorized or was very interested in. In this video Ben was 11 years old and had gained a lot of speech, but was still self talking in the mix of using functional language. In this clip, he is talking about the OrGreenic pan commercial. Instead of stopping the self-talk, I tried to join him in it and turn it into more of a back-and-forth conversation. You’ll notice that after only a sentence or two, Ben tries to end the conversation by saying goodbye to me. I keep it going a little longer. There are also moments when I ask him a question and his response isn’t really a direct answer — it’s a script he remembers from the commercial. Instead of correcting him or asking the question over and over, I simply model the sentence that would fit the conversation. For Ben, joining his self-talk became one more way we could meet him where his language already was and gently help him practice more conversational language. What does your child like to self-talk about? Have you ever tried joining their self-talk and using it as a way to encourage more interaction and conversation?

When we were getting ready to go out into the community, there were often many important things for Ben to remember—staying close, walking safely, using appropriate social skills, and following expectations in different places. Instead of trying to verbally remind him of everything each time we went out, I created simple visual key rings with reminders he could look at before and during our outings. These visual prompts helped make expectations more predictable, encouraged independence, and reduced the need for constant verbal reminders. In this video, I share how I used this simple strategy with Ben and why it became a helpful tool for community outings. Every autistic person is different, but I hope this idea inspires you to create visual supports that fit your own child's needs. 💬 I'd love to hear from you. Have you ever used visual reminders, picture cards, or checklists to prepare your child for community outings? I'd love to hear what has worked for your family.

Welcome! This section is where Ben and I share practical strategies that helped us over the years—from language and sensory ideas to everyday routines. Feel free to ask questions or share what's worked for your family.

As a young child, Ben often lined up his toys. For him, it wasn't simply about arranging objects—it was calming, predictable, and helped bring a sense of order to his world. Instead of taking apart his lines or redirecting him to something else, I chose to join him. By entering Ben's world first, I discovered new opportunities to engage with him, build our relationship, and encourage communication naturally. In this video, Ben shares what lining things up meant to him, and together we reflect on how this simple change in my approach became an important step in building connection. Every autistic person is unique, but sometimes the first step toward communication is meeting someone where they are. 💬 I'd love to hear from you. Has your child ever had a favorite activity that helped them feel calm or organized? Have you ever tried joining them instead of redirecting them? I'd love to hear about your experiences.

In this video, I share how I created personalized social story books to help Ben prepare for new experiences in the community. These simple books helped make unfamiliar situations more predictable and less overwhelming. I hope this strategy gives you ideas you can adapt for your own child, student, or client. I'd love to hear from you! 💬 Is there a place your child finds challenging or unfamiliar? Maybe it's: - The dentist 🦷 - The barber 💈 - The grocery store 🛒 - A restaurant 🍽️ - School 🏫 - The airport ✈️ - A family gathering ❤️ A personalized social story can help make new experiences feel more familiar. When Ben was younger, I made small printed books that we could read together before going out. Today, you could also create a simple album or folder on your phone with photos of the place, the people they'll see, and the steps they'll take. Sometimes just looking through the pictures together ahead of time can help make the experience feel more predictable. What outing would you create a social story for? Share your ideas below—I think we can all learn from each other.