Turn Autism Around artwork

Parenting · Dr. Mary Barbera

Turn Autism Around

by Dr. Mary Barbera

If you're a parent with a child diagnosed with Level 1, 2, or Level 3 autism or worried about speech delays, tantrums, autism signs, hitting, potty training struggles, picky eating, meltdowns, sensory issues, or toddler behavior that feels confusing or overwhelming, you're in the right place: www.marybarbera.com Hosted by Dr. Mary Barbera — RN, doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D), best-selling author, and creator of widely used online programs for toddlers and preschoolers — this bi-weekly podcast breaks down complex child development topics into simple, actionable steps any parent or professional can use immediately. Every other week, Mary shares her proven 4-step approach to help children (with and without autism or ADHD) make measurable progress at home, school, and in the community. Episodes cover highly searched topics such as: 🗣️ Speech & Language Development How to get your toddler to talk What to do when your toddler isn't talking Late talking, first words, echolalia, scripting, and vocal stimming Strategies to build interaction, joint attention, and social engagement 😭 Behavior & Tantrums How to stop hitting, biting, throwing, and daily meltdowns What causes tantrums and how to reduce them Simple behavior plans any parent can use Emotional regulation for toddlers and preschoolers 🧠 Autism, ADHD & Early Signs Early signs of autism in toddlers What to do if you suspect autism — or if someone told you to "wait and see" Screening vs. diagnosis Sensory processing disorder, hyperlexia, giftedness vs. autism traits Navigating early intervention, speech therapy, OT, or ABA therapy 👶 Daily Life Skills Potty training for toddlers with speech delays or autism Picky eating and feeding challenges Sleep issues and bedtime routines Safety, wandering, transitions, and managing hard outings Preparing for doctor, dentist, or haircut visits 👨‍👩‍👦 Parent Coaching & Real-Life Stories Real parent success stories (like toddlers going from 0 words to hundreds) How to create calm, confident routines at home Reducing stress for the whole family Mindset support for overwhelmed parents This show is designed to help parents, but is also widely followed by behavior analysts, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists, teachers, pediatricians, nurses, and early-intervention professionals who want child-friendly, research-backed strategies that work in real homes. Whether you're dealing with a diagnosis of autism or a late talker with frequent tantrums, sensory challenges, or early signs of autism… or you simply want a clear, compassionate, step-by-step plan to help your child thrive — this podcast is here to guide you. Subscribe and learn how to improve talking, reduce problem behaviors, and help your child gain confidence, independence, and skills — starting today.

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

#353: "I Never Thought I'd Hear Her Talk" | Autism Success Story

Michelle C. shares her daughter Elena's autism success story, from severe language delays and tantrums at age two to thriving in a general education third-grade classroom

Oct 20
44 min

#352: Her Daughter Had Autism and Just 2 Words… Look at Her Now

Mary Barbera welcomes back Michelle, a parent and autism coach, to share her daughter Elena's remarkable journey. Michelle discusses recognizing early signs of regression

Oct 6
44 min

#351: Her Granddaughter Wasn't Talking—Then Tracy Learned What to Do

Mary Barbera interviews longtime collaborator Tracy Rasmussen about helping her 16-month-old granddaughter, Cece, who was showing signs of a speech delay. Tracy shares th

Sep 22
30 min

#350: "Free" Tips & Therapy Aren't Really Free - The Autism Myth Keeping You Stuck

Dr. Mary Barbera explains why "free" autism advice and therapy can still carry a cost when they delay real progress. Mary shares two parent stories: Ruth, who spent 150+

Sep 8
17 min

#349: Child Talking Too Quietly? How to Improve Voice Volume in a New Talker

When a child has words but speaks too quietly to hear, low volume may be connected to confidence, fluency, and how difficult the word feels. In this coaching call excerpt

Aug 25
15 min

#348: Siblings, Autism & Speech Delays: Why You Can't Predict the Future

Dr. Mary Barbera shares the story of her sons Lucas and Spencer, two boys who looked very similar as toddlers but had very different outcomes. Through their journey, she

Aug 11
12 min

#347: Could Autism Be Detected at Birth? One Father's Mission to Change Autism Care

Dr. Mary Barbera interviews Amol Deshpande, creator of the Frontera app and father of a son with autism, about his mission to improve early autism detection and access to

Jul 28
41 min

#346: 30 Years After My Son's Autism Diagnosis: What I Know Now

Dr. Mary Barbera reflects on nearly three decades in the autism world as both a mom and professional. She shares how denial, long waitlists and limited early support can

Jul 14
14 min

#345: Can Autism Be Reversed? Stem Cells, Early Intervention & New Research

Dr. Mary Barbera speaks with Dr. Joseph Cautilli about autism research, including cautious optimism around university-based stem cell studies and stronger evidence for ea

Jun 30
37 min

#344: Why "He'll Be Fine" Is the Most Dangerous Advice in Autism

"He'll probably be fine." That's what most parents hear when their toddler shows early signs of autism. After 25 years in the field - and raising a son who looked "mild"

Jun 16
15 min

#343: Joint Attention Explained: The Foundation of Communication in Autism

Joint attention is the shared focus between a child and another person, and it is one of the most important foundational communication skills for children with autism and

Jun 2
28 min

#342: The Autism Tipping Point - 3 Trends Changing Everything

#342: The Autism Tipping Point - 3 Trends Changing Everything Autism is now 1 in 31 - and three massive forces are about to reshape everything parents and professionals t

May 19
20 min

#341: What Is ABA Therapy… REALLY? (4 Myths Parents Need to Know)

ABA therapy is the science of behavior and learning, not just a treatment for autism. Dr Mary Barbera clears up four common myths about ABA, explains why the science is a

Apr 28
33 min

#340: 3 Mistakes When Teaching Manners to Kids with Autism (And What Works Instead)

Teaching manners to children with autism is important, but teaching them too early can interfere with communication development. Before focusing on words like "please" an

Apr 14
26 min

#339: Parent Training for Autism: The Key to Faster Progress Autism Professionals Need to Know!

Parent training is one of the most important drivers of progress in autism intervention because parents are with their children far more than therapists are. Dr. Mary Bar

Mar 31
29 min

#338: Autism Safety: Solving elopement, PICA, Fire Safety & More with Dr. Amy Foxman

Children with autism face increased safety risks, including wandering, drowning, fire emergencies, PICA, and traffic dangers. In this podcast, Dr. Mary Barbera and Dr. Am

Mar 17
32 min

#337: Real Advice to Get a Toddler Talking and Melting Down Less From a Behavior Analyst

Dr. Mary Barbera sits down with Elissa in this rebroadcast to show exactly how to help a late-talking toddler using a clear 4-step plan. After identifying that Lexi under

Mar 3
28 min

#336: The 10 Early Signs of Autism

Dr. Mary Barbera outlines 10 early signs of autism in toddlers, such as lack of pointing and joint attention, language delays, excessive tantrums, not responding to name

Feb 17
28 min

#335: Child Not Talking? The Imitation Skills You Need to Build First for Children with Autism

Imitation is a crucial early skill for language, play and social development. Delays in imitation are common in toddlers with autism or signs of autism. Dr. Mary Barbera

Feb 3
42 min

#334: Concerned About a 4 Year Old Speech Delay? Start Here

If you're worried that your 4-year-old isn't talking or meeting speech milestones, you're not alone and you don't need to wait. By age four, kids should be speaking in fu

Jan 20
40 min

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