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PODCAST

The Autism Little Learners Podcast

You want to help your autistic students or child thrive — but it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out where to start. Whether you"re wondering how to build connection, teach communication, navigate sensory needs, or support your paras… you’re in the right place. Welcome to The Autism Little Learners Podcast, where compassion meets practical strategy. Host Tara Phillips, a speech-language pathologist with over two decades of experience, brings you neurodiversity-affirming insights,

education parenting

All Episodes

15:39

#144: Robust AAC—Why There Are No Prerequisites

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/10/14

Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast! Today we’re talking about a message that I’m deeply passionate about: there are no prerequisites to robust AAC. For far too long, people have believed that children need to prove they’re “ready” before being given a robust AAC device. But that simply isn’t true. AAC and autism go hand in hand, and every child deserves access to communication—whether they are speaking, nonspeaking, or minimally speaking. In this episode, I’ll bust some common ©uld

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11:19

#143: Modeling AAC Without Expectation In The Classroom

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/10/07

Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast! Today we’re diving into one of the most powerful strategies for supporting communication in young autistic children—modeling AAC. Just like children learn spoken language by hearing it all around them, AAC users need to see and hear their language modeled on their device or core board. In this episode, we’ll talk about what modeling AAC is, why it matters, and how you can start using it in your daily routines—even if you don’t have a high-tech

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29:12

#142 - Sensory Friendly Clothes For Autistic Kids

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/09/30

Today on the Autism Little Learners Podcast, I’m joined by Julia DeNey, founder of Sensational You—a brand dedicated to creating adaptive clothing for children with sensory differences. Julia’s journey is such an inspiring one. She started in the world of fashion, but it was her time working in special education that opened her eyes to just how much sensory needs can impact a child’s ability to learn and thrive. Sensory friendly clothes can make everyday life easier for autistic kids. In this

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52:44

#141 - Melissa & Doug®: Designing Toys That Inspire...

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/09/23

In today’s episode of the Autism Little Learners Podcast, I’m joined by Sofia Dumery, Senior Vice President of Design at Melissa & Doug® Toys. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into creating timeless, high-quality toys that truly support children’s development, you’re going to love this conversation. We dive into the importance of open-ended play, how toys can spark language and connection, and why durability, inclusivity, and sustainability matter so much in toy design. Whether you’re a parent,

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19:03

#140 - The Impact of Stress on Autistic Children

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/09/16

By popular demand, we’re bringing back one of the most impactful episodes! This conversation dives into the powerful link between stress and behavior in autistic children, and why compassionate, neurodiversity-affirming approaches make all the difference. You’ll discover how to reframe behavior as communication, support self-advocacy, and create environments that reduce stress and meet the unique needs of autistic children. Whether you’re an educator, therapist, or parent, this episode offers

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14:19

#139 - Why PECS Isn’t Enough For Preschoolers

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/09/09

Hi friends, welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast. I’m Tara, a speech-language pathologist who has spent over 25 years working with young autistic children and their families. Today, we’re going to talk about a topic that brings up a lot of feelings for educators, therapists, and parents: the Picture Exchange Communication System, or PECS. Specifically, why PECS isn’t enough for preschoolers. Now, before I dive in, I want to be clear—PECS is not evil. It’s not “bad.” For many kids, it

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11:52

#138 Circle Time In A Self-Contained Classroom

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/09/02

I’ve got a short and sweet episode for you today! I’ll be sharing 3 tips for introducing a morning meeting or circle time to young autistic children in a self-contained preschool classroom. If you are an educator working in that setting, you don’t want to miss this episode! Topics Discussed: Preparing and getting organized before starting a circle time for young autistic children in a special education preschool classroom Using visual supports, such as a visual mini-schedule, and all done

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11:49

#137 - Autism: Potty Training 101 - Part 2

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/08/26

Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast. I’m Tara, and I’m so glad you’re here today. If you’ve been following along, this is Part 2 of our series on potty training autistic children with compassion. In our last episode, we talked about why potty training can be harder for autistic kids, how to prepare the environment, and how to build comfort and readiness before we ever expect a child to actually use the toilet. We also talked about some of the common pitfalls to avoid—like forcing kids

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12:13

#136 - Autism: Potty Training 101 - Part 1

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/08/19

In this special two-part series we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges many parents and educators face—potty training autistic children. I’ll be sharing compassionate, practical strategies that take into account sensory differences, communication needs, and interoception, so you can feel more confident guiding your autistic child or students. Whether you’re just getting started or stuck somewhere in the process, this series will give you the tools and encouragement you need. Takeaways Potty

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18:26

#135 - Beyond Compliance: Building Meaningful...

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/08/12

Fostering positive relationships with autistic preschoolers is incredibly important. In this episode, I talk about emotional safety, understanding sensory needs, and the role of co-regulation in supporting self-regulation. The discussion highlights the need to step out of traditional teacher roles, validate autistic play, and harness deep interests to create meaningful connections. Core values such as compassion over compliance and honoring neurodiversity are explored, along with

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50:44

#134 - How to Talk to Kids About Autism with Andi...

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/08/05

Today’s episode is an encore of my conversation with Andi Putt, an incredible speech-language pathologist, and autism advocate. As we head back to school, it’s the perfect time to revisit this discussion on talking to kids about autism—whether it’s peers, siblings, or the autistic child themselves. Andi shares practical, positive strategies to start these conversations early and empower kids with understanding and empathy. Have you ever wondered how to talk to children about autism? In today’s

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12:11

#133 - Back-to-School Made Easier for Autistic Kids

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/07/29

Let’s be honest, back-to-school can feel overwhelming. There’s excitement, sure, but there’s also anxiety—both for kids and for parents and caregivers. For autistic kids, who often thrive on predictability and routine, this transition can feel extra big. The good news? We can make it easier. There are small, proactive things we can do that help autistic children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Today, I’m sharing four strategies that I’ve seen work time and time again Takeaways Preparing

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11:28

#132 - Reflections & Ripples: What Jordyn Zimmerman...

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/07/22

In this powerful reflection episode, Tara shares one of the most impactful moments of her career—her conversation with Jordyn Zimmerman during the 2025 Preschool Autism Summit. Together, they unpack the importance of presuming competence, providing early AAC access, and creating neurodiversity-affirming learning spaces. Tara also shares emotional ripple stories from participants, illustrating how nearly 50,000 educators and therapists are creating waves of change for autistic children around the

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57:32

#131 - Supporting Autistic Learners Through Passion...

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/07/15

In this encore episode of The Autism Little Learners Podcast, Tara reconnects with Cari Ebert, a respected speech-language pathologist and passionate advocate for neurodiversity-affirming practices. Together, they revisit a powerful conversation that redefines what play and connection can look like for autistic children. Cari shares valuable insights into why autistic play is real, meaningful, and should be honored as such. She explains how deep interests can be a gateway to learning, joy, and

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11:27

#130 - The Preschool Autism Summit

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/07/08

In this episode, I’m sharing something really exciting with you—a sneak peek into the upcoming Preschool Autism Summit, happening July 14–16, 2025! You’ll get to hear short clips from some of our amazing presenters, and I’ll pop in between each one to give you a little intro and context. These speakers are bringing so much heart, wisdom, and practical support to the table. Whether you're a special educator, SLP, OT, or a parent, you’re going to walk away from the summit feeling more confident, more

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50:31

#129 - Breaking the Prompt Cycle: Supporting Gestalt...

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/07/01

Hi there, and welcome back to the Autism Little Learners podcast! I’m Tara Phillips, and today I’m joined by speech-language pathologist Alexandria Zachos for an amazing conversation all about Gestalt Language Processing. We talk about how our understanding of language development has evolved, the real struggles around prompt dependence, and why a child-led approach is so important—especially for Gestalt language processors. Alexandria shares so many helpful insights, including how we can better

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01:12:48

#128 - Barry Prizant, PhD. On Compassion Over...

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/06/24

In this episode, I had the absolute honor of speaking with Dr. Barry Prizant—renowned speech-language pathologist and author of the best-selling book Uniquely Human. We talked about how the field of autism education is shifting away from compliance-based approaches and moving toward more compassionate, relationship-centered models. Dr. Prizant shared powerful insights about emotional regulation, storytelling, and the importance of truly listening to the lived experiences of autistic individuals. We

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43:36

#127 - Autism Mom Alex On Discovering She’s Autistic...

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/06/17

In this episode of the Autism Little Learners Podcast, I sit down with Alex Lamoreaux—a mom of three, including two autistic boys—to talk about her personal and powerful journey with autism. From receiving a late diagnosis herself to navigating complex medical advice, Alex shares how she shifted from fear to confidence in parenting. We dive into what it really means to trust your gut as a parent and honor the unique needs of each child. This heartfelt conversation explores the emotional ups and

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43:26

#126 - Water Safety: Autism Drowning Risks & How to...

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/06/10

Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast! If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of this conversation on autism and water safety yet, be sure to go check that out first—it’s episode #125. In that episode, I sat down with Dayna Harvey, a certified swim instructor who specializes in working with autistic children, and Andy Roszak, an emergency preparedness expert with experience at FEMA and the CDC. Together, we shared eye-opening statistics and essential first steps families can take to begin

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45:09

#125 - Water Safety: Autism Drowning Risks & How to...

The Autism Little Learners Podcast ·

2025/06/03

Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast. Today, I’m joined by two incredible guests—Dayna Harvey, a certified swim instructor who specializes in teaching autistic children, and Andy Roszak, an emergency preparedness expert who has worked with FEMA and the CDC. Together, we’re diving into a topic that’s incredibly important—and honestly, one that doesn’t get talked about enough: water safety for autistic children. As a speech-language pathologist and someone who’s worked closely with

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144 results

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