Speech Therapy for Autism in Toddlers
We have lots of new moms and dads who have joined our daily email group, so I’m getting lots of emails with questions about The Autism Workbook and speech therapy for toddlers with autism. I thought I’d answer those here in case you have those questions too!
Read a few parent and professional testimonials at the bottom of this post if you’d like some firsthand reviews.
Is this book appropriate to use for kids who have not yet been diagnosed with autism? YES! In this manual I’m sharing what YOU need to know in order to work with toddlers and preschoolers with autism – those formally diagnosed, as well as toddlers and preschoolers who have signs of autism but are not yet diagnosed with anything beyond language delay, and even children who have a few “quirks” or characteristics of autism that need to be addressed.
Is the treatment manual written for parents as well as therapists? YES! The book is written for parents and professionals who work with very young children with autism, including speech-language pathologists (like me!), occupational therapists, early interventionists, teachers, and ABA therapists. I get tons of email from ABA therapists who love my resources because my strategies are rooted in science they use, yet play-based and developmentally appropriate for their youngest clients.
I’m already working with a child. Can I use this approach for a child who has been in therapy for a while? YES! My hope is that you’ll take the ideas in The Autism Workbook to help you get started or to help you start over if you’re stuck! If you’re working with a young child with autism who hasn’t made significant progress, chances are, you’re working on the wrong things! Let me help you get back on track!
What’s included? In this 230-page treatment manual, you’ll find seven core or “big picture” focus areas that will be included in the treatment plan for nearly every child who demonstrates markers for autism. Next, you’ll find five additional special considerations for children who are struggling to master the core components presented in the first section. This will be your “back up plan” when a child needs a more specialized intervention to make progress with language development.
I’m using the word “plan” here very intentionally. As you probably already know, many traditional speech therapy techniques are not appropriate (meaning… they flat out don’t work) for kids with autism simply because of the nature of autism. Until you understand the differences kids with autism have as they learn language, you won’t be as ready or equipped to develop an effective plan. And if you don’t have a plan, you know what happens… nothing!
My mission is to make sure that doesn’t happen to you!
I’ll teach you how to plan!
In this manual, I’ve tried to make designing treatment plans as easy as possible – not only for busy therapists, but for parents who want to know EXACTLY what to do to work with their own children at home. As it turns out, this also benefits therapists who can use this information for parent education – especially now for teletherapy sessions.
At the heart of this process is asking and answering the right questions about a child.
For each of the focus areas, you’ll find a one-page summary and a list of questions to help you determine if the focus listed in each chapter is right for your particular child. Like my other treatment manuals, I’ve summed up this information in a “chart” that’s so simple to share and explain. This one is called the Autism Workbook Worksheet and I know it will be tremendously helpful for you as you select your overall goals and share the information with parents – or with a child’s therapists or team!
This information can be super important for parents who know in their gut that a child isn’t making the progress he could be because the interventions and approach aren’t a good fit for their particular child. It happens… even when excellent therapists have the best of intentions.
As a parent, you can help change that dynamic by providing a new direction for your child’s therapists. Some of the best ideas I’ve ever learned about working with children with autism have come from parents who taught me a new strategy.
For example, in 2011, a mom began implementing structured teaching (Focus 11 in The Autism Workbook) with her child because a psychologist mentioned it to her as a potential treatment option. I am forever grateful she asked me about using TEACCH that day! I had to go home and research on my own so I could be caught up to her for the next visit. It opened up a whole new realm of treatment ideas for me for children like hers – a busy, busy little guy who wouldn’t stay with people or play with toys long enough to learn anything!
But the question I get most at teachmetotalk.com is, “Where do I start?”
Wondering how to get started can feel insurmountable and overwhelming. Parents may want to quit before they even begin. Therapists end up doing their “same ole’ things,” even if they’re resulting in very little success with a child.
I don’t want that to happen to you.
I’ll teach you what to do!
In the book, I explain what to do and how to do it so that you feel empowered as you put together a plan for a child! As therapists and parents, we need ideas (and lots of them!) to help us know where to begin and then to keep us on track and moving forward.
Does that sound like something you could use?
Me too!
That’s why I wrote it!
Like the other therapy manuals I’ve written, it always begins with me reading and reading and reading so that I can get better and better at what I do.
Thankfully, I get to pass that along and help other people who are also out there looking for a better way to help a child they love.
Laura
“I purchased the book on autism and have watched the #400s series podcasts. Laura Mize has been more effective in teaching autistic tendencies, than many professors, shadowing professions, and the 100s of books, articles and classes or videos, or live workshop speakers, have been at teaching effective practices for a child with ASD. Some of the many lessons she has taught, which I will now use, to be a more effective Interventionist, include but are not limited to: red flags, typical behaviors, self-stimulating behaviors, not taking away toys, rather showing child to play with toy appropriately. She gives examples of child’s actions, “inappropriate,” explains the reason for: why the child is engaging in these behaviors and how they can be replaced with more appropriate, effective functional and age-appropriate skills.” Contact form – teachmetotalk.com
“Good Morning Laura,
I received your book (The Autism Workbook) yesterday and it is absolutely amazing! As I evaluate young children (0-3) for developmental delays and write plans for them with their parents, there are a ton of ideas that are ready to use. Others that reinforce what I have been doing, and saying, all along. Thank you so, so much for writing this incredible book and pulling everything together in one place!” F, Michigan
“Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, experience, and guidance.
I’m a parent who bought the autism workbook and it’s the only clear resource I found to make a change in my son. I’m really thankful to Ms. Laura for helping out people like us all over the world.” Mom from YouTube
“I just want to tell how fortunate I feel to have found your website and you!! I became a special instructor in EI almost a year ago and I started with hardly any applicable training. I felt so lost and confused as how to help the kids I work with learn how to use words and play. Honestly, I didn’t even understand the importance of play, although I always played with my kids. But, once I started to watch your podcasts and get some of your manuals I felt a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and that I could finally teach these kids and their families something of value from a real therapist and based on research!. Thank you so much for seeing the need to help other EI service providers and providing a forum to share your knowledge and years of valuable experience. I’m sure you get a lot of these emails every week if not every day, but I wanted to make I could add to those notes of gratitude!! THANK YOU again!!” Therapist
Watch a podcast …DISCUSSING AUTISM WITH PARENTS… PART 1… #437 $10 CEU FOR 1.5 HOURS CREDIT
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Happy Therapists, Teachers, Parents & Children
"I just want to thank you for the invaluable information you’ve given me in helping my grandson to talk (which I have passed on to his parents). We’ve ve learned patience, appropriate expectations, and fun and effective strategies that we had found no where else. He is exploding with conversation! Sometimes I struggle to interpret his articulation, but all I have to do is say, “Show me”, and he’s excited to do so. He and I both want so badly to communicate with each other, and your strategies have made it so much easier and non-threatening. Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Stacey
"My little guy is taking off like a rocket!! We’ve been working through your Autism Workbook for a few months and he has had an explosion of skills develop. YOU are AMAZING! THANK YOU!" Laura Q, Mom
"Dear Laura Mize and Team,
Thank you so much for all your hard work and publishing books! Our 17-month-old toddler suddenly exploded into speaking and imitating everybody's gestures and sounds, just a week or two after we 'completed' all activities that are listed under 11 pre-linguistic skills! Your method really works!"
Grateful customer.
"Hi Laura!
I absolutely LOVE all of your workbooks, especially your Autism Workbook. Starting with Social Games has been a game changer for many of my littles with ASD and their families. It's been the best way for them to finally connect and sustain shared attention and engagement, leading to longer social interactions, through play!"
Jodie, Dev, Therapist
"Hi Ms. Laura,
Thank you so much for the videos you have posted on your youtube channel. They are so direct, informative, and helpful. Thank you for being a resource for me to become a better therapist."
Dianne
"Gosh, I love all of your emails/podcast/website, just everything!! I work in early intervention as a behavior analyst and am learning so much from you!"
Thank you!
Hailey
"Laura,
I love your work! I am a professor of early childhood special education and a speech language pathologist! I have worked to help children learn to communicate and I know how valuable the information you share is for both early interventionists and pediatric speech language pathologists!
Thank you for systematically organizing and explaining essential steps for young children to learn and develop. You are having a great impact on our profession, the ECE profession and families!"
Sincerely,
David
"Thank you.
If this is Laura herself reading this email let me take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have put forth for us professionals. I own every manual (except the autism manual) and have watched every course on DVD. I have listened to countless podcasts. All of what I’ve come to be as an Early Intervention speech therapist was absolutely to your credit. With your resources at my side I have never needed to scramble for answers and strategies and above all the clear language I use when communicating with parents. My fun, animated affect and key phrases I use have been learned through watching your example. So….thank you! May you be blessed."
Chaya
"I just wanted to thank you so much for your incredible help! You are so kind and lovely and every time I implement something you've taught in your manuals or videos it is always a success, I cannot thank you enough. I really appreciate how specific you are in giving us examples of wording to use and how to use a toy in therapy with your videos, it is exactly what I need to properly help my little students. I also really appreciate your list of books of list of toys. I have seen my little students make significant progress thanks to you. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos, taking more of your CEU's, and reading more of your materials. From the bottom of my heart: thank you so much again!!"
Lauren
Laura thank you so much. Btw, you have transformed my therapy- I have become such a competent and strong therapist after watching probably like 350 of your videos and podcasts over the past few years. And I am a seasoned therapist with almost 25 years experience. (Yes prob 350 episodes ha!) But there was still a lot I learned from you. I have such a thorough understanding of birth to 3 development and how to properly incorporate appropriate therapeutic goals, techniques and strategies now, thanks to you. Kelly
