Turn Autism Around
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 30, 2019 • 34min
#030: Autism and Sleep: How to Improve Sleep for Children with Autism
It's hard enough to get any child to sleep through the night, but a child with autism is much more likely to be diagnosed with a sleeping disorder. For years I gave up trying to sleep and accepted that there was nothing I could do about it—until a fellow behavior analyst gave me some advice that changed everything for my family. Now I want to tell you how you can regain all those lost hours and transform your family's sleep schedule.
Jul 23, 2019 • 42min
#029: Talk Tools & Speech Therapy for Autism with Mags Kirk
Every parent wants their child to succeed and, for kids with autism especially, being able to speak coherently is a huge benchmark of success. That's why I interviewed speech and language therapist, Mags Kirk. Mags has been a speech therapist since 2003, and thanks to her Talk Tools certification, she's more than qualified to share her knowledge with you and point you and your child in the right direction for success in speech.
Jul 16, 2019 • 51min
#028: Autism & Medication with Dr. Michael Murray, Psychiatrist
Dr. Michael Murray is a respected child and adolescent psychiatrist and the Medical Director for the Autism and Developmental Disorders Clinic for Penn State Health. Dr. Murray is sharing great info in this episode that was a game changer for my own family. We're discussing medicine that can be a benefit to your own child, but we're also covering in depth a genetic test, the metabolic pharmacological test, that eliminates a lot of trial and error with other medications. Listen and learn!
Jul 9, 2019 • 43min
#027: Teaching Social Skills with TAGTeach: Interview with Theresa McKeon
Theresa McKeon spent 30 years as a national gymnastics coach and was determined to find a way to speed up skill acquisition for her young gymnasts while decreasing stress and fear in the learning environment. Theresa's search for behaviorally sound techniques, clean instructions and proper timing of feedback and reinforcement led to the development of the TAGteach methodology. Theresa explains how she eventually became involved in the autism world, as well as the logic behind her methods.
Jul 2, 2019 • 35min
#026: Should You Focus on Talking in Sentences for Children with Autism? | Delayed Speech Development
For a lot of parents and professionals, talking in complete sentences is a major goal for their children and clients. But despite our good intentions, there are a lot of mishaps along the way. I'm going to share the seven biggest mistakes you're likely to make when teaching a child with autism to speak in complete sentences. Listen and learn so you can avoid some of these pitfalls.
Jun 25, 2019 • 37min
#025: Leanne Page: Parenting with ABA
I am interviewing Leanne Page, a certified BCBA, self-published author, and mother of two children. Leanne delves into her background as a special education teacher, her career as a BCBA, but she also shares why ABA methods are not only for children and adults with autism but can be beneficial in any type of family dynamic.
Jun 18, 2019 • 41min
#024: Jenna P. (Autism Mom): Autism + Other Diagnoses and Risk of Autism in Siblings
I have the pleasure of interviewing Jenna, my good friend and former client. Jenna is a fellow autism mom and her fall into our world is relatable. From the day of her son's diagnosis before his 2nd birthday to her self-care tips and routine, you'll surely find pieces of yourself throughout Jenna's story.
Jun 11, 2019 • 25min
#023: Desensitizing Trips to the Doctor, Dentist and Haircuts for Kids with Autism
Going to the dentist, using eye drops, or taking a bath might seem like mundane procedures for a typically developing person, but for those diagnosed with autism, these simple tasks can be traumatic and seem quite complex. I'm sharing a few practical steps for desensitizing your children or clients to these sorts of procedures, in order to make these situations go more smoothly for your loved one. Listen to gain valuable info on how to assess, practice, and improve some of these tasks for your loved one.
Jun 4, 2019 • 42min
#022: Steve Ward: Teaching Games and Leisure Activities
I'm proud to welcome my friend and colleague, Steve Ward, to the podcast. Steve has over two decades of experience in the autism field and currently works as a behavior analyst. In addition to being an accomplished author, Steve also co-owns his own consulting business, Whole Child Consulting. He has worked with teams and schools around the world, and he's here to share his experiences with you!
May 28, 2019 • 33min
#021: Sasha Long-Teacher & BCBA: Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Sasha Long wears a lot of hats in the autism world: she is a full-time consultant, writer, and behavior analyst, plus the host of The Autism Helper podcast. She also manages to find the time to travel internationally as a speaker and consultant. She has already had an extremely interesting career path and now she's ready to share her experiences with you, to help your child lead their happiest, most independent lives!
