#023: A Parent’s Perspective: An Interview with Kelsey General

Liz Maher is a behavior analyst and a mom. Her oldest daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed with autism back in 1998. In addition to supporting her own daughter’s education and development, Liz also became a BCBA. She worked for close to 15 years supporting Pennsylvania school teachers in applying behavioral analytic principles in their classrooms. Along with her husband Steve, Liz founded a company called DataMTD, which produces online applications for two of the most widely used assessments in verbal behavior: the VB-MAPP app for Dr. Mark Sundberg, as well as the EFL app for Dr. Patrick McGreevy.

Liz and I begin our discussion by talking about her personal journey and what led her into the field of ABA. We then talk about her current work with her husband and how their apps are making teachers’ lives easier when it comes to behavior tracking, analysis, and assessments. Liz and I also discuss how ABA has changed and evolved over the years, stories Liz has from her experiences in the classroom, and suggestions on how we can make the world better through behavior analysis.

What’s Inside:

• Liz’s personal journey and how she got into the field of ABA.
• How Liz and her husband are helping teachers with their apps.
• Thoughts on how to make the world better through ABA.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Just 7 Steps YouTube
Mark Sundberg – VB-MAPP
EssentialForLiving.com
EFLApp.com

Over my 20-plus years in the behavior field, I haven’t heard a lot of talk about self-management. One place I did hear about it was in 2018 at the ABA International conference. I participated in a workshop called “Exploring the Systematic Use of Self-Monitoring as a Behavioral Intervention: The Self and Match System”.  That presentation was given by my two guests, Dr. Katharine M. Croce and Jamie Salter. Katie and Jamie are responsible for the main school-based self-monitoring system I use, called Self and Match. Both Katie and Jamie have impressive academic backgrounds along with several years of real-world experience.

Katie, Jamie, and I discuss when and how they developed the Self & Match system and how far they’ve come since its humble beginnings. We also talk about their journeys into the field of ABA and how Katie and Jamie met. We then dive into what Self and Match is, how it works, and who it’s for. The official definition is an evidence-based self-monitoring system that’s used in schools, homes, clinics, and more. It’s a tool to systematically teach individuals how to self-reflect on their own behavior. We discuss how to get training on Self & Match and how to implement it. To learn more, check out the resources below.

What’s Inside:

• How Katie and Jamie got into ABA and created Self & Match.
• Who Self & Match is for and the goals it accomplishes.
• Resources on Self & Match and how to get started.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Just 7 Steps YouTube
Future Self & Match Trainings
Research on Self-Monitoring and Self & Match
Beyond the Walls: Establishing Classroom Expectations in a Virtual Classroom (journal article)
Free Resource: T-Charts to teaching expectations
Manuals ( 10% discount thru 2023 with promo code: JUST7STEPS)

Connect with Jamie/Katie:
Email: selfandmatch@gmail.com (or team@selfandmatch.com)
facebook.com/selfandmatch
twitter.com/selfandmatch
Instagram.com/selfandmatch
web: www.selfandmatch.com

Everyone loves tips and advice, but where do you get the advice you can trust? One of the things I try to do with my video blog is to give parents important tips and advice that can help them become more successful with their children. Here, I’m sharing some of the best tips and advice from my blog over the past half year, including:

• 5 tips to avoiding bad behavior in your kids
• How to discipline your kids through the use of consequences
• How to handle sensory issues

I finish things off with information from a blog I did on parenting advice that you should ignore. I’ll share a list of bad advice I’ve seen given to parents that really don’t offer any meaningful value or at worst, can harm a child long-term. If you want to learn more about getting your kids to listen to you without nagging or raising your voice, check out my workshop through the link below.

What’s Inside:

• The best tips and tricks from the past half year on the Just 7 Steps blog.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Just 7 Steps YouTube
Just7Steps.com/workshop

Last week, I covered how to teach a pre-verbal child to imitate sounds on request as we build toward teaching them how to talk. Here, we’ll cover the motivational aspects of learning a language and how to teach children to ask for things they want in increasingly complex ways. For some children, learning how to talk is a really high hurdle to get over on their own. Many of the traditional approaches to teaching children how to talk fall short. I share the whys and hows of teaching a child to mand, or request something they need.

The reason mand training is such an important part of early language development is that it is based on the simple concept of “I want, I do, I get”. This concept is powerful because a successful mand always leads to the acquisition of reinforcement. Anything that’s reliably reinforced will ultimately result in a higher frequency of the desired behavior.  I discuss the three augmentative communication systems and how to choose which one to use.  I also walk through each system’s pros and cons, how to choose which words to start with, the steps of teaching mands, and how to transition to words.

What’s Inside:

• The importance of manding in teaching verbal communication and language skills.
• Three main forms of augmentative communication and their pros and cons.
• How to choose which words to start teaching.
• How to transition from mands to words.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Just 7 Steps YouTube
Book – Motivation and Reinforcement: Turning the Tables on Autism

According to the CDC, an estimated 40% of children with autism spectrum disorder are non-verbal. That means as many as 40% of children working through potential challenges related to autism are trying to do so without the full use of vocal language to help them. As many as 70% of childhood behavior problems come from a child not being able to adequately express their needs or desires. I’ve worked directly with many of these pre-verbal children who were unable to learn how to communicate through spoken word for many years, but we have found a way to guide them towards increased language ability using the verbal behavior approach to the science of behavioral analysis.

Over the next two weeks, I’m taking you on a deep dive into the way I’ve been helping children both with and without a diagnosis of autism who struggle with language learn how to talk. Verbal communication is one of the most important aspects of life and it’s how we share our thoughts and feelings. Because of my expertise in motivation, I’ve been able to put children in the positive state needed for them to develop critical vocal communication skills. Here, I discuss the benefits and limitations of speech and language therapy and why a behavior analyst could be an integral part of a child’s learning to speak. I also share exactly what my process is so you can get similar help if you need it for your family.

What’s Inside:

• How behavioral analysis can aid in a child’s learning to communicate verbally.
• How to use motivation and reinforcement to help in the learning process.
• My process of teaching verbal communication and language. 

Mentioned In This Episode:
Just 7 Steps YouTube
Just7Steps.com/workshop
Just7Steps.com/course

Reg Reynolds is an author with a Ph.D. in psychology. I’ve known about Reg for a long time, and he contacted me shortly after I wrote my first book. Reg has written quite a few books and the one most in line with what my audience would be interested in is called “Teaching Children with Autism: An ABA Primer”. Reg has since retired, but I think his work and perspective on the field of disabilities and education is very valuable to us all. Our conversation includes a discussion on changes we’ve seen over the years in terms of education and parenting, especially around disabilities and handling behavior challenges.

Even before Reg was working in the field of ABA, he was paying attention to it. Here, he shares his thoughts on where things have gotten better or worse in our approach as practitioners as well as how he took an interest in ABA. We walk through what inspired Reg to write his book, his thoughts on my work and the 7 Steps, the importance of parent training and involvement, the concept of mini consequences, and the role of control in behavior analysis.

If you’re interested in buying a copy of Reg’s book, head to the link below.

What’s Inside:

• How education and parenting around disabilities and behavior have changed over the years. 
• The importance of parental training and involvement.
• Why mini consequences can be more effective than big punishments.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Just 7 Steps YouTube
Book – Teaching Children with Autism: An ABA Primer

As we close in on the end of 2022, I want to look back on the first year of the podcast. Here, I’ll be sharing with you my favorite moments, quotes, and interview segments. I’m also excited to announce that as of December 1st, we’ve hit the 2,000-download milestone! It’s a huge accomplishment and I’d like to thank each and every one of you for tuning in, sharing the links to the episodes with others, and engaging in discussion with your networks. We couldn’t have hit this number without your help.

We start our look back with the very first Just 7 Steps Podcast episode, which launched in July. My goal was, and is, to give folks around the world a chance to learn the benefits of the 7 Steps approach. We also recap other great episodes around homework, screen time, punishment, gaining your children’s respect, token economies, and much more. I also recap my top quotes and segments from episodes throughout the year and look back on some of the amazing guests who have joined me.

We’re planning on covering so much more in 2023, so stay tuned!

What’s Inside:

• A lookback at the Just 7 Steps Podcast in 2022.
• Top quotes from the episodes.
• Favorite clips from interviews with podcast guests.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Just 7 Steps YouTube
Support@Just7Steps.com
Just7Steps.com/Workshop

It’s our first holiday season at Just 7 Steps and it’s been such a wonderful year so far. I searched the internet for someone who could provide us with valuable hints and suggestions as we head into this busy time of the year. It’s important to make the holidays as peaceful, joyful, and fun for families of all kinds as possible. Leanne Page is a BCBA, parenting coach, author of two books, and mom to two elementary-aged kids. She shares the science of behavior with all parents to help them save their sanity and connect with their children through online workshops and fun challenges. You can check out her work through her website linked below. 

Almost 20 years ago, Leanne began her career as a special education teacher working with children on the autism spectrum. The first school district she worked in brought in BCBAs for training and she was inspired to jump into the field of ABA herself. She then shifted gears to help parents learn ABA, which is her focus today. Leanne and I discuss her favorite tips for families who are anxious about the holidays, including getting on the same page as your partner or spouse. Make sure to involve your kids in the planning process to get their input on activities. We also talk about giving kids an out or a break from holiday overstimulation and the four steps for teaching expected behaviors ahead of time.

What’s Inside:

• How and why Leanne got into training parents on ABA.
• Tips for families anxious about the upcoming holiday season.
• Why it’s important to give your kids an out from overstimulation.
• The 4 steps of behavioral skills training.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Just 7 Steps YouTube
Just 7 Steps Website
Parenting With ABA

It’s been a busy year here at Just 7 Steps. In addition to starting this podcast, I’ve also been creating and sharing a weekly video blog, covering several interesting and helpful topics. Many of those topics weren’t quite large enough to be their own podcast episode, but there were a ton of great tips that deserve to be shared. We’ve posted over 20 videos, ranging in topics from why kids won’t behave to how to be a more confident parent. Here, I cover what I call my “greatest hits”, which include advice and tips from the blog.

One of the first blogs dealt with the topic of preventing child meltdowns. I share what you can do to make them less likely and what to do before they come on. Another great topic was around how to stop your kids from fighting each other and I provide tips you can put into place immediately. I discuss how parents can stay calm in stressful situations, advice on how to get your kids to behave, why kids tend to always push our buttons and how to handle it, and how to infuse more confidence into your parenting.

What’s Inside:

• How to handle child meltdowns.
• How to stop your kids from fighting with each other.
• How to stay calm in stressful situations.
• How to get your kids to behave.
• Why kids like to push our buttons.
• How to be a more confident parent.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Just 7 Steps YouTube
Just7Steps.com/Blog
Just7Steps.com/Quiz

One of my favorite things to do is interview parents of children who have benefited from behavioral support and education. Many of the parents I’ve met over the course of my career have proven to be the most tenacious in helping their kids find answers to their educational needs. Kelsey General is a mother to two amazing young boys with an autism diagnosis. Kelsey has searched far and wide to get the best help for her boys. She’s worked directly with me, Dr. Megan Miller, and Dr. Mary Barbera and is a great source of information as someone who knows what it’s like to develop and find a good support team for a special needs child.

Kelsey shares her decision-making process around education, as her boys are now school-age. One of her sons is home-schooled and the other is in the public education system. We go through some of the challenges faced when working through problematic behaviors and partnering with professionals in the school system. We also discuss social interactions and homeschooling and why Kelsey doesn’t believe her one son is missing out. Kelsey shares the journey of what it was like to get diagnoses for her sons and how she started down the path of getting the right support. The 7 Steps had a positive impact on Kelsey and her family, and she created a video to share her experience. To check out the video, head to the link below.

What’s Inside:

• How Kelsey made decisions around her children’s education.
• Why homeschooling doesn’t necessarily mean missing out on socialization.
• Kelsey’s journey of receiving diagnoses and searching for the right support.
• How the 7 Steps approach helped Kelsey and her family.
• Advice for parents educating children with special needs.

Mentioned In This Episode:
Just 7 Steps YouTube
Just7Steps.com/Quiz
Kelsey on Instagram
A Parent’s Perspective on the 7 Steps (Video Library)