SUMMARY
In this special mashup episode of the All About Kids podcast, we highlight some of the most impactful moments from across dozens of episodes featuring leading professionals in child development, ABA, speech-language pathology, sensory integration, and pediatric care. This episode features powerful insights from Jen, a seasoned occupational therapist, on building personalized sensory diets and regulating sensory input; Sandy, a behavior analyst with over two decades of experience, on decoding behavior through the four functions and teaching parents to be detectives; a Vietnamese-American SLP who shares her journey from orphanage visits to speech therapy advocacy; and Jerry Rothwell, filmmaker of The Reason I Jump, on amplifying non-speaking autistic voices through documentary storytelling. Whether you’re a parent, therapist, or advocate, this mashup delivers grounded strategies, heartfelt experiences, and big-picture ideas that can transform the way we support and understand kids.
KEY MOMENTS
1. Jen on What a Sensory Diet Really Is
• A sensory diet isn’t food—it’s tailored sensory input at set times to help kids regulate.
• “We want to help a child regulate their sensory systems to participate in daily life.”
• Key insight: The right “state” for a child varies based on environment and activity.
2. Oral Motor Diets: Chewing Shirts to Crunchy Carrots
• A common sensory challenge: kids chewing sleeves, crayons, or toys.
• “We start small—vibrating toothbrush, crunchy snacks, blowing bubbles.”
• Sensory input isn’t bad—it just needs a safer, more structured outlet.
3. Teaching Parents to Track, Test, and Try Again
• Keep a daily log: “What’s the pattern? Nap time? Transitions? Meal times?”
• Use one intervention at a time to identify what actually works.
• “It’s like introducing new foods—you can’t change 10 things at once.”
4. Sandy on the Four Functions of Behavior
• Escape, Attention, Tangible, Sensory—every behavior has a why.
• “We’re not punishing—we’re teaching replacement behaviors.”
• The goal: Reinforce what you want, not just extinguish what you don’t.
5. The Supermarket Meltdown: A Tangible Lesson
• If a tantrum gets candy, it’ll happen again.
• “We accidentally teach that screaming = Snickers.”
• Instead: preempt, praise good behavior, offer alternatives.
6. Faye Miah: Vietnamese-American SLP on Global Access & Advocacy
• Came to the U.S. for speech therapy training due to lack of resources in Vietnam.
• “Operation Smile inspired me. There was no formal SLP training at home.”
• Uses her adult oncology experience to help parents focus on health, not stigma.
7. Telehealth Speech Therapy Post-Pandemic
• The upside: Parents are now more involved and educated.
• “You get to see how the child performs in their natural environment.”
• The challenge: Too much parent prompting during evaluations.
8. From Cancer Institute to Pediatrics: A Shift in Perspective
• Helped adults regain speech after vocal box removal.
• “It’s not just therapy—it’s psychological. You lose what you took for granted.”
• Now uses that empathy to guide pediatric families through early diagnosis denial.
9. Filmmaker Jerry Rothwell on ‘The Reason I Jump’
• Inspired by Naoki Higashida’s book on non-speaking autism.
• “The goal was to make a cinematic equivalent of a sensory world.”
• Filming in India, Sierra Leone, and the U.S. with a 360-degree soundscape.
10. Why We Need to Presume Competence
• Non-speaking ≠ non-thinking.
• “Imagine having thoughts you can’t express—and the world assumes you have none.”
• Sensory overwhelm, social misunderstanding, and isolation are recurring themes.
TAKEAWAYS
For Parents:
• If your child chews on everything, don’t just stop them—offer alternatives that meet the same need.
• The goal of therapy isn’t to label—it’s to help your child get the support they need.
• Behavior is communication. Look beneath the surface and ask: what is my child trying to tell me?
For Clinicians & Aspiring Therapists:
• Sensory diets must fit into real life. If it’s too complicated, no one will use it.
• Punishment doesn’t teach—it only suppresses. Embed learning in play and routines.
• Global SLPs face major access barriers—use your privilege and voice to advocate.
For Everyone Working With Kids:
• Communication is more than words—it’s effort, environment, and empathy.
• Filmmaking, therapy, and parenting all work better when you ask a question—not assume an answer.
• Every child has their own rainstorm moment. Try to hear it how they hear it.
About All About Kids:
AAK, the leading provider of children’s therapeutic and educational skills in New York. Their team of experts offer diagnostic evaluations as well as direct and consultative behavioral intervention services to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. After comprehensive assessment, each child has a portfolio or program book designed specifically to meet his or her individualized needs. The quality of our ABA services are closely monitored through program and field supervision as well as ongoing consultation by BCBA’s/BCaBA’s, and Experienced Team Leaders.
Click here for a link to comprehensive educational and support resources. Previous podcast episodes and more information about All About Kids is available here.
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