94: The One About Play-Based Behavioral Interventions with Liz Willis

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In this episode, I am joined by Liz Willis, a pediatric speech-language pathologist and behavior analyst in Morris County, NJ. Liz has worked with children with a wide range of needs, including developmental disabilities, speech articulation and phonological disorders, apraxia of speech, and language delays. She has extensive experience in working with children with autism and other complex communication needs. In her work with children with autism, Liz was exposed to the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She witnessed firsthand the effectiveness of ABA with her clients, which led her to pursue certification to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Liz enjoys working closely with parents and families to promote generalization and maximize progress for the children with whom she works. She provides family-centered direct therapy services and also offers parent and caregiver training on a variety of topics within the area of speech, language, and behavior.

Topics/Questions:

1. How to promote social engagement with early learners with autism

2. Utilizing a naturalistic, play-based behavioral approach to teaching speech and language

3. Tips for encouraging direction following for children with behavioral challenges

4. The importance of following a developmental approach when setting goals and teaching

Links:

Website