The BYS Autism Podcast
Welcome to the BY YOUR SIDE Autism Podcast!
BYS - Autism Therapy Services podcast is an interview show featuring open and honest conversations with therapists, parents, educators, authors, and experts from the autism community. BYS provides therapeutic services in three different environments (in-center, in-home, school-based) in Northern IL and Atlanta, GA's Northeast suburbs offering ABA, Speech, and Occupational Therapy. The BYS podcast topics include therapy tips, coping skills, ideas, strategies, and candid conversations from parents who live with autism in their lives.
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BYS 040: From Nonspeaking Autistic Child to Professional Speaker
Released: September 15, 2021
Dr. Kerry Magro is autistic and also a force in his community. His journey started as a nonverbal child and he has grown into an award-winning professional speaker, best-selling author, movie consultant, mentor, and non-profit founder. He cares deeply for individuals with autism and his personable and compassionate communication style provides a multitude of insights into an autistic child growing to adulthood. In this interview, Kerry addresses what he calls a parent’s million-dollar question, “What will happen to my child when I’m gone?” Dr. Magro has published best-selling books including such titles: Defining Autism from the Heart, and Autism and Falling in Love: The One that Got Away, and several others. He has given TedTalks on the topics of what happens when children with autism become adults and their path to college. We hope you enjoy this podcast. To learn more about Kerry, simply search him on YouTube or visit his website at http://kerrymagro.com/
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BYS 039: Multidisciplinary Collaboration / Our Top 5 TV Shows
Released: August 30, 2021
Hear what the BYS therapy leaders from ABA, Speech, and OT have to say about their best practices for collaboration and a multidisciplinary therapy approach for children with autism. Useful tips for parents, therapists, and teachers. We also provide a countdown of our Top 5 TV shows over the past year.
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BYS 038: Back to School / Top 5 Vintage Video Games
Released: August 17, 2021
Brett Balduf is the principal at Carpenter Elementary School in Park Ridge. We take a look back at the 2020 school year and the lessons learned for the upcoming year. This episode includes a new segment, where Brett and I provide our top 5 list of the Best Vintage Video Games for TV Systems.
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BYS 037: How to Help with Communication
Released: May 7, 2021
Brittany, a Speech-Language Pathologist with BY YOUR SIDE, discusses best practices for communication and helping your child. The conversation begins with one of the most asked and complicated questions we get from parents… "When will my child talk?"
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BYS 036: Dr. Temple Grandin - Three Different Types of Thinkers
Released: July 22, 2020
Dr. Temple Grandin is worried we are not utilizing all the different types of minds. She wants us to identify and developed our thinkers; and the business world needs to do a better job putting teams together of all the different type of thinkers. She once again brings her passion and her no-nonsense approach on what we need to do to develop our children.
Dr. Grandin is the author of multiple books including, The Autistic Brain, Thinking in Pictures, and this past April revised her book The Way I See It. She is also doing a series of webinars in conjunction with Future Horizons. To register go to FHAustim.com
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BYS 035: I'm More than Just His Mom
Released: March 20, 2020
Jen Ivey, parent of four kids, including a 12-year-old on the spectrum, offers what it's been like over the past 12 years of dealing with Mitchell's autism, raising her other three kids, keeping her marriage together, and more.
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BYS 034: Structure of ABA Therapy
Released: February 17, 2020
Unlike other therapies, ABA is a tiered system. So, what is the role of a BCBA, BT, and RBT? How many components make up ABA therapy? How important is parent training? What are the ethical boundaries between parents and BCBAs? Sami Baker, BCBA and Director of ABA Delivery at BYS, gives an informative interview discussing all the components that, when put together, is ABA therapy.
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BYS 033: SIB on Stage
Released: August 26, 2019
Playwright and actor Jessica Cavanagh turns her personal story about her dealing with her son's autism, into a stage production called Self-Injurious Behavior, making its world premiere in North Hollywood.
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BYS 032: Anna Kalinowski-Kluzik
Released: May 22, 2018
We have always known that parents who have children on the spectrum are special people. Yet, we sometimes forget that our parents are facing battles outside of the autism world. Anna Kalinowski-Kluzik is a single mom, has two children on the spectrum, and is currently battling cancer. She talks about her love for life, her love of music, and her love for her children. A true inspiration.
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BYS 031: A Principal Talks Education and Learning
Released: February 19, 2018
Brett Balduf is the younger brother of BYS’s President Brad Balduf. Brett is the principle at Carpenter school – grades K through 5th - in Park Ridge IL. Mr. Balduf’s career started as a social worker and he has always been a proponent of rethinking how we look at education. He has great insight for any parent looking for best practices educating their child both at school and at home. In this episode we discuss: Do grades and classrooms designs need to be rethought? Why kids needs goals. Mr. Balduf gives an insight to the teachers of today. We discusses fidgets, standing desks, and more.
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BYS 030 A 67-Year-Old Learns He Has Autism
Released: February 5, 2018
Garret and MaryAnne Mathews give an honest look into their marriage of 38 years with Garret recently finding out he's on the spectrum. In what ends up both answering questions and yet bringing up new questions. They use this recent discovery to try and help others who may going through a similar situation.
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BYS 028 SibShops
Released: June 19, 2017
Six BYS therapists went to the official SibShops training where they learned how to facilitate a workshop for kids who have a sibling with special needs. Hear these therapists talk about what kids can expect during the workshop, the benefits of giving these kids their own time, and first-hand accounts of being someone who has a sibling with special needs.
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BYS 027 Sensory friendly stage productions
Released: June 5, 2017
Leslie Shook has worked as the theatre manager for The DePaul Theatre School in Chicago since 1982 and is responsible developing audiences of more than 35,000 people at DePaul’s Merle Reskin Theatre each season. One show of DePaul’s Theatre School’s production of Cinderella was turned into a sensory friendly performance. Leslie talks about theatre and it’s importance to children, plus she discusses what goes into and what can be done with sensory performances.
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Show NotesBYS 026 Gaining cooperation from your child
Released: May. 15, 2017
Brian Katz, BCBA, breaks down in detail an article about gaining instructional control from your child. Brian talks about methods and prompts that will help parents with their child to act more independently. He focuses on the concept of positive parenting. A must listen for those seeking guidance in getting their child to respond to their requests.
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Show NotesBYS 025 Dr. Temple Grandin
Released: Jan. 9, 2017
Dr. Grandin’s passion is in full force as she clearly defines what parents and kids need to be doing and how to prepare for the next stage of their lives. Her philosophy of “Mentors are attracted to talent” offers as a great reminder of getting kids “doing” things that fit their ability.
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Show NotesBYS 024 Brian and Matthew: Explaining ABA
Released: Nov. 21, 2016
Brian Katz and Matthew Zaffos are both BCBAs at BY YOUR SIDE. In this week’s episode, they discuss their strong views on topics such as, parent training and early intervention, and explain how they are passionate that these are the keys to a child’s success.
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Show Notes
BYS 023 An Insightful Perspective of Speech Language Pathologists
Released: Oct. 10, 2016
This week, we speak with two BY YOUR SIDE Speech Language Pathologists; Natalie Halm and Susan Theis. They discuss the importance of playtime as a family and how the Speech Pathologists work with the ABA team to tackle some of the issues.
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Show Notes
BYS 022 - Anita Lomax Discussing What We Heard
Released: Sept. 2, 2016
We do something a little differently in today’s episode. We review with a behavioral specialist, the interview we did with Andrew Blaha, a teenager on the spectrum. Anita and I break down what Andrew talked about and we discuss it from a professional angle.
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Show Notes
BYS 021 Andrew Blaha: A 19 Year-Old with Autism. Part 2
Released: July 18, 2016
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BYS 020 Andrew Blaha: A 19 Year-Old with Autism. Part 1
Released: June 14, 2016
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BYS0 019 Laura Mahlmeister BCBA, Sr. Manager of ABA Therapy (North)
Released: May 17, 2016
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BYS018 Nick Johne: Second City Teacher: Improv and Autism
Released: April 18, 2016
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BYS017 Samantha Mitchell: Occupational Therapy
Released: March 16, 2016
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BYS 016 Caitlin Dalton: Navigating through an IEP
Released: February 8, 2016
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BYS 015 Julie Stretch: Parent of a child on the spectrum talks about how they found ABA.
Released: January 25, 2016
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BYS 014 Senior Manager of ABA Ginny Nikiforos, LCSW & BCBA talks about: What is ABA?
Released: January 11, 2016
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BYS 013 ABA Therapists with a Brother on the Spectrum
Released: December 23, 2015
An emotional and a poignant interview with three of BY YOUR SIDE’s ABA therapists, each who have a younger brother with autism. Alex, Lizzie, and Natalija give their insights to being in a profession that hits close to home.
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Show Notes
BYS Podcast 012 Lianne Paterson: Parent
Released: November 23, 2015
Lianne Paterson is a parent with a child on the spectrum and gives an open look into how her son's diagnoses changed her as a person, parent, and wife. Lianne's insight into her world ranges from dinner time, damaged furniture, and sleepless nights.
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Show Notes
BYS Podcast 011 Katurri Phillips: BCBA - Transitions
Released: November 2, 2015
Preparation is your friend. Katurri walks us through an example of dealing with a situation where you go to the grocery store and your child is not ready to come out of the car. Katurri goes into specific details on how to handle difficult behaviors when it comes to a child needing guidance going places.
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BYS Podcast 010 The BY YOUR SIDE Community Outreach Team
Released: October 23, 2015
The BYS Community Outreach Team - Tom Trimingham, Nimra Irfan, and Kimberly Childs talk about what it is like working for a therapy services business in a non-therapist role. They discuss what surprises them, what they have learned, and how they work within the local community to help spread the message about the value of the different therapies that BYS offers.
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Show Notes
BYS Podcast 009 Sandie Beierwaltes - Parent of a child with autism
Released: October 5, 2015
Sandie Beierwaltes has been teaching elementary school for 29 years at St. John Brebeuf in Niles IL. Sandie and her husband Dave have three children. Their youngest son Michael is on the on spectrum. Michael is now 15 and the Beierwaltes’s have been on this journey for over a decade. Sandie shares the challenges and the joys that they experienced along the way.
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Show Notes
BYS Podcast 008 Karen Kabaki-Sisto, M.S., CCC-SLP - Founder of Autism Breakthrough Solutions
Released: September 14, 2015
What common characteristic of autism are parents and doctors quick to dismiss?
In episode number eight, we have the pleasure to talk with Karen Kabaki-Sisto, M.S., CCC-SLP. She has been helping children with autism all over the world for 20 years. Karen is the founder of Autism Breakthrough Solutions and creator of “I Can Have Conversations With You!™”, an interactive iPad program that enhances social skills and language abilities.
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BYS Podcast 007 Sarah Henderson - Occupational Therapist
Released: September 1, 2015
Sarah is a licensed and board certified occupational therapist. Since graduating from Saint Ambrose University she has worked with children in outpatient clinics and schools. Sarah is one of our therapists in both the school and our clinic.
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Show Notes
BYS 006 - Cindy Zinzer - Parent
Released: August 17, 2015
Cindy has a 9 year old daughter who has been dealing with seizures her whole life. Cindy talks about a very scary moment in the middle of the night where her daughter was having an episode, and a touching insight when her other daughter wrote a paper for school about her sister seizures, a feeling Cindy never knew until she finished reading the assignment.
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Show Notes
BYS 005 - Julie Martin - Transitions
Released: August 3, 2015
Julie Martin is the center director, as well as the lead SLP and BCBA, of BY YOUR SIDE autism center. In this episode, we spend the full podcast discussing why it’s sometimes difficult for a child to transition from one place to another and tips on how those transitions can be made easier. The conversation moves into the topic of change, which as Julie points out, is the same as transition, yet can have its own set of challenges.
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Show Notes
BYS 004 - Eunice McConville- Parent of a child with autism.
Released: Jul 20, 2015
Eunice has been taking her child to BY YOUR SIDE for over 4 years and has become the parent that we send other parents to talk to if they have questions about having a child of the spectrum. Eunice tells us of her low points and how community involvement has been one of the best moves she’s made.
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Show Notes
BYS 003 - Theresa Petru- Speech-Language Pathologist
Released: Jul 6, 2015
Theresa is a certified licensed Speech-Language Pathologist holding a Master’s of Science from Governor’s State University. Prior to working at BY YOUR SIDE Theresa gained extensive experience working with children with a variety of speech-language disorders including Autism in both public and private school settings. Theresa has received training in PECS, Kaufman Protocol for Children with Apraxia, Stanley Greenspan’s Floortime/DIR model, and S.O.S. feeding.
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Show Notes
002 Jen Ivey: A Parent of a child with autism
Released: Jun 26, 2015
Jen starts the show with a story of her neighbor’s misguided attempt of "helping" by calling DCFS on them, an act that could lead to having Jen’s children taken away. Jen discusses not being afraid of putting it out there that your child is on the spectrum. How her group of friends became smaller, but how smaller is better. And Jen gives us honest insight to why she has a difficult time reading success stories.
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Show Notes
001 Julie Martin: BCBA - SLP - Center Director of BY YOUR SIDE
Released: Jun 25, 2015
Julie Martin is the center director, as well as the lead SLP and BCBA, of BY YOUR SIDE Autism Center. In today’s podcasts, Julie covers basic topics about how a BCBA's job is finding out the “why” in the Child's behavior and what is happening when a child with autism is having a meltdown. Julie also leaves us with a tip on what parents can be doing more of with their child.
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