In this episode of Everyday ABA, the hosts explore the transition from high school to military enlistment through the lens of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Listeners will learn about the ASVAB, how to choose the right military branch, and the step-by-step process of enlisting. The episode offers actionable ABA strategies like goal setting, reinforcement, and behavior chains to help teens build habits and stay motivated. Designed for high school graduates, parents, educators, and future service members, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the path to military life.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EveryDayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate by click this LINK

Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings! Buy the Shoes

After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

• Identify key behavioral principles (e.g., goal setting, reinforcement, motivating operations) as they apply to preparing for military enlistment.
• Describe how each step involved in transitioning from high school to military service can be supported using applied behavior analysis (ABA).
• Evaluate how support systems and environmental variables impact motivation and follow-through in high-stakes behavioral transitions.

References:

• College Vine Expert. (2025, June 17). High school to military transition: Statistics? CollegeVine.
• Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson Education Inc.
• GoArmy. (2025, July 13). Understanding the ASVAB.
• Keyworth, C., Epton, T., Goldthorpe, J., Calam, R., & Armitage, C. J. (2020). Delivering opportunistic behavior change interventions: A systematic review of systematic reviews. Prevention Science, 21(3), 319–331.
• Military.com. (2014, November 16). Getting the scoop on MEPS.
• Military.com. (2025, June 19). Join the military: Steps to joining the military.

In this episode of Everyday ABA, host Paola Ortiz (BCBA), along with RBTs Brittanny and Leslie, sit down with Armando Bernal, a neurodivergent BCBA for a candid conversation about the negativity, criticism, and the ongoing controversy surrounding Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Armando shares his personal journey with an autism diagnosis, the power of parental support, and how evolving perceptions of ABA have been shaped by social media, public discourse, and lived experience. Together, they unpack both the valid concerns and harmful practices associated with ABA’s history, while also highlighting where the field is growing. The discussion emphasizes the importance of consent, community engagement, and understanding behavior as communication, while also addressing the value of autistic voices in clinical spaces, and the need for transparency and ethical reform in behavior therapy.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EveryDayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate HERE

Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings Shoes! Click Here To BUY!

After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

• Compare historical practices in early ABA with contemporary ethical guidelines emphasizing reinforcement and assent.
• Define assent and self-advocacy practices in ABA and describe strategies for supporting autonomy in clients.
• Evaluate the importance of social validity and person-centered goal selection for aligning ABA practice with neurodiversity-affirming care.
• Identify evidence-based practices that emphasize parent involvement and collaboration to enhance client outcomes in ABA treatment.

References:

Bearss, K., Johnson, C., Smith, T., & Lecavalier, L. (2015). Effect of parent training vs parent education on behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA, 313(15), 1524–1533.

Eaves, L. C., & Ho, H. H. (2008). Young adult outcome of autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(4), 739–747.

Leaf, J. B., Cihon, J. H., Ferguson, J. L., Milne, C. M., Leaf, R., McEachin, J., & Ross, R. K. (2022). Contemporary ABA and the good behavior therapist: Changing with the times. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15, 1–15.

Schreibman, L., Dawson, G., Stahmer, A. C., Landa, R., Rogers, S. J., McGee, G. G., Kasari, C., Ingersoll, B., Kaiser, A. P., Bruinsma, Y., McNerney, E. K., Wetherby, A., & Halladay, A. (2015). Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions: Empirically validated treatments for autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(8), 2411–2428.

👤 Guest Expert:

Armando Bernal is a neurodivergent board certified behavior analyst. Armando is also the founder of Autism International Consulting, PLLC, a self-advocacy-centered organization which provides in-home ABA, in-clinic ABA, and international consultation. He provides autistic consultation, parent and therapist consultation, speaking engagements for companies across the nation, and supervision and mentorship to other BCBAs and therapists. He is also the distributor of the podcast, “A Different Path.” He hopes to spread awareness and acceptance of autism by interviewing and sharing the stories of other individuals with autism. Armando has also participated in several collaborations with Vanderbilt University and the Suny Empire State University meant to further support self-advocacy and independence for individuals with autism.

Listen to his podcast A Different Path

His company https://www.autismintl.com/

In this episode of Everyday ABA, Paola, Leslie, and Brittanny break down how to use applied behavior analysis (ABA) to help students transition successfully from high school to college. They share real-life strategies for parents, students, and educators to build independence, manage time, stay motivated, and avoid common pitfalls of college life. Learn how self-monitoring, reinforcement, and creating supportive environments can make the college experience less stressful and more successful for young adults.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your FREE CEU certificate HERE

Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings! Buy The Shoes!

After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

• Identify common environmental and social variables that impact college students’ independent functioning and describe how to modify them using ABA strategies.
• Explain the concept of person–environment fit and how it relates to successful behavioral outcomes for young adults in new educational settings.
• Develop examples of behavior contracts, self-monitoring systems, or reinforcement schedules that promote study habits, time management, and independence in college students.
• Analyze the role of social support systems and how they interact with individual behavior to prevent dropout and promote mental health continuity during the transition to college.
• Demonstrate how to teach and fade prompts effectively to build independent living skills for adolescents before they enter college.

References:

• Cirillo, Francesco. The Pomodoro Technique: The Acclaimed Time-Management System That Has Transformed How We Work. Crown Currency, 2018.
• Cooper, J.O., Heron, T.E., & Heward, W.L. (2020). Applied Behavior Analysis, Third Edition. Pearson Education Inc. Sprick, R. S., & Baldwin, K.
• Frederick, L. D., Deitz,S.M., Bryceland,J.A., & Hummel,J.H. (2000). Behavior Analysis, Education, and Effective Schooling. Context Press/New Haringer Publications.
• Geller, L. L., & Greenberg, M. (2009). Managing the Transition Process From High School to College and Beyond: Challenges for Individuals, Families, and Society. Social Work in Mental Health, 8(1), 92–116.

In this episode of EveryDay ABA, hosts Paola (BCBA) and Leslie (RBT) talk with special guest BCBA, Kassandra, author, and founder of The Guiding Circle. Kassandra shares how she helps parents of neurodivergent children shift from survival mode to thriving by embracing the radical idea that self-care is not optional. You’ll learn why focusing on the family system creates sustainable change, how to anchor emotional regulation in daily routines, and how to navigate guilt and social pressure. The conversation dives into cross-cultural research on spanking, co-parenting strategies, and practical ABA hacks to transform your family dynamic. Listeners will leave with real-life strategies, research-backed insights, and a renewed commitment to caring for themselves — because when parents are supported, the entire family thrives.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate HERE

By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to:

• Define the distinction between traditional ABA parent training and parent-focused coaching models.
• Describe the impact of parent emotional regulation on child behavior and family dynamics.
• Apply the concept of “anchors” to help parents generalize self-regulation skills.
• Analyze how social and generational expectations influence parental guilt and behavior.

References:

Bearss, K., Johnson, C., Smith, T., & Lecavalier, L. (2015). Effect of parent training vs parent education on behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Medical Association, 313(15), 1524–1533.

Deater-Deckard, K., & Dodge, K. A. (1997). Externalizing behavior problems and discipline revisited: Nonlinear effects and variation by culture, context, and gender. Psychological Inquiry, 8(3), 161–175.

Hayes, S. A., & Watson, S. L. (2013). The impact of parenting stress: A meta-analysis of studies comparing the experience of parenting stress in parents of children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(3), 629–642.

Lorber, M. F. (2012). The role of maternal emotion regulation in overreactive and lax discipline. Journal of Family Psychology, 26(4), 642–647.

👤 Guest Expert:

Kassandra is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), author, and founder of The Guiding Circle — a leading coaching community dedicated to supporting parents of autistic children. With over five years of experience in applied behavior analysis and a career that began as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), Kassandra has empowered more than 100 families to move beyond survival mode toward lasting connection, calm, and confidence. Her autism coaching approach combines clinical expertise with empathy-driven strategies designed to help parents feel supported, reduce stress, and improve family well-being.

Follow Her on IG @PromptPath

Sign up for Consulting https://www.promptpathconsulting.com/guiding-circle

This week Paola (BCBA) along with Leslie and Brittanny (RBTs) unpack how prompts and prompt fading work in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to build true independence at home, school, or work. We break down what prompts really are, why they matter, and how using the right prompting strategies can guide behavior toward success. You’ll hear real-life examples of how to apply ABA prompting and fading in daily routines, like morning checklists, brushing teeth, taking vitamins, and even workplace habits. We also dive into the science of stimulus control and reinforcement, so you understand how to fade prompts the right way and avoid prompt dependence. If you want practical ABA strategies to help kids, students, or adults respond to natural cues (not constant reminders) this episode is for you.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate by clicking HERE!

After listening to this episode, participants will be able to:

• Explain how stimulus prompts operate on antecedent stimuli to increase the likelihood of correct responding. Explain the concept of prompt dependency and describe how overuse or failure to fade prompts can interfere with the development of stimulus control
• Describe how the principle of stimulus control applies to prompt fading, including how to arrange antecedents and reinforce independent responding to promote generalization and maintenance.
• Develop an example plan for prompt fading in a common daily routine or social situation, demonstrating how to match the appropriate fading strategy to the learner’s skill level while maintaining efficient skill acquisition.

Reference:

• Cengher, M., Budd, A., Farrell, N. et al. A Review of Prompt-Fading Procedures: Implications for Effective and Efficient Skill Acquisition. J Dev Phys Disabil 30, 155–173 (2018).
• Cooper, J.O., Heron, T.E., & Heward, W.L. ((2020). Applied Behavior Analysis, Third Edition. Pearson Education Inc. Sprick, R. S., & Baldwin, K.
• Mcdonnell, John & Ferguson, Brad. (1989). A comparison of time delay and decreasing prompt hierarchy strategies in teaching banking skills to students with moderate handicaps. Journal of applied behavior analysis. 22. 85-91. 10.1901/jaba.1989.22-85.
• Schnell, L.K., Cengher, M., Kisamore, A.N. (2023). Prompt and Prompt-Fading Procedures. In: Matson, J.L. (eds) Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham.

In this episode of Everyday ABA, host Paola Ortiz and co-hosts Leslie and Brittanny sit down with intuitive human design guide Lauren Oberly Pearlingi to explore how Human Design and behavior analysis can work together to help people understand themselves, break old patterns, and create meaningful change. They dive into what Human Design is, how it combines quantum physics, astrology, and ancient systems, and how it can be used alongside ABA concepts to improve emotional regulation, self-trust, and everyday decision-making. The conversation touches on recognizing frustration or bitterness as cues for behavior shifts, the role of intuition in personal growth, and practical ways to use your unique design to strengthen relationships, parenting, and coping skills. Tune in to learn how blending science and spirituality through Human Design can help you live with more alignment, purpose, and self-awareness.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate by clicking THIS

After listening to this episode, participants will be able to:

• Define Human Design and explain its core components in the context of individual differences and private events within Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
• Describe how Human Design concepts can be framed as potential motivating operations (MOs) or discriminative stimuli (SDs) that influence observable behavior and reinforcement effectiveness.
• Identify strategies to assess clients’ private events, such as feelings of frustration or bitterness, and translate these into measurable, observable behaviors aligned with behavior analytic practice.
• Analyze ways to adapt reinforcement systems and intervention plans by accounting for individual learner profiles, drawing parallels to tailoring supports for diverse clients and cultural responsiveness.

References:

• Hanley, G. P., Iwata, B. A., & Thompson, R. H. (2007). Reinforcement Schedule Thinning Following Treatment with Functional Communication Training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.
• Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Experiential Approach to Behavior Change.
• Skinner, B. F. (1974). About Behaviorism.

Lauren Oberly Pearlingi, an Intuitive Human Design biz guide, Trauma Healer, Theta Reiki Master, Mediation Coach, Author, Motivational Speaker, and Shamanic Practitioner. She helps women with multifaceted trauma liberate themselves from their past and go from victim to victor. She focuses on sharing human design (which explains the mysteries of life) in a way that’s simple, practical, and usable. She believes that every woman has a unique purpose and gift to share with the world, and they are here to help each other tap into that inner wisdom and courage to live a life of meaning and fulfillment.

Get your FREE Human Design & 30 min session: https://linktr.ee/themermaidlight

Listen to her podcast: Enlightened Misfits Podcast

Follow Her on: Facebook

Tiktok Instagram

YouTube

This week, EveryDay ABA explores how TAGteach and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles transform skill development in sports, education, and beyond. Your three favorite hosts break down how Teaching with Acoustical Guidance (TAGteach) uses positive reinforcement and auditory markers to shape behavior, enhance performance, and promote generalization. Listeners will hear real-life examples from basketball coaching and other high-performance settings, discovering how immediate, precise feedback reduces verbal prompts and fosters learner independence. The episode highlights practical strategies for coaches, behavior analysts, and educators to apply evidence-based techniques that improve teamwork, communication, and skill mastery.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate HERE!

Buy the Tiny Explorings Shoes HERE

By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to:

1. Participants will be able to define and explain the application of TAGteach in sports coaching.
2. Participants will be able to implement ABA principles such as reinforcement, task analysis, and group contingencies in athletic training.
3. Participants will be able to develop strategies to implement evidence-based behavioral coaching techniques in team and individual sports settings.

References:

1. Dixon, M., Lorenz, K., Bolter, N., & Turner, M. (2023). Examining coaches’ instructional behavior in response to challenge and threat feedback. Journal of Sport Behavior, 46(1), 112–123.
2. Doyle, P. (2019). The effects of TAGteach™ on the execution of resistance training movements. [Master's Thesis, Temple University]. Temple University Theses and Dissertations.
3. Fogel, V., St. Peter, C. C., & Miltenberger, R. G. (2010). Evaluating the efficacy of TAGteach as a training strategy for teaching a golf swing. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43(2), 271–281.
4. Miller, M. E., & Doughty, K. A. (2014). The use of contingent acoustical feedback to decrease toe walking in a young child. Behavioral Interventions, 29(1), 75–88.
5. Smith, R. E., Smoll, F. L., & Cumming, S. P. (2007). Coaching the coaches: Youth sports as a scientific and applied behavioral setting. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 40(4), 852–856.

In this episode of EveryDay ABA, Dr. David Moore joins BCBA Paola and RBT Leslie to bridge the gap between neuroscience, breathwork, and behavioral science. You’ll learn how heart-brain coherence and heart rate variability (HRV) can be tracked to measure stress and resilience, and why your emotions drive your health outcomes. Discover how intentional breathwork, like elliptical breathing, goes beyond basic box breathing to retrain your autonomic nervous system for optimal wellness. Whether you’re working with PTSD, hypervigilance, sleep disruption, or burnout, this episode gives you actionable strategies to help clients (and yourself!) regulate stress and rewire for resilience.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EveryDayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate HERE

By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to:

• Identify at least two breathwork techniques and explain how they impact heart rate variability.
• Compare systematic desensitization within behavior analysis to breathwork for resilience-building.
• Discuss ethical considerations for BCBAs when integrating breathwork practices into treatment plans.

References:

Craske, M. G., Treanor, M., Conway, C. C., Zbozinek, T., & Vervliet, B. (2008). Maximizing exposure therapy: An inhibitory learning approach. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 46(1), 5–27.

Kazdin, A. E., & Rabbitt, S. M. (2013). Novel models for delivering mental health services and reducing the burdens of mental illness. Clinical Psychological Science, 1(2), 170–191.

McCraty, R., & Shaffer, F. (2015). Heart rate variability: New perspectives on physiological mechanisms, assessment of self-regulatory capacity, and health risk. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 4(1), 46–61.

Thayer, J. F., Åhs, F., Fredrikson, M., Sollers, J. J., III, & Wager, T. D. (2012). A meta-analysis of heart rate variability and neuroimaging studies: Implications for heart rate variability as a marker of stress and health. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 36(2), 747–756.

Wolpe, J. (1958). Psychotherapy by reciprocal inhibition. Stanford University Press.

Dr. David Moore

A chiropractor turned nervous system coach and educator who has discovered that the secret to rewiring stress lies in your breath. After 25+ years in chiropractic, chronic pain pushed him to explore HeartMath and heart-brain coherence. Now, through his Brain Body Breathing method, Dr. Dave blends science and measurable data with simple breathwork to help high-achievers calm anxiety, build resilience, and rewire their nervous system for lasting change.

Watch him on YouTube

Follow Him on IG: @bestlifedr OR LinkedIn

Join his course: Brain/Body Breathing Academy