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ABA on Tap is proud to present Jennifer Kraft (Part 2 of 2):

A single line in the wrong plan can change a child’s whole trajectory: “increase compliance.” We dig into what it looks like to replace that mindset with support that actually removes barriers, starting with augmentative and alternative communication and the broader world of assistive technology.

We talk with Jennifer Kraft about why you are never too young or too old to start AAC, and why it is devastating when someone only gets the right device and the right team in adulthood. We walk through the practical reality of access, including the IEP process, insurance requirements, and how SLPs and physicians often become the documentation gatekeepers for prescriptions and funding. If you have ever searched “how to get an AAC device,” “assistive technology evaluation,” or “AAC through Medicaid,” you will leave with a clearer picture of what to ask for and where to look.

Then we zoom out past speech devices into everyday assistive technology that changes lives: weighted bowls and spoons, pencil grips and slant boards, hearing supports, magnification tools, adapted computer mice, and the creative problem solving mindset behind it all. From there, we get real about school-based ABA consultation: building rapport with teachers, setting boundaries, observing the whole classroom system, picking targets that can actually work in a busy environment, and navigating the hard truth that sometimes school politics override good data.

If you care about neuro-affirming ABA, assent and safety, and helping clients become who they are, not who someone else thinks they should be, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review with your biggest AAC or school collaboration question.

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ABA on Tap is proud to present Jennifer Kraft (Part 1 of 2):

AAC is everywhere right now, but too many people still treat it like a gadget instead of a voice. Mike and Dan sit down with Jennifer Kraft, a longtime special educator, assistive technology specialist, and BCBA, about what actually makes augmentative and alternative communication work in the real world and what goes wrong when devices get handed out without true assessment, training, or follow-through.

Jennifer shares a career journey that spans early intervention, life skills classrooms, ed tech facilitation, and behavioral health leadership in Pennsylvania’s evolving system (BHRS to IBHS). Along the way, she gets candid about the ethical pressure points in agency life, what it feels like to walk into a broken organization, and why protecting clients and clinicians sometimes means refusing to play along. That path ultimately leads her to launch her own practice, Krafted Care, and push through licensing and Medicaid barriers that can delay autism services for months.

Then we dig into practical AAC best practices: why AAC does not take away speech, how it can serve as a backup during stress or motor planning challenges, and why modeling matters more than “handing over the device.” We also cover device fit, customizing pages for real routines, separating entertainment screen time from the AAC system, and the nonnegotiable need for constant access and a charged battery.

If you care about ethical ABA, assistive technology, or helping kids and adults communicate with dignity, hit play. Subscribe, share this with your team, and leave a review with your biggest AAC question.

Support the show

🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!

📢 Connect with Us:
🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com
🎧 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap

💡 Support the Show:
☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap
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ABA on Tap is proud to present Kristyn Peterson (Part 2 of 2):

The hardest part of behavior analysis isn’t the data sheet, it’s the human side: how you show up, how you lead, and how you make change feel doable. ABA on Tap is back with Dr. Kristyn Peterson for a candid, practical conversation that connects behavioral artistry to the real-world pressures BCBAs face when business models clash with clinical values. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “making humans do the thing” without believing in the system behind it, you’ll recognize yourself here.

We talk through Kristen’s path from clinical work into OBM-informed consulting, including how she and her team help organizations survive big technology changes by balancing people, process, and technology. You’ll hear concrete ways behavior analysts add value outside autism services: defining what success actually looks like, choosing measurable metrics, and using organizational change management to reduce stress, resistance, and turnover instead of bulldozing people with “because leadership said so.”

Then we go deeper on leadership and sustainability: what it’s like to run a small company, document recommendations when clients won’t follow them, and protect your energy when your job becomes finance, sales calls, and crisis cleanup. Kristyn also breaks down Lean Six Sigma (including Master Black Belt training) and why its maintenance planning can be a model for better fade-out, parent training, and operational systems in ABA. We close with hot takes on culture (stop pretending pizza parties are an intervention), gatekeeping, and how to help BCBAs feel less trapped in a changing field shaped by private equity and regulation.

If this resonates, subscribe, share this with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review so more behavior analysts can find the conversation.

Tune In. Drink Up. And ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY.

Support the show

🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!

📢 Connect with Us:
🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com
🎧 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap

💡 Support the Show:
☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap
🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us

🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content.

🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻