When you move from treatment rooms to team meetings, everything changes, including how you show up as a BCBA.

In this episode, I talk with Shalini Solomon about her transition from clinic-based ABA to working as a school-based BCBA. If you’ve worked in both settings like I have, you know they are completely different worlds. In a clinic, you’re often running sessions. In a school, you’re collaborating, coaching, and translating ABA into language that makes sense to teachers and administrators.

Shalini shares what helped her navigate that shift, from simplifying behavior intervention plans so they actually work in busy classrooms to minimizing jargon and building buy-in with staff. We also talk about why understanding IDEA, IEPs, FAPE, and district systems is critical if you’re stepping into a school role, especially if you’re one of the first BCBAs in your district.

We also discuss her journey toward earning a doctorate in behavioral health and the importance of leadership, mentorship, and representation in our field. It’s an honest, practical conversation for anyone considering or currently navigating a school-based BCBA role.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• Key differences between clinic-based and school-based BCBA roles
• How to create simple, usable behavior intervention plans
• Why policy knowledge and role clarity matter in schools
• Representation and advocacy in the ABA field

Mentioned In This Episode:

Elevate & Align Behavior
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home

Starting your own practice does not have to mean doing it all alone.

In today’s episode, I sat down with Bukhtar Khan, co-founder and CEO of Finni Health, to talk honestly about what it really looks like to start and grow an independent ABA practice. We talked about the fears BCBAs often have around finances, insurance, staffing, and burnout, and how Finni Health is built to support clinicians who want autonomy without sacrificing stability or ethics.

Bukhtar shares the heart behind Finni Health and why their work is so focused on reducing stress for clinicians, protecting quality care, and helping providers build sustainable practices that align with their “why.” If you have ever thought about starting your own clinic but felt overwhelmed by the logistics, this conversation will give you clarity, reassurance, and a realistic look at what support can look like.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• The most common concerns BCBAs have about starting their own practice
• How Finni Health supports clinicians with operations, billing, staffing, and compliance
• The balance between entrepreneurship and financial security
• Why knowing your “why” matters more than knowing every step

Mentioned In This Episode:

Finni Health
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home

Stepping into your first leadership role can feel overwhelming, and navigating autism services as a parent can feel even harder, even when you’re already in the field.

In this episode, I sat down with Rayni McMahon for a powerful conversation about leadership, advocacy, and what happens when your professional world and personal life collide. We talked about what it really feels like to move from clinician to administrator, why so many professionals feel unprepared for leadership roles, and the one thing that can make that transition feel more manageable. Rayni shared practical, honest insights about mentorship, managing people, setting boundaries, and learning to lead with both confidence and compassion.

We also spent time talking about advocacy from a deeply personal lens. Rayni opened up about her experience as a BCBA navigating the system as a parent of an autistic child and how being “in the know” did not make accessing services easier. Her perspective highlights just how complex and exhausting the system can be, even for professionals, and why empathy, persistence, and advocacy matter so much for families.

This conversation is thoughtful, relatable, and full of takeaways for anyone who is stepping into leadership, supporting teams, or advocating for children and families within our field.

#autism #speechtherapy

What’s Inside:

• How to navigate the transition from clinician to leader without burning out
• Why mentorship and leadership support are critical in growing organizations
• The realities of advocating for autism services, even as a professional
• Lessons on balancing leadership, boundaries, and empathy

Mentioned In This Episode:
Virtue Healthcare Consulting
Rayni Brindley McMahon on LinkedIn
Earn CEUs with a community of peers. Join the ABA Speech Connection
ABA Speech: Home