Did you know that the questions we ask children should change as they develop? Asking the right questions at the right time helps children’s communication flourish.

Paula LaSala-Filangeri is a Speech-Language Pathologist who has been supporting children and families for over 25 years.

How can parents move beyond flashcards and start turning everyday routines, like walking in nature or baking a cake, into powerful opportunities for language growth?

Here are a few of the key insights we’ll explore:

💥 Parents as the Primary Language Facilitators

💥 Following Your Child’s Lead & Building on Motivation

💥 Creating Communicative Temptations

💥 Modeling, Not Testing

💥 Building Blocks of Sentences: Nouns + Verbs

💥 The Power of Questions (and the Right Order)

💥 Resources for follow up

Paula holds an Honours degree in Linguistics and a Master of Clinical Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Western University.

With expertise in autism, developmental delay, communication, and literacy, Paula has worked in homes, schools, and community settings, and in 2011 opened a private clinic in her hometown of Leamington. She continues to balance private practice with her role in the public school system.

A passionate educator, Paula has been a guest lecturer for St. Clair College’s Educational Assistant program and an active community volunteer, co-founding initiatives with Autism Ontario’s Windsor-Essex chapter and contributing to her Italian cultural community. A lifelong learner, she enjoys reading, writing, and connecting with others—and remains dedicated to empowering children and families.

To find a registered Speech Language Pathologist or Audiologist: The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario

Contact an SLP to see if they offer telepractice options.

Talk to Me: https://www.connectwithus.ca/talk-2-me/

Children First: https://www.children-first.ca/

John McGivney Children’s Centre: https://jmccentre.ca

The Primary Purpose of This Podcast Is To Educate, Which Does Not Constitute Professional Advice or Services. The Views and Opinions Expressed are Those of The Guests. Their Appearance on The Podcast Does Not Imply Any Endorsement of Them, Their Products, or Their Services.

Connect with Lynn:

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What if we stopped trying to “fix” children and started listening to their souls instead?

Michelle Harris has almost 30 years in the field of healing, well-being, and empowerment. She is the founder of the innovative Draco Dragon System of Healing & Master Healer/Teacher. A trailblazer in the well-being industry, dedicated to empowering individuals (especially women), children, teens, schools, organizations, and businesses, she has a heart-focused approach as the founder of Michelle Harris International.

Michelle is a best-selling author and multiple award winner.

She us to explore what it means to truly see, hear, and honour today’s sensitive, intuitive, and highly evolved children. From conscious parenting to energy healing in schools, Michelle shares a holistic approach that helps children feel safe, empowered, and emotionally aware.

Guest Host Kathryn Collins and Michelle talk about:

💥 Why traditional systems often miss the mark

💥 The impact of soul frequency and energy on a child’s well-being

💥 Empowerment strategies that meet kids where they are

💥 Conscious parenting through boundaries, empathy, and emotional modelling

💥 Consequences instead of punishment

💥 Breathing, visualization, and mindfulness tools kids actually enjoy

💥 How schools can start small and still create big change

This conversation offers a new lens, one that puts connection before correction, and honours the soul behind the behaviour.

More about Michelle: https://www.michelleharrisinternational.com/

The Primary Purpose of This Podcast Is To Educate, Which Does Not Constitute Professional Advice or Services. The Views and Opinions Expressed are Those of The Guests. Their Appearance on The Podcast Does Not Imply Any Endorsement of Them, Their Products, or Their Services.

Connect with Lynn:

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Website: https://lynnmclaughlin.com/

When Elaine Uskoski received a chilling email from her son, she knew something was deeply wrong. He had stopped attending university classes, missed deadlines, was sleeping all day, barely eating, and had been gaming for up to 16 hours a day. What began as a fearful drive to pick him up from campus became the beginning of a life-altering journey, not just for her son’s recovery, but for Elaine’s new purpose: helping families across the world understand and address video gaming addiction.

Now an internationally recognized coach, speaker, and author of Cyber Sober, Elaine joins us to share her story of heartbreak, healing, and hope, offering insight into a modern addiction that many still don’t recognize.

Highlights:

💥 The red flags of gaming addiction

💥 What recovery looked like at home

💥 Why "just take it away" doesn’t work

💥 Who’s most at risk (and why)

💥 What parents and educators can do

💥 Harm reduction strategies and prevention

💥 How Jake is thriving today, and helping others

💥 The modules now available for post secondary schools and residences to raise student awareness

How to reach Elaine: https://eyespyhealth.ca/

The Primary Purpose of This Podcast Is To Educate, Which Does Not Constitute Professional Advice or Services. The Views and Opinions Expressed are Those of The Guests. Their Appearance on The Podcast Does Not Imply Any Endorsement of Them, Their Products, or Their Services.

Connect with Lynn:

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Website: https://lynnmclaughlin.com/

Dr. Teri Rouse holds a doctorate in behaviour management. She is an international speaker, autism reading specialist and creator of the REAL Peaceful Parenting program. She is on a mission to help families and ed build stronger relationships through empathy, empowerment and emotional intelligence. Whether you are navigating tantrums or teacher burnout, Dr. Teri offers real world strategies that are practical, heartfelt and deeply human.

What happens when a seasoned educator and special education expert faces behaviours in her own home that she can’t explain, let alone manage? Join Dr. Teri Rouse, Women Changing the World Award winner, as she shares her journey with her step-son and how it led her to a doctorate in behaviour management.

Dr. Rouse unpacks the emotional and professional challenges educators and parents face today.

💥 We explore her unique BARC system for tracking behaviour.

💥 the importance of asking "What are you feeling now?", and how to co-create a plan that works for both child and adult.

💥 She opens up about her REAL Peaceful Parenting Framework, the power of communication in identifying root issues, and why early intervention is non-negotiable.

💥 From Snuggle Bunny Time to her book Untamed Chaos, her tools and strategies are born from both academic expertise and lived experience.

💥 New autism research and practical ways to reconnect with your child—starting with one outdoor moment at a time.

Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or professional working with kids, this episode is a must-listen.

Dr. Teri's website: https://drterirouse.com/

The Primary Purpose of This Podcast Is To Educate, Which Does Not Constitute Professional Advice or Services. The Views and Opinions Expressed are Those of The Guests. Their Appearance on The Podcast Does Not Imply Any Endorsement of Them, Their Products, or Their Services.

Connect with Lynn:

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When Rita Miceli received her son Giaci’s autism diagnosis, her world shifted - but it didn’t break. In the second part of this heartfelt conversation on Taking the Helm, Rita shares how her family navigated the uncertainty, fear, generational and cultural beliefs by building an unshakable foundation of love, support, and understanding.

Rita also reflects on sibling connection, self-care, the steps they took to build their son's independence and how she found peace knowing her son will always be supported. It’s a conversation filled with honesty, hope, and the powerful reminder that love can truly light the way.

💥 How do parents cope when they hear the diagnosis?

💥 How do we take care of ourselves and find strength rather than working at it from a point of weakness?

💥 Giaci's siblings adore him. What made this possible and how has he has made them better people?

💥 Giaci did not go to traditional high school. What did he do as an alternative that introduced him to the work world?

💥How did one TikTok post go viral and how does Giaci's social media posts give families a light at the end of the tunnel?

💥 How did his family prepare Giaci for his sister's wedding and the dance he had with her?

With over three decades of educational experience, Rita teaches in the Autism and Behavioural Science Graduate Program at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario. Her family's journey has been highlighted in The Drive Magazine, on CTV News, and CBC National News. Rita is the past president of Autism Ontario (Windsor/Essex Chapter) and has published works on multiple platforms related to special needs and autism, including "A Call to Action" (Autism Matters) and "Words that Connect Us" (Canadian Authors Association).

More about Rita: https://giaci.ca/

Follow Giaci on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giacimiceli?

Follow Giaci on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giacimiceli/

The Primary Purpose of This Podcast Is To Educate, Which Does Not Constitute Professional Advice or Services. The Views and Opinions Expressed are Those of The Guests. Their Appearance on The Podcast Does Not Imply Any Endorsement of Them, Their Products, or Their Services.

Connect with Lynn:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnmcla/

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Website: https://lynnmclaughlin.com/

Rita Miceli is a mother of four and a contributor to the international bestselling book "Ambitious Women Rise: The Amazing Stories of Women Overcoming Obstacles and Creating the Life of Their Dreams."

Living in Windsor, Ontario, with the love of her life, John, Rita is the proud mother of three daughters and her autistic son. She was honoured with the Best New Canadian Manuscript award from the Word Guild for her manuscript, "Giaci and Me: Life Lessons on Raising an Autistic Child." Additionally, Rita's short story "Going to the Dance" has been featured on Spillwords Press.

Key points:

💥 What sparked a TikTok community that now has over 600,000 followers? What was the catalyst for a platform, a message, and eventually, her book 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗰𝗶 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲: A Mother’s Journey of Loving and Raising an Autistic Child?

💥 What were the first indicators that caused concern?

💥 How did Giaci gain independence and how effective was Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in Giaci's development?

💥 Rita's journey as a mother of four, navigating the early signs, delayed diagnosis, and emotional toll of parenting a child with autism.

💥 Rita opens up about the grieving process parents often go through, mourning the life they imagined for their child and the one they must now build together.

💥 What is the latest research connecting genetics to autism and the groundbreaking work from Toronto Sick Kids Hospital?

With over three decades of educational experience, Rita teaches in the Autism and Behavioural Science Graduate Program at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario. Her family's journey has been highlighted in The Drive Magazine, on CTV News, and CBC National News. Rita is the past president of Autism Ontario (Windsor/Essex Chapter) and has published works on multiple platforms related to special needs and autism, including "A Call to Action" (Autism Matters) and "Words that Connect Us" (Canadian Authors Association).

More about Rita: https://giaci.ca/

Follow Giaci on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giacimiceli?

Follow Giaci on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giacimiceli/

The Primary Purpose of This Podcast Is To Educate, Which Does Not Constitute Professional Advice or Services. The Views and Opinions Expressed are Those of The Guests. Their Appearance on The Podcast Does Not Imply Any Endorsement of Them, Their Products, or Their Services.

Connect with Lynn:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnmcla/

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Website: https://lynnmclaughlin.com/

Assistive technology is more than just a tool—it’s a game-changer for students of all abilities, helping to bridge gaps in learning and create equitable opportunities.

Erin Plumb is a leader in assistive technology with 20+ years of expertise in accessibility, accommodations, and inclusion. She has influenced policies and technologies across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, championing digital equity to ensure all learners have access to education. Erin specializes in technology-driven solutions that remove barriers, offering policy development, training, and support for inclusive learning environments.

Passionate about accessibility, she advocates for equitable education and empowers educators to adopt best practices in assistive technology, shaping a more inclusive future.

Key Points:

💥 What is assistive technology?

💥 Why is it so important globally in this digital world?

💥 Reading, Writing, Math and STEM programs (Text Help Read and Write, Equatio as examples)

💥 What are the pros and cons of using tech in the classroom? How does it support educators, inclusivity and those with special needs?

💥 What programs or apps can we use to access books and resources that are already formatted?💥 Tips for parents on how to choose and use the right apps/tools.💥 AI is here to stay. How do we embrace it safely in schools?

💥 What will assistive tech look like in the future and how should we support educators with universal design for learning?

Erin shares a written synopsis and resource links for many organizations that support Assistive Tech worldwide:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mfUecjgK4eubn1vUbU5Nko69xf_rX0jF/view

The Primary Purpose of This Podcast Is To Educate, Which Does Not Constitute Professional Advice or Services. The Views and Opinions Expressed are Those of The Guests. Their Appearance on The Podcast Does Not Imply Any Endorsement of Them, Their Products, or Their Services.

Connect with Lynn:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnmcla/

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