Episode #225: Assessment and Intervention of Executive Functioning Skills with Stephanie Howard

Stephanie Howard, a BCBA and mother, faced a turning point when her son was diagnosed with ADHD at age five. She realized the same executive functioning tools she used professionally could support both her parenting and her son’s development.

Executive functioning—skills like planning, impulse control, and focus—is often disrupted in ADHD, autism, and trauma. It’s more than behavior; it’s about how the brain organizes and responds to the world.

Stephanie shares, for listeners, the Executive Functioning Skill Questionnaire and other free resources that have helped her understand and support her son’s needs. These tools are designed to guide both parents and professionals in identifying strengths and areas for growth.

She also shares some of the specific goals she’s set at home, showing how executive functioning skills can be built through everyday routines. Programs like the Flexible and Focused Program and ROPES help break down executive dysfunction into manageable steps.

To generalize these skills, Stephanie offers practical tips: use timers and task lists, give clear warnings before transitions, and turn tasks into games to hold attention. She highlights the power of caregiver education, understanding the difference between antecedents and consequences, and working with a team.

For Stephanie, it’s not just about managing behavior—it’s about supporting the brain. 

#autism #speechtherapy

Today’s Guest:

Stephanie Howard is a BCBA and a wife and mother to a neurodiverse son. She has a Master’s in Education from Brooklyn College and received her certification in ABA from Florida Tech in 2014. She has worked in the field of ABA for 15 years and with kids for over 25. She has an interest in functional communication, contextual behavioral science, parent and caregiver training and collaboration, and living life to her values. She currently serves as a board member for the Illinois Association for Behavior Analysis as the Conference Coordinator and is the Senior Clinical Director of ABA Services for a multi-state organization.

What’s Inside:

• What is Executive Functioning?
• Assessment for EF skills (FREE resources).
• Goal examples to use in therapy and at home.
• Managing and supporting Executive Dysfunction.

Mentioned In This Episode

• 25 Executive Skills Questionnaire — Peg Dawson & Richard Guare Step I: Read each item below and then rate that item based 
• Executive Skills Questionnaire – Revised (ESQ-R) – NovoPsych
• Membership – ABA Speech
• ABA Speech: Home

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