Podcast Summary: The Autism Little Learners Podcast – Episode #161
Supporting Children Through Disrupted Routines: Regulation, Co-Regulation, and Practical Classroom Supports
Host: Tara Phillips
Date: February 10, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tara Phillips dives deep into how we can help autistic children maintain regulation and co-regulation during disrupted routines by making communication accessible all day—especially through AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). She emphasizes the importance of modeling AAC in real-life situations, lowering pressure on both children and adults, and focusing on connection and trust over compliance and output.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Understanding Regulation and Co-Regulation

• Definition: Tara explains that regulation can become harder for autistic children, especially when routines are disrupted (00:00).
• Goal: Supporting regulation and co-regulation is foundational for learning and engagement.

2. Rethinking AAC: Beyond Structured Activities

• Tara dispels the myth that AAC is only for instructional moments or therapy sessions (01:09).
  • Quote:

    “When people first learn about AAC, they often picture it happening during instruction, at the table, or in therapy… But AAC was never meant to live only in those moments. It's meant to be available all day.” (01:09)

• True Change: Real transformation happens when AAC is part of daily life—play, transitions, and challenging moments.

3. All-Day Access to Communication

• Main Point: AAC should be available in every routine—arrival, play, snack, transitions, outdoor time, moments of both excitement and frustration (04:03).
• Question Shift:
  • Instead of asking, “When should I model AAC?” it becomes, “Why wouldn’t AAC be available right now?”

4. Benefits of All-Day AAC Modeling

• For Children: Improved regulation, less pressure on the nervous system, increased self-advocacy, and engagement.
  • Quote:

    “When children know that communication is always available, their nervous systems don’t have to work as hard. They don’t have to guess what adults want.” (05:20)

• Self-Advocacy: Words like “help, stop, break, all done, don’t want, don’t like” can become tools for children to express needs and boundaries (05:52).

5. Relational vs. Transactional Communication

• Shift in Focus: Communication is not about compliance, repeating back, or output—it’s about building relationships.
  • Quote:

    “When adults model all day long, communication becomes relational, not transactional.” (09:18)

• Kids see communication as meaningful connection, not just a task for ‘work times’.

6. Reducing Pressure: For Kids and Adults

• No expectation or demand for children to perform with AAC (no “say this,” or “touch this button”).
• Adults don’t have to model perfectly; consistency is what counts.
  • Quote:

    “Consistency matters far more than perfection.” (12:09)

7. Long-Term Impact: Spontaneity and Engagement

• Over time, all-day exposure leads to children initiating more, combining words, and using language more freely.
• Observable outcomes: Fewer behavioral escalations, more participation, increased joy, and growing adult confidence (13:23).

8. What All-Day Modeling Isn’t

• Not about forcing use, correcting communication, demanding full sentences, or withholding AAC for “incorrect” use (09:52).

9. Practical Takeaway for Listeners

• Action Step: Pick one routine—snack, play, or transitions—and model AAC naturally there for a week, with no expectation for the child to respond (14:38).
  • Challenge: Notice engagement and connection, not just “how many buttons got pressed.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the heart of AAC modeling:

  “Words like ‘help, stop, break, all done, don’t want, don’t like’ become tools for self-advocacy. And self-advocacy is everything.” (05:52)

• About dropping the pressure:

  “For kids, there's no expectation for them to perform and that's huge. For adults, no need to prompt perfectly, no pressure to get output from kids, and you have permission to model imperfectly.” (08:35)

• Advice for adults feeling insecure:

  “Even well intentioned adults sometimes stop modeling AAC because they're afraid they're doing it wrong…but AAC learning is cumulative.” (11:25)

• Simple summary:

  “Modeling AAC all day means access across the entire day. Consistent modeling supports regulation and engagement, and modeling without expectation reduces pressure.” (14:08)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00: Introduction, regulation challenges during disrupted routines
• 01:09: Misconceptions about when AAC should be available
• 04:03: Expanding AAC into all daily routines, not just structured activities
• 05:20: How AAC access supports nervous system regulation
• 05:52: Empowering self-advocacy through accessible language
• 09:18: Communication as relationship-building, not merely transactional
• 09:52: What all-day AAC modeling isn’t
• 12:09: Reassurance that consistency is more important than perfection
• 13:23: Long-term changes: more spontaneity, less escalation
• 14:08: Recap of the episode’s main points and takeaways
• 14:38: Action challenge: modeling AAC in one daily routine without expectation

Tone & Approach

Throughout the episode, Tara maintains a warm, affirming, and practical tone. She reassures listeners—teachers, therapists, and family members—that small, consistent steps matter and the emphasis should always be on connection and supporting authentic communication, rather than compliance or immediate results.

Summary Takeaway:
Tara’s core message is that AAC and communication should be a natural, ever-present part of a child’s day, reducing stress and fostering self-advocacy. The focus is on connection—with small, consistent, pressure-free modeling transforming outcomes for both children and adults.