Why I Started Autism Feeding Specialist
For seven years, I worked inside a hospital-based interdisciplinary feeding program alongside SLPs, OTs, dietitians, psychologists, and physicians. Our team had strong outcomes, deep collaboration, and an evidence-based approach that supported the whole child.
We also had something else:
a four-year waitlist.
That meant families would place their toddler on the list and sometimes wouldn’t get an intake until that child was eight. And any parent who has waited for care knows how agonizing it feels when your child’s needs feel urgent, but the system moves painfully slow.
It broke my heart.
I kept thinking:
“There has to be something more we can do during the wait.”
I wanted parents to have trustworthy guidance long before they ever landed in our clinic.
And I wanted BCBAs—who spend more time with families than almost any other discipline—to feel empowered to help, not afraid of crossing scope or using outdated methods.
Autism Feeding Specialist began as a way to share what I wished every family and every provider could access sooner:
child-led, assent-based approaches
culturally sensitive strategies
readiness skills and family coaching
ethical ABA practices that honor the whole child
What started as a small blog has grown into CEU webinars, a professional development course, and a community of practitioners who believe that mealtimes can be brave, respectful, and collaborative.
Why BCBAs Belong in Feeding
I believe behavior analysts play an important—and often overlooked—role in the psychosocial domain of pediatric feeding.
BCBAs understand daily routines, family coaching, learning history, reinforcement patterns, sensory behaviors, executive functioning, and the environmental variables that shape a child’s experience at the table.
With the right training, BCBAs can be a powerful part of interdisciplinary feeding teams.
You belong at the table.
Your skill set matters here.
And kids deserve support that includes the behavioral lens—in ethical, child-led ways.
Let’s Connect
I love hearing from BCBAs, students, and feeding providers who care deeply about doing this work well.
You can reach me at valori@autismfeedingspecialist.com.
I’m truly glad you’re here.
