143: Building Independence One Microstep at a Time

In this episode of The Special Ed Strategist, Wendy Taylor sits down with Kristin Lombardi, MA, BCBA, founder of Zeal Behavior Analysis, and Dr. Christine Drew, BCBA-D, Assistant Professor at Auburn University, to discuss their groundbreaking book, Spectrum of Independence: How to Teach Your Neurodiverse Child Daily Life Skills.

Kristin and Christine share practical, science-backed strategies for helping neurodiverse children gain independence—one “microstep” at a time. From scaffolding skills at home to collaborating with IEP teams at school, this conversation empowers parents to reduce overwhelm, celebrate small wins, and build confidence for both kids and families.

Three Key Takeaways:

1. Small Steps, Big Wins: Break routines into microsteps to build confidence and independence without overwhelm.
2. Home-to-School Bridge: Align daily routines at home with IEP goals to support skills that are relevant across settings.
3. Progress Over Perfection: Independence looks messy sometimes—celebrate the small victories along the way.

Connect with Wendy (Host):

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningessentials/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy‑taylor‑7106b6a6/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TutoringLE
• Website & Courses: www.LearningEssentialsEDU.com | Cracking the Code: https://learningessentialsedu.com/course/

Connect with the Guests:
Spectrum of Independence website: https://www.spectrumofindependence.com/