#335: Child Not Talking? The Imitation Skills You Need to Build First for Children with Autism

Imitation is a crucial early skill for language, play and social development. Delays in imitation are common in toddlers with autism or signs of autism. Dr. Mary Barbera breaks down the 4 key steps to building imitation skills: assessment, planning, teaching, and simple data collection. She shares practical tips, real examples, and tools from her Turn Autism Around book and course to help parents and professionals teach this pivotal skill in a fun, gentle, and effective way. Early intervention matters, and building imitation can create powerful learning momentum for young children.