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Welcome to the Polaris Connection and in today's episode Autism & Trauma: Understanding the Voice Behind Behavior — our special guest is Amanda Hineline, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, an autism and trauma expert with nearly a decade of experience helping children, families, and educators navigate complex behavioral and emotional challenges.

This episode will deep dive into how autism and trauma intersect, revealing how behavior often becomes the voice of unmet needs, emotional pain, or sensory overwhelm. Drawing from her work as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and trauma-informed practitioner, Amanda offers compassionate, science-backed insights on topics like:

• How trauma impacts the autistic brain and nervous system
• Recognizing trauma responses vs. “challenging behavior”
• The role of safety, connection, and co-regulation in healing
• Practical strategies for parents, educators, and clinicians
• Real-life stories of hope, resilience, and recovery

This episode is for parents, therapists, educators, and anyone seeking to better understand the emotional world of autistic individuals. With empathy and expertise, Amanda helps listeners shift from asking “What’s wrong with this behavior?” to “What is this behavior trying to tell us?”

Discover how trauma-informed care, behavioral science, and neurodiversity-affirming practices can transform how we see, support, and connect with autistic children and adults.

Keywords: autism and trauma podcast, trauma-informed autism support, neurodiversity and emotional regulation, autism behavior, trauma in children, Amanda Hineline BCBA, understanding autistic behavior, healing through connection.

Feel Free to reach out to our guest Amanda Hineline at: [email protected]

AzBCBA: https://azaba.org/page-18114

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