Episode 17 Transforming Care in Albania: NDBI, ESDM, and Empowering Families

In this episode—Dr. Jamie welcomes international guest Enron Seiti from Tirana, Albania. Enron shares the incredible work being done at the Help the Life Association, a nonprofit parent-founded organization dedicated to providing services and support to children with developmental disabilities and their families. He’s been deeply involved with the association for nearly 15 years. Together with their dedicated team, they’ve built a network of services that now spans six cities, empowering families, training young professionals, and advocating for change in a country where less than 5% of children and people with disabilities receive services. With more than 25 years of impact, Enron reflects on the organization's evolution, the challenges of service delivery in Albania, and how Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), particularly the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), are transforming care for young autistic children in the region. Enron also shares practical advice for professionals wanting to learn more about NDBI: seek mentorship, exchange ideas openly, and be willing to question existing approaches to find better solutions. His experience confirms that NDBI is not only more natural and enjoyable but also more effective for children — and more freeing for therapists.