Episode 7: Scaling ESDM in Community‑Based Autism Centers

In this episode, I’m joined by Will Martin, BCBA, ESDM‑certified therapist, and apprentice trainer, who leads Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) implementation at SOAR Autism Center. With over a decade of experience in behavior analysis, Will shares how SOAR is weaving Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) into the fabric of their community‑based autism centers in Colorado and Arizona — and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. SOAR’s model is grounded in a developmentally focused, naturalistic ABA approach, with ESDM at its core. Will also shares his personal journey to NDBIs — from thinking all ABA was play‑based as an undergraduate, to discovering the developmental power of NDBIs through Project ImPACT, and receiving high-quality ESDM training at Vanderbilt.