The NDBI Navigator

In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Podcast, Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Ana Maria Hernandez Villalobos, a medical doctor, psychologist, pediatric neuropsychologist, and certified ESDM and JASPER therapist and trainer based in Monterrey, Mexico. Dr. Ana Maria shares her inspiring journey into NDBI and her passion for bridging science, culture, and family connection to ensure that high-quality early intervention is accessible to Spanish-speaking families across Latin America. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities of implementing NDBI within different cultural contexts, shifting from a traditional medical model to a collaborative, family-centered approach, and empowering both therapists and caregivers in the process.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jessica Brian, psychologist, senior clinician scientist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, and associate professor at the University of Toronto. A long-time champion of caregiver-mediated interventions, Dr. Brian shares her journey into Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) and her leadership in developing the Social ABCs program. With decades of experience at the intersection of research and clinical practice, Dr. Brian highlights the power of empowering caregivers, listening to parents, and grounding early intervention in meaningful everyday interactions. Dr. Brian and her team continue refining Social ABCs, updating their website with new video content and caregiver-friendly summaries of the latest research. As they expand their reach, the core mission remains unchanged: to empower families, listen deeply to their insights, and support meaningful developmental outcomes through play and connection.

In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Podcast, Dr. Jamie welcomes Dr. Grace Gengoux, a nationally recognized expert in evidence-based autism intervention, clinical psychologist, BCBA-D, and faculty member at Stanford University. Together, they explore the power of motivation, flexibility, and collaboration in supporting autistic children through Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), with a special focus on Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT). Dr. Gengoux shares her journey into the field, the science behind pivotal behaviors, and groundbreaking research on parent coaching, telehealth delivery, and optimizing intervention approaches for diverse learners.

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.

In this episode, we’re joined by Christine Gomez, an NDBI mentor at the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) in Phoenix, Arizona. Christine shares her journey into the field of autism intervention, how she discovered Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), and how her work in inclusive preschool classrooms has shaped her views on child development, play, and parent collaboration. With deep experience in implementing Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) and integrating developmental strategies like the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), Christine offers a grounded, joyful, and developmentally affirming perspective on early learning environments.

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Jamie is joined by Natalia Santamaría, a psychoeducator and expert in Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), who shares her powerful journey into NDBI practice and her work to bring parent-mediated, evidence-based interventions to families across Latin America. Natalia describes how her early work in Montreal led to a deep appreciation for Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) and later the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). She recalls reaching out directly to Dr. Lynn Koegel for mentorship when formal certification was financially out of reach — a bold move that shaped her trajectory. After returning to Argentina, Natalia became a driving force in translating and adapting NDBI materials into Spanish and expanding access to caregiver coaching and naturalistic intervention strategies across the region. Natalia reminds us that while research is important, accessibility matters. Her passion for culturally adapting materials and building bridges across languages shines through, offering a compelling vision for what it looks like to bring high-quality early intervention to families everywhere — not just in English-speaking or high-resource contexts.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Tracy Raulston, Assistant Professor in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at Texas State University. She shares her journey from classroom teaching to doctoral research, and how her passion for developmental science, early intervention, and child-led learning shaped her commitment to Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs). With over 20 years of experience in autism support and early childhood special education, Tracy brings a unique blend of clinical practice and research insight to the conversation. 

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Ilene Schwartz, Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington and founding developer of the Project DATA model. With more than four decades of experience, Dr. Schwartz reflects on the evolution of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the rise of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), and what it really means to support children with autism through compassionate, developmentally grounded practice. Dr. Schwartz shares stories from her early days at the May Institute and her graduate work at the University of Kansas, all the way through building inclusive NDBI programs at the University of Washington. She challenges outdated practices and offers a modern, deeply humanistic vision for behavior analysis today.

In this episode, we’re joined by Teresa McFarland, M.Ed., BCBA, Director and Senior Consultant for Thrive Collaborative, to explore her 22-year journey from traditional behavior therapy to Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) that prioritize relationships, motivation, and joy. Teresa shares how Thrive uses models like the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT) to create developmentally respectful, family-centered services across home, school, and clinic settings. Thrive’s work centers on naturalistic, relationship-based therapy with a strong focus on parent coaching and collaborative care. Teresa also shares her professional evolution—from an undergrad volunteering with autistic children, to graduate training at Vanderbilt under Ann Kaiser, to building Thrive Collaborative as a space for affirming, play-based care.

In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Narratives Podcast, Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Deanna Swain, clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado. Dr. Swain shares how her work spans clinical practice, informatics, and research — all with a shared goal of improving access to meaningful, evidence-based support for autistic children and their families.

In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Narratives Podcast, host Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Bonnie McBride, a Professor of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus and the Director of the Oklahoma Autism Center. The conversation covers Dr. McBride's extensive background, her perspective on Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI), and the unique community-based service delivery models she has implemented in Oklahoma.

In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Narratives Podcast, host Dr.Jamie sits down with Ania Petrova, BCBA and founder of Comprehensive ABA, to explore her professional evolution from traditional ABA to Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI). Ania shares what led to her “aha moment” with neurodiversity-affirming care, the systemic barriers that make this work challenging, and how she is helping agencies and schools shift toward more compassionate, developmentally appropriate models of support.

In this episode, we’re joined by Janice Chan, lecturer in the Department of Special Education at San Diego State University and long-time trainer in Classroom Pivotal Response Teaching (CPRT). Janice shares her two-decade journey through autism research, classroom teaching, and implementation coaching—and how her lived experience as a special education teacher shapes her approach to scaling NDBIs in school systems. Janice’s background spans research and practice, beginning with early work in Dr. Laura Schreibman’s UCSD lab comparing PECS and PRT, and evolving into deep engagement with CPRT and the translation of NDBIs into real-world classrooms. Janice shares that the CPRT online learning module will be released to the public for free following the completion of the current research phase. Current study sites include California, Illinois, and Indiana.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Melanie Pelichia, clinical psychologist and implementation scientist at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Mental Health, where she leads groundbreaking efforts to embed high‑quality, evidence‑based autism interventions in public service systems. With over 25 years of experience, Melanie shares her evolution from traditional ABA to Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), and how she’s driving large‑scale change through community‑partnered research and clinical innovation. Melanie’s work centers around community-based implementation of NDBIs with a focus on equity, family engagement, and fidelity. 

In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Ariana Boutain, BCBA-D and Chief Clinical Officer at the Atlanta Autism Center. With nearly two decades of experience, Dr. Bane shares her inspiring professional journey — from starting in traditional, compliance‑driven ABA to becoming a passionate champion of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs). She opens up about what sparked her shift: noticing the gaps in traditional treatment models for very young autistic children, diving deep into developmental science, and discovering the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and the broader NDBI framework. She shares how these approaches have transformed her clinical work, her team’s training practices, and even her own parenting.

In this episode of NDBI Navigator Narratives, Dr. Jamie sits down with Tamara Kasper, a dual-certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, to talk about what happens when speech science, behavior analysis, and play-based motivation truly come together.

In this episode of NDBI Navigator Narratives, Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Pamela Rollins, professor at UT Dallas and a leading voice in developmental language research, for a powerful conversation on the social foundations of language development. Drawing on over 40 years of research and clinical experience, Dr. Rollins reminds us that language cannot develop in isolation—it must be built on social engagement, reciprocity, and joint attention. 

In this episode, we’re joined by Renee Hoffman, BCBA, LPC, and Melissa Looney, BCBA‑student, to explore Pathways Early Autism Intervention— a Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI) parent‑training program designed to help families nurture early social communication skills in young children with, or suspected of having, autism. Pathways blends ABA principles with child development science to address the core social challenges of autism rather than just surface‑level behaviors. Developed by Renee and her business partner Michelle (a speech‑language pathologist and BCBA), Pathways grew out of their work in Early Childhood Intervention (Part C) programs and their shared belief that parents should be at the center of their child’s learning journey. Renee and Melissa also share how their backgrounds in education, speech therapy, and early intervention shaped their belief that the most powerful outcomes happen when parents are supported as their child’s first and most consistent teacher.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sophia D’Agostino, Assistant Professor at Utah State University in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling. Her research and teaching focus on early childhood special education with a mission to improve preschool inclusion for children with disabilities. Dr. D’Agostino’s work centers on Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) in preschool classrooms, particularly in community-based programs such as Head Start, state-funded preschools, childcare programs, and inclusive early childhood special education settings. Her research investigates how NDBI strategies are implemented in real-world classrooms, how comfortable teachers feel using them, and what supports are needed for high-quality implementation.

In this episode, we welcome Janet Harder and Michaela Jelen of JHMJ Consulting, two highly experienced ESDM therapists and trainers who have worked extensively in early intervention, Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), and parent coaching. Together, they share the story behind their innovative Relationship and Strength‑Based Coaching (RSB) framework — a model designed to place the heart of the coaching process squarely on the relationship between professionals and parents.Both Janet and Michaela bring rich professional and personal perspectives to the conversation. Janet is a speech‑language pathologist and BCBA with deep expertise in autism interventions, holding multiple specialized trainings including ESDM, CERTS, and JASPER. Michaela, who has supported children with developmental needs since her teens, holds advanced degrees in disability studies and early intervention, and recently completed her PhD focused on parent coaching. Her lived experience as a parent of a medically complex child adds a unique depth to her understanding of the challenges families face.

In this episode, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Ana Dueñas, Assistant Professor of Special Education at San Diego State University and Verified Course Sequence Coordinator for their BCBA program. Identifying as transferisa — having grown up crossing the border daily between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego — Dr. Duenos brings a deeply personal and culturally informed perspective to her work. Her teaching and research focus on Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) and how to culturally adapt them to meet the needs of diverse communities. She shares her path to this work, the challenges of embedding NDBI content into traditional ABA course sequences, and her leadership in co‑founding the ABAI NDBI Special Interest Group (SIG) — a collaborative space to support instructors, practitioners, and researchers interested in integrating NDBI into practice.

In this episode, Dr. Jamie is joined by Jillian Schneider for a thoughtful conversation about Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) and why truly effective support must extend across the entire lifespan—not just early childhood. Jillian shares her professional journey into the field of ABA, which began unexpectedly while completing a research-focused master’s program. She reflects on why naturalistic teaching resonated so deeply with her from the start, describing it as creative, meaningful, and relationship-centered rather than rigid or purely clinical. After more than a decade working with young children, Jillian transitioned fully into teen and adult services in 2023—a shift that profoundly reshaped how she thinks about early intervention.

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.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Giacomo Vivanti, Associate Professor and Program Leader in the Early Detection and Intervention Program at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute. His work focuses on improving the well‑being and outcomes of autistic children by delivering effective early intervention to as many children as possible — and by conducting research to understand which interventions work best for which children, and how to implement them successfully in real‑world settings. Dr. Vivanti brings a unique global perspective, blending research, clinical expertise, and a deep commitment to neurodiversity‑affirming practice.

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu, a child clinical and developmental psychologist whose career bridges early autism diagnosis, evidence-based early intervention, and inclusive early education. Initially trained in early autism diagnostic profiles. She later retrained in the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and now specializes in the Group Early Start Denver Model (GESDM). Based in Sacramento, she leads Early Days, an organization dedicated to implementing and disseminating GESDM in preschools and community settings. She also shares the origins and evolution of GESDM — from its early classroom-based beginnings in Denver in the 1980s to formal adaptations in Australia — and how she brought this model to her own community to bridge the research-to-practice gap. Her work centers on inclusion, social connection, and the alignment of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) with neurodiversity-affirming early education practices.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Rebecca Thompson, a clinical psychologist and doctoral‑level Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over two decades of experience supporting autistic individuals and their families. Dr. Becky shares her professional journey, beginning with her early work at the Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP) — inspired by her mother, WEAP’s first administrative employee — to her current leadership role overseeing early intervention services and staff training. Her story reflects the broader shift in autism intervention: from serving mostly school‑aged children with traditional tabletop ABA to meeting the needs of much younger learners through Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs).

In this episode of The NDBI Navigator Podcast, Dr. Jamie welcomes international guest Enron Seiti from Tirana, Albania, who shares the incredible 25+ year journey of the parent-founded nonprofit Help the Life Association. Enron describes how their team has expanded services across six cities, empowering families, training young professionals, and advocating for children with developmental disabilities in a country where less than 5% receive services. He discusses how Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), especially the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), are transforming care for young autistic children in the region. Enron also offers practical advice for professionals seeking to learn NDBI—find mentors, stay open to exchanging ideas, and be willing to question existing approaches in pursuit of more natural, effective, and freeing ways to support children and therapists.

In this episode of The NDBI Navigator Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Brooke Ingersoll and Ana Dvortcsak—developers of Project ImPACT and two leading voices in autism intervention, parent coaching, and Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs). The conversation dives deep into the evolving science and real-world application of parent-mediated interventions, with a strong focus on empowering caregivers, supporting generalization, and promoting engagement through play. Brooke and Ana share lessons from years of research and clinical experience, emphasizing collaboration, flexibility, and joy as key ingredients in effective intervention. The discussion also addresses common challenges such as fidelity, stress, and motivation—and offers practical guidance for balancing evidence-based practices with what truly works for families.

In this episode of The NDBI Navigator Podcast, Dr. Jamie is joined by clinical psychologist and implementation science leader Dr. Katherine Pickard. Katherine shares insights from her work at the intersection of autism intervention research and real-world community implementation. With warmth and clarity, she reflects on what makes parent coaching actually work—not just in ideal settings, but in homes, clinics, and systems that are often messy, under-resourced, and unpredictable. Together, they explore the importance of cultural responsiveness, family-centered values, provider flexibility, and the powerful role of attunement in early autism intervention. The episode also highlights how implementation science helps bridge research and practice by centering lived experience, equity, and sustainability.

In this episode of The NDBI Navigator Podcast, Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Kyle Frost, Assistant Professor at UMass Chan Medical School and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, to explore her research focused on optimizing early intervention for young autistic children. Dr. Frost’s work bridges research and practice, with an emphasis on improving the effectiveness, fit, feasibility, and equity of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) in community settings. Together, they discuss Kyle’s development of the NDBI-Fi, a fidelity tool designed to assess the shared components across various NDBI models, and explore its potential in research, training, and implementation. The conversation also highlights her ongoing studies on the active ingredients that make NDBIs effective, as well as practical strategies for supporting their scaling and sustainability in real-world environments. A spotlight is placed on Reciprocal Imitation Teaching (RIT) as an exemplar of a focused NDBI that is both accessible and effective.

In this episode of The NDBI Navigator Podcast, Dr. Jamie talks with Dr. Sienna Windsor, a clinician whose work blends research, cultural humility, and practical clinical insight. Sienna discusses supporting families from diverse backgrounds through responsive parent coaching, naturalistic interventions, and collaborative goal setting. They explore how slowing down, listening deeply, and staying flexible helps make parent-mediated intervention culturally aligned and empowering. The conversation also highlights Sienna’s own learning journey and broader themes of intersectionality, respectful communication, and equitable access to care.

In this episode of The NDBI Navigator Podcast, Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Sho Araiba and Dr. Marija Čolić to explore their innovative social skills program—affectionately called Play Dojo by its participants. Rooted in neurodiversity-affirming practice, the program uses play as the primary medium for building foundational social skills in autistic children. Together, the guests share how their community-led initiative in Hawai'i blossomed into a research-informed program grounded in joy, flexibility, and empowerment.