In this episode of NDBI Navigator Narratives, Dr. Jamie sits down with Ohud Alhaqbani, BCBA, ESDM Certified Trainer, PhD researcher, and founder of ABA Blue Light, to discuss the power of parent-mediated intervention, cultural adaptation, and increasing access to evidence-based autism supports across the globe

Originally from Saudi Arabia and now based in the United Kingdom, Ohud shares her journey into the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), her passion for Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), and her work translating and adapting evidence-based practices for Arabic-speaking families. Together, Dr. Jamie and Ohud explore how parent coaching can help bridge service gaps, why cultural adaptation matters, and how empowering caregivers can transform outcomes for autistic children and their families.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315696768_Learning_by_Doing_and_Learning_by_Observing_Training_Parents_in_Saudi_Arabia_to_Implement_the_Natural_Language_Paradigm

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.