Episode 15 Disseminating NDBI Across Latin America: Lessons in Language, Culture, and Connection

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.