Show Notes

Discover what’s possible when parents mobilize to build a community of ambassadors. 


Mafer Chang is the founder of Centro Enigma, an autism center in Ecuador. 


The Global Autism Project has been partnered with Centro Enigma since 2018. We have since sent 4 SkillCorps teams to collaborate with their teachers and provide training in Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA. 


Since opening her first center in Guayaquil in 2015, Mafer has expanded her reach to two other cities, Samborondon and Manta. She had plans to open a fourth center in Portoviejo this April, however that has been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. 


When this episode was recorded on March 20th, Ecuador was on their 5th day of mandated lockdown. Mafer had just closed Centro Enigma a few days before and was transitioning to offer online services for families. 


In this episode, we discuss:



  • What services are available for children with autism in Ecuador

  • How it’s not easy for parents to differentiate between services that are evidence based and those that are not

  • Some of the myths surrounding ABA in her community

  • How Mafer’s journey to become a certified Behavior Analyst has been affected by the international process changes made by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (or BACB)

  • Some of the breakthroughs Mafer had during the early years of developing Centro Enigma, including learning how to motivate and retain therapists

  • Community outreach across Ecuador 

  • How Mafer empowers parents to be involved in their children’s therapy from day one


You can learn more about Mafer Chang and her work here: Centro Enigma. 


This conversation with Mafer Chang was originally released on May 27, 2020. 


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