Revolutionizing Autism Care Through a Play-Based ABA Therapy Model With Cristina Cordeiro

PodCast | May 19, 2025

Cristina Cordeiro is the Founder of Dream Big Children’s Center, a California-based organization offering play-centered Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism and developmental needs. Dream Big was inspired by Cristina’s dual experiences as a behavior therapist and a mother seeking inclusive, joyful spaces for her own children. With over 20 years of experience in autism treatment, she has developed customized plans for hundreds of children aged 18 months to five years old. Under her leadership, Dream Big has expanded to multiple centers across Southern California, employing over 150 staff members dedicated to helping children thrive through compassionate, evidence-based care.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[2:32] Cristina Cordeiro shares how her upbringing and early career led to founding Dream Big Children’s Center
[4:27] The turning point in Cristina’s business journey and how discovering EOS transformed her operations
[7:50] Understanding ABA therapy and how Dream Big’s play-based model differs from traditional approaches
[10:56] The impact of opening centers in underserved communities and a powerful story of a child’s first words
[13:19] How Cristina leads a team of over 300 employees and nurtures organizational culture with “dreamers”
[25:59] Why Cristina is building her personal brand to inspire more female and minority founders in ABA therapy

In this episode…

What if autism therapy felt more like a joyful playdate than a clinical appointment? As awareness grows around developmental care, families are seeking more than just treatment; they’re craving environments that inspire connection and celebrate each child’s potential. How can therapy models evolve to truly meet these emotional and developmental needs?

According to Cristina Cordeiro, a pioneering voice in autism care and behavioral health innovation, the key lies in reimagining ABA therapy through the lens of play. She highlights that traditional therapy often isolates children, whereas play-based models allow for social growth and emotional safety. The result is not just faster developmental progress but a genuine love for learning and engagement. Cristina shares how her centers were designed to resemble welcoming preschools rather than sterile clinics and how creating joyful, inclusive spaces in underserved communities has led to life-changing moments — like helping a child speak for the first time.

In this episode of RAW Spotlight, host Victor Huynh sits down with Cristina Cordeiro, Founder of Dream Big Children’s Center, to discuss revolutionizing autism care with a play-based ABA therapy model. Cristina shares how EOS helped her scale, why clinic environments matter, and how storytelling powers Dream Big’s marketing. She also gives advice on building personal brands and uplifting underrepresented founders.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Victor Huynh on LinkedIn

Emily Au on LinkedIn

Quotable Moments

“I always knew that I wanted to do something within the field of children with special needs.”
“So the kids are playing with their therapist and playing with each other.”
“I think it’s really important that we all just… know what our vision is.”
“For me, my kids always come first. So I start there, and then everything else grows.”
“You can’t hold on to everything and grow.”

Action Steps

Use systems like EOS to scale your business: Structured frameworks help translate visionary goals into actionable, trackable plans for growth.
Create joyful, play-based environments for therapy: Engaging children through play improves learning, communication, and emotional development in ABA programs.
Open centers in underserved communities: Expanding access to therapy empowers families who might otherwise go without critical developmental services.
Share your founder journey transparently: Being open about challenges builds authenticity, inspires others, and strengthens your personal leadership brand.
Recruit young talent through the right channels: Platforms like TikTok can help connect with and attract the next generation of passionate therapists.

Sponsor for this episode…

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