Redefining ABA Therapy with Heart, Innovation, and Inclusion

Biz Tech Outlook sat down with Carolina Alay, Founder and Executive Director of Blue Minds LLC, to explore how her team is transforming ABA therapy through inclusive care, creativity, and data-driven practices - empowering children and caregivers every step of the way.

What inspired the founding of Blue Minds LLC, and what core mission drives your work today?

Blue Minds LLC was founded with a deep commitment to providing high-quality Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to underserved and underrepresented communities. The inspiration stemmed from a strong belief that every child, regardless of background, deserves access to compassionate, personalized care that supports both learning and emotional development. At the heart of Blue Minds is the mission to make learning a joyful and imaginative experience. We strive to blend evidence-based ABA practices with creativity and play, ensuring that therapy is not only effective but also engaging and meaningful for each child. Our goal is to create an environment where children are free to explore, express, and enjoy the process of learning. We remain driven by the belief that childhood should be a time of wonder and discovery—and that ABA, when delivered with care and innovation, can unlock every child’s true potential in a way that feels natural, fun, and empowering.

How do you tailor your services to meet the unique needs of children with autism and their caregivers?

At Blue Minds LLC, we blend the science of ABA with a naturalistic, child-centred approach by delivering services in the child’s everyday environments home, school, and community. This method allows us to turn real-life situations into meaningful, teachable moments. Our tiered service model includes direct instruction for the child, supervision for Registered Behaviour Technicians (RBTs), and personalized caregiver coaching. A key component of our approach is the involvement of a dedicated professional trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), who works one-on-one with caregivers to help set meaningful goals and actively participate in the therapeutic journey. This collaborative process fosters greater consistency, accelerates behaviour improvement, and enhances the generalization of skills across different settings and people. With strong involvement from family members, educators, and other therapists, our model promotes long-lasting progress, empowering both the child and their support network in a way that is holistic, compassionate, and deeply impactful.

What are some of the significant challenges you have faced in promoting mental health awareness and support?

One of the greatest challenges we face at Blue Minds LLC is navigating the complexities of providing care to underserved populations, particularly when access to mental health services is limited by systemic barriers. Securing insurance coverage for ABA therapy often involves time-consuming clinical and administrative procedures, which can delay much-needed support. This process is especially difficult for families already coping with the emotional weight of their child’s diagnosis. Many parents experience heightened stress and anxiety—not only from their child’s condition but also from the struggle to access essential services. Additionally, current insurance policies generally approve ABA therapy only for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, despite strong research supporting ABA’s effectiveness for other neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). These limitations hinder broader access to care and highlight the need for increased awareness, advocacy, and policy reform to ensure that every child receives the support they need, regardless of diagnosis.

What are your goals for Blue Minds LLC in the next five years?

Over the next five years, our primary goal at Blue Minds LLC is to establish a dedicated center where children of all abilities can access individualized support in a nurturing, inclusive environment. We envision a space that fosters growth, creativity, and learning tailored to meet each child’s unique needs. This center will serve as a hub for comprehensive care, combining evidence-based ABA therapy with opportunities for social interaction, play, and skill-building across developmental levels. By expanding our reach and deepening our impact, we aim to break down barriers to access and ensure that every child has the tools and support they need to thrive.

What advice would you offer to others looking to make a meaningful impact in this field?

The most important advice is to lead with passion and a heart for service. Working in this field requires dedication, empathy, and a genuine desire to uplift others. There is no greater reward than witnessing the positive changes your work can bring to a child’s life and their family’s well-being. Meaningful impact comes not only from clinical expertise but also from the commitment to serve with integrity and compassion. When your purpose is rooted in improving the quality of life for others, the work becomes more than a profession, it becomes a calling.

How do you measure growth and success within your organization?

At Blue Minds LLC, growth and success are measured through both client and staff satisfaction. For our clients, we rely on advanced software to track each child’s progress with precise, data-driven insights. This allows us to make timely, systematic adjustments to ensure each program remains effective and personalized. We also monitor caregiver engagement and improvement during coaching sessions, as their development is key to the child’s long-term success. Internally, we foster a supportive workplace culture through open communication, an open-door policy, and ongoing staff collaboration. We value our team by offering competitive salaries and a robust benefits package, ensuring they feel appreciated and empowered in their roles. When our children thrive, our caregivers feel supported, and our staff feels fulfilled, we know we’re succeeding.

Please about the founder and her experience which has shaped Blue Minds LLC:

Carolina Alay is the Founder and Executive Director at Blue Minds since 2014. Prior to occupying this role, Mrs. Alay had the opportunity to serve as a behavioral therapist, lead therapist, Infant and Toddler Developmental Specialist (ITDS), and Assistant Director at other ABA companies. Through her trajectory, Mrs. Alay developed skills working in a large variety of settings including home-base, schools, daycare facilities in individual and group settings, as well as providing caregiver training and education. For years, Mrs. Alay has been a bridge of communication between caregivers and other professionals such as Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists and medical doctors from different specialties.

“Where learning meets laughter, empowering every child, every step of the way.”

“Transforming lives through compassionate care, data-driven progress, and family collaboration.”