EF-NDBI Method Course

SOUND FAMILIAR?

Does this sound familiar?

You've taught so many words, yet the child keeps waiting for prompts

The child relies more and more on auditory prompts and rarely looks around on their own.

Great in the therapy room, gone in daily life

Change the place or the person, and they can't do it.

Working on joint attention, but getting nowhere

You point and call their name, but the child still doesn't look where you look.

Parents don't know how to practice at home

One or two sessions a week isn't enough practice.

Most of these roadblocks happen because the foundation before speech isn't solid yet.

THE METHOD

What EF-NDBI trains: build the foundation first, then bring it into daily life

EFExecutive function

NDBINaturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention

For autistic children aged 1.6–5 (by developmental stage, not age or amount of speech)

EF-NDBI belongs to the NDBI family and builds on principles shared by behavioral and developmental science:

Natural settings
Following the child's motivation
Natural reinforcement
Modeling and generalization

(Schreibman et al., 2015)

What makes us different: what we practice

Five core elements are the main targets. Six stages consolidate learning: structure first, then generalization into daily life.

Observation

Learning by looking

Joint attention

Looking at the same thing

Co-regulation

Adjusting together

Social reciprocity

Back and forth

Executive function

Wait · remember · shift

The five elements are layered into six stages, practiced one step at a time.

①Observing the environmentLevel 1

②Collaborative rolesLevel 1

③Following gesturesLevel 1

④Real-time synchronyLevel 2

⑤Cooperative turn-takingLevel 2

⑥Daily life / rule-based gamesLevel 2

Level 1 · Stages ①–③Level 2 · Stages ④–⑥

Structured practice

→

Natural settings

→

Daily life

Parent coaching

Skills don't stay in the therapy room — they go home from the very first stage

WHY I BUILT IT

How this method grew

It started with a child just over two, diagnosed with severe autism. From crying nonstop in the room to actively noticing people and surroundings — in fewer than five sessions. A social worker came over to ask me:"Ms. Chen, what exactly did you do?"

Since 2019, I've provided online supervision for a network of autism centers — and that's the year I began breaking down what I do, step by step, into a clinical system. The children had sessions every day, yet on average I could see less than half an hour of each child's sessions a month. With so little time, how could therapists teach well and children truly progress? That's where EF-NDBI began.

In 2026, EF-NDBI formally entered research — moving into a formal study phase with partner institutions, with enrollment starting in 2027.

Since 2019building the clinical system

2026formal research begins

Using EF-NDBI right now

120–150autistic children, in class every day

10–30therapists

TWO TRACKS

Theory class vs. certification: what's the difference?

	Theory ClassOpen to parents and therapists	CertificationFor therapists and healthcare professionals
Class	One-day class, in person or online	Theory class + video review
Parent coaching	✓	✓
1:1 video review	—	Twice per stage
Moving to the next stage	—	Move on once your video meets the standard
Toolkit	—	Six-part practice toolkit¹
On completion	Certificate of completion	EF-NDBI Certification
Can present as certified	✗	✓
Seats	Unlimited	Limited (set by review capacity)
Fees	Level 1 NT$15,000 Level 2 NT$17,000Parents 50% off: NT$7,500 / NT$8,500	Level 1 NT$40,000² Level 2 NT$60,000²

1Six-part toolkit: manual · stage assessments · materials · prompting · pass criteria · parent coaching

2Took the theory class? Enroll in certification within 6 months and just pay the difference

Level 1 = Stages ①–③ · Level 2 = Stages ④–⑥

*Tentative plan. Official course details will be announced at the end of October 2026. Fees in New Taiwan Dollars (NT$). All classes are taught in Mandarin Chinese.

FOR PARENTS

How can parents join?

	Theory class with therapistsSame class as therapists	Online Parent GroupSmall online group + video feedback
Class	One 6-hour day, alongside therapists	Online, one 1-hour class every two weeks, 6 classes in total
Stages	Level 1 (①–③) / Level 2 (④–⑥), one day each	Stages ①–⑥
Video feedback	—	Video after each class, with instructor feedback (6 times)
Fees	Level 1 NT$7,500 Level 2 NT$8,500	NT$14,000

First Online Parent Group start date [TBA]

FAQ

Which children is it for?

It's designed for autistic children aged 1.6–5 — based on developmental stage, not age or amount of speech. Each child starts at the stage that fits their abilities. For example, a child who hasn't built joint attention yet and mostly explores through the senses starts at Stage ①.

Is it only for speech-language pathologists?

No — healthcare and related professionals can enroll in the certification track, and parents can join the theory class or the Online Parent Group.

How is it different from other NDBIs?

Programs in the NDBI family all build on the same body of developmental and behavioral research. What sets us apart is what we practice — five core elements as the main targets, six stages to consolidate learning, structure first, then generalization into daily life.

Can it work in short, insurance-funded sessions?

Yes — EF-NDBI can be blended into different intervention programs. With short sessions, parent coaching is a must: results need enough practice, and EF-NDBI's pass criteria include generalization across a set number of settings.

Can EF-NDBI be used in groups?

Mainly individual, centered on the child and family. Groups appear only in Stage ⑥, where children with similar abilities may play board games together — but that isn't the core of the method.

How does video review work?

Each stage has two 1:1 online video reviews with specific, concrete feedback on your video; you move on once it meets the practice standard.

Can I use the same child for certification?

Yes, but it depends on the child's needs and abilities. Each stage still has to meet the standard before you move on to the next.

How long does certification take?

It isn't a fixed number of weeks — it depends on how your videos progress: two video reviews per stage, and you move on once your video meets the practice standard. Certification reviews are usually completed within 6–8 months of the in-person class.

Can I join from overseas?

Yes. The theory class runs in person and online, and video review is fully online. Classes are taught in Mandarin Chinese.[Online session dates TBA]

Does this sound familiar?

What EF-NDBI trains: build the foundation first, then bring it into daily life

How this method grew

Theory class vs. certification: what's the difference?

How can parents join?

Schedule & free info session

Instructor

Ying Chen｜Speech-Language Pathologist · Clinical Supervisor

FAQ