Lia

Co-Founder & Program Director

Lia is the Co-Founder and Program Director of Abilis Autism in Action, bringing a decade of experience in autism spectrum disorders. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Special Education from the University of Maryland and is currently pursuing a post-master's certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis at Johns Hopkins University. Fully bilingual in Spanish and English and certified in American Sign Language, Lia effectively engages diverse families. Her professional background includes roles as an RBT, IISS technician and family consultant. Eight years with Montgomery County Public Schools, where she has been teaching in the Autism Program for the past four years. She has also worked as a behavior manager for the Montgomery County Department of Recreation and as a compensatory services provider, developing individualized social, behavioral, and academic groups. A certified children’s yoga instructor, Lia integrates emotional and sensory self-regulation strategies into her work and has led drama classes to support social-emotional development. Committed to inclusion and advocacy, she provides training to local nonprofits, faith communities, and offers international workshops.