Hidden Gems: Meet Maria Alba of Beyond the Spectrum

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Alba.

Hi Maria , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
At the age of 18, I began working with children from many different backgrounds, including those with challenging behaviors. I wanted to understand the “why” behind behavior, which led me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Child Development.
As I continued through graduate school, my passion for helping children continued to grow. While working in LAUSD, I was often called in to support students with challenging behaviors. This is where my passion deepened to “understand the misunderstood.”
Since graduating and becoming a mom, I started my own business to continue pursuing this passion. Through Beyond the Spectrum, my goal is to shift perspectives and advocate for individuals who need it most.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A pivotal moment in my life and career was getting laid off during maternity leave. It was the push I needed to start something of my own, but it was definitely scary with a newborn baby.

In the beginning, it was difficult to compete with bigger companies and put myself out there. But along the way, I’ve learned that community matters especially when it comes to providing the best possible services for neurodivergent children.

Building a business has taught me that we don’t have to do it alone. There is so much value in connecting, collaborating, and supporting one another to create better outcomes for the families we serve.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Beyond the Spectrum?
Beyond the Spectrum provides child-led, play-based ABA therapy for children and families throughout Santa Clarita, Valencia, Newhall, Stevenson Ranch, Canyon Country, and surrounding areas. Our evidence-based approach combines Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with compassionate, individualized care to help children develop communication, social, adaptive, and independence skills. Through in-home ABA therapy, clinic-based services, parent training, early intervention, and school readiness programs, we partner with families to build meaningful progress that extends beyond therapy and into everyday life.

What I’m most proud of is that Beyond the Spectrum is owned and operated by a BCBA. We prioritize connection with both the client and the parents.

What sets us apart is that we are a small agency giving quality care and services to each of our clients.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
My family and I came to the United States when I was 7 years old. It was a challenge making new friends and learning a new language. This is why i feel so passionate about not leaving anyone behind. My interest as a kid included drawing, and spending time outdoors. I was a spunky kid, who made people laugh.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://btspec.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btspec/

Image Credits
Rebecca Granados