What is the Role of a BCBA in ABA Therapy?

Ana Ruiz

Ana Ruiz, MS, BCBA, is a bilingual and bicultural Board Certified Behavior Analyst who brings essential cultural and linguistic expertise to Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center. Since joining the clinic in 2021, Ana has served as a vital bridge for Spanish-speaking families seeking high-quality applied behavior analysis services, ensuring that language barriers never stand between children and the care they deserve. Ana earned her Bachelor's degree in Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2014. This broad academic foundation exposed her to psychology, education, child development, and social services—providing a well-rounded perspective on supporting children and families from diverse backgrounds. She continued her specialized training at Sage Graduate School, earning a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2016. Following supervised fieldwork hours, Ana successfully passed the BCBA certification examination and has maintained her credentials through ongoing professional development. As an experienced bilingual BCBA, Ana conducts all aspects of ABA service delivery in both English and Spanish, including initial assessments and functional behavior analyses, parent training and caregiver coaching, direct therapy sessions, progress monitoring and data analysis, and collaboration with interdisciplinary team members. Her ability to communicate seamlessly in both languages ensures families receive clear explanations of ABA principles, understand their child's treatment plan, participate fully in goal-setting, and feel genuinely heard and respected throughout the therapeutic process. Beyond language, Ana's bicultural competence is equally important. She possesses deep understanding of both American and Hispanic cultures, allowing her to recognize and honor different family structures, communication styles, childrearing values, and cultural perspectives on disability and intervention. This cultural humility enables Ana to create individualized treatment plans that are not only evidence-based but also culturally relevant—respecting each family's unique context while delivering effective behavior analysis services. Ana is passionate about expanding access to quality ABA services for underserved populations and ensuring that every family, regardless of language or cultural background, receives compassionate, collaborative, and clinically excellent care.