Lucía Barbeyto

Language: Spanish

I am Lucía Barbeyto, Founder and President of Self Learning Center. I was born and raised in Spain and have lived in Miami since 1999. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Keiser University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business. I also earned a Master’s Degree in Project Management from the European Postgraduate Institute (IEP) in Spain. For over a decade, I have held several leadership roles, including Finance Manager and Business Consultant. I have a strong background in finance, project management, and business operations. Additionally, I am a member of the Delta Mu Delta International Business Honor Society.

Beyond my professional experience, I am the mother of two young adults, Héctor and Lucía. At the age of two, Héctor was diagnosed with autism, and at age eleven, he developed intractable epilepsy—something we are still fighting today. When Héctor was two and a half, he was expelled from the daycare center he attended due to significant developmental delays. Over time, his support needs increased because of the severity of his autism. In 2017, Héctor suffered a serious accident while attending public school, which led us to the decision to homeschool him permanently.

Due to the high level of support Héctor requires and the ongoing health challenges he faces, my life changed in countless ways. I had no choice but to reevaluate my personal and professional goals. I began educating myself on how to represent and advocate for children with disabilities. In 2016, I became a Certified Advocate after completing the Partners in Policymaking program offered by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC). From 2018 to 2021, I served as a board member of the Florida State Advisory Committee for the Education of Exceptional Students (SAC) at the Florida Department of Education (FDOE).

In 2019, I made the decision to further my training in early childhood education. After obtaining the Child Care Program Director Certification from the Department of Children and Families (DCF), I co-founded an inclusion-focused preschool for children aged 0 to 5, welcoming children both with and without disabilities. I served as its Director for three years. It was during those years that I discovered the true mission I was meant to fulfill.

In 2022, I returned to university and, after completing a Graduate Certificate in Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from the University of South Florida (USF), I became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). During this new academic journey, I was nominated by USF as the Emerging Leader Representative for 2022–2023.

In 2023, I was elected to the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of Florida, where I also serve as Director of the Spanish-speaking Parent Support Group. In addition, to continue promoting inclusion for individuals with special needs, I created a YouTube channel where I occasionally share my public advocacy efforts for disability rights through Spanish-language social media platforms and local television networks.