FirstSteps for Kids, Inc.

Guiding Kids to Greater Goals

enrollment

For Caregivers

Family

As a FirstSteps client, we will do our best to support you as you navigate the autism service landscape. Please read below to learn about the process of starting an ABA program including everything from securing funding to setting up your child’s environment. Remember, we are here to support you and would love to talk with you at any time. We hope this page is helpful and look forward to your feedback.

Get Ready to Begin ABA Services

There are many things to accomplish before your child’s ABA program begins. Getting ready to start treatment is often described by families as an exciting yet often overwhelming process. From researching intervention options and providers, scheduling assessments, completing a myriad of forms, many families find themselves a bit busy. It is our hope to provide you with a clear roadmap to guide you through these first steps of your ABA journey.

Your First Steps to Accessing Services:

1

Contact Your Local FirstSteps Office

1

Contact Your Local FirstSteps Office
Contact

We are here for you. Whether you are certain about FirstSteps or simply have questions about ABA, please submit an ENROLLMENT INQUIRY or reach out to your local FirstSteps office to speak with our New Client & Community Relations Specialist.  She will explain the process, answer questions, and provide you with referrals if needed.

2

Secure Funding

2

Secure Funding
Funding
While self-funding your child’s ABA program is an option for some families, many find privately paying for assessments and ABA services to be cost-prohibitive. Fortunately, there are several avenues through which families may access partial or full funding for their children's programs. In California, your FirstSteps services will likely be funded by your health insurance provider, school district, and/or local regional center.
While self-funding your child’s ABA program is an option for some families, many find privately paying for assessments and ABA services to be cost-prohibitive. Fortunately, there are several avenues through which families may access partial or full funding for their children's programs. In California, your FirstSteps services will likely be funded by your health insurance provider, school district, and/or local regional center.
Learn More About Funding

3

Tell us about your child

3

Tell us about your child

The more we know about your little one, the better! Gather and send us all previous assessments, your child’s diagnostic report, IEPs or IFSPs, etc. so we may learn all we can prior to meeting your family.

4

Yes...There is Paperwork

4

Yes...There is Paperwork

Tell us about your family, your child’s preferences, interesting facts, their strengths, and your concerns and goals for treatment. If you would like to access your medical insurance benefits, be sure we have that information as well. By completing our paperwork in advance, we will be ready to focus on your child and your family’s goals when we meet in person.

Our Intake | Enrollment Process

Your First FirstSteps Meeting

This is the day! Your family is invited to meet us by visiting our office at a time convenient for you. Upon arrival, our Regional Clinic Director will welcome you to a child-friendly playroom, equipped with plenty of toys. This first meeting will be similar to a casual conversation between you and our Regional Clinic Director with the goal of understanding your child’s and family’s specific needs. There will also be a FirstSteps instructor in the room to play with your child and informally assess skills.
This is the day! Your family is invited to meet us by visiting our office at a time convenient for you. Upon arrival, our Regional Clinic Director will welcome you to a child-friendly playroom, equipped with plenty of toys. This first meeting will be similar to a casual conversation between you and our Regional Clinic Director with the goal of understanding your child’s and family’s specific needs. There will also be a FirstSteps instructor in the room to play with your child and informally assess skills.

Your First FirstSteps Meeting

FirstSteps BCBA and child

FirstSteps Assessment Sessions

 
Assessment is ongoing throughout your child’s treatment and begins immediately. We will evaluate your child before treatment begins to determine pre-treatment/baseline skills (from which progress will be measured) and will develop treatment goals accordingly.
 

Treatment Plan Review

Based upon a detailed review of your child’s developmental history, the input you shared during our initial meeting, standardized testing, and our time formally assessing your child, a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan is generated and thoroughly reviewed with you. This will be your first experience joining your child’s clinical team and we welcome your participation, questions, and ideas.
Based upon a detailed review of your child’s developmental history, the input you shared during our initial meeting, standardized testing, and our time formally assessing your child, a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan is generated and thoroughly reviewed with you. This will be your first experience joining your child’s clinical team and we welcome your participation, questions, and ideas.

Treatment Plan Review

FirstSteps play skills in action

So What Do You Do While Waiting?

Research

Starting an ABA program can be a lot like learning a foreign language initially - so many new terms, acronyms, and procedures. Take this time to learn everything you can about autism and applied behavior analysis. See our recommended reading and listening suggestions below for a variety of suggested books, articles, and podcasts.

Research

Starting an ABA program can be a lot like learning a foreign language initially - so many new terms, acronyms, and procedures. Take this time to learn everything you can about autism and applied behavior analysis. See our recommended reading and listening suggestions below for a variety of suggested books, articles, and podcasts.

Follow These Steps!

Follow These Steps!

Make a Plan for Making Learning FUN

Gather your child's most preferred toys and other items that may be used as reinforcers and motivate your child while learning new skills. It is also useful to identify a location in your home for therapy to take place, clear it of unnecessary distractions, ensure space for both structured learning (such as a small table and chairs) and more naturalistic activities, with a variety of toys / reinforcers in bins and on shelves.

Set Up a Great Learning Environment

Grab a Notepad

You know your child best, and your FirstSteps Team will rely on your knowledge when designing your child’s program. While playing with your child, note your observations regarding their current skills, and what you would like your child to learn in the immediate future.
You know your child best, and your FirstSteps Team will rely on your knowledge when designing your child’s program. While playing with your child, note your observations regarding their current skills, and what you would like your child to learn in the immediate future.

AND Take Note!

Record all words or sounds your child uses and whether their vocalizations are independent or imitated from a model. What actions does your child imitate?What toys do they like and how do they play? Do you see any challenging behaviors that interfere with your child’s learning or enjoyment of life? If so, how often these behaviors occur, and in what particular circumstances?
Record all words or sounds your child uses and whether their vocalizations are independent or imitated from a model. What actions does your child imitate? What toys do they like and how do they play? Do you see any challenging behaviors that interfere with your child’s learning or enjoyment of life? If so, how often do these behaviors occur, and in what particular circumstances?

Frequently Asked Questions

Ask Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions and answers of our new caregivers. Please don’t hesitate to ask us more questions!

Ask Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions and answers of our new caregivers. Please don’t hesitate to ask us more questions!
FAQs

Recommended Reading & Listening

There are many resources available for you to learn about your child’s diagnosis and the evidence-based intervention you are about to begin. Below, please find the books, scientific papers, podcasts, and websites that recommend to our families as they are easily digested, reputable via scientific study, and helpful for you to know as you begin FirstSteps ABA services.

By FirstSteps Authors

Other Highly Recommended Reads

Recommended Podcasts Featuring Our Director of Research

Scientific Publications

Publications

There are hundreds of scientific studies demonstrating meaningful treatment outcomes for autistic children who receive therapeutic levels of ABA. We have listed some of the seminal studies here for your reference. We are happy to assist our FirstSteps families with securing the full articles upon request. Note, FirstSteps authors are bolded.

Bishop, M., Kenzer, A.L., Coffman, C. M., Tarbox, C., Tarbox, J., & Lanagan, T. M. (2013). Using stimulus fading without escape extinction to increase compliance with toothbrushing in children with autism, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7 (6), 680- 686 Link

Eikeseth S., Hayward, D.W., Gale, C.M., Gitlesen, J.P. & Eldevik, S. (2009). Intensity of supervision and outcome for preschool aged children receiving early and intensive behavioral interventions: A preliminary study. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. (3), 1. Link

Eldevik, S., Hastings, R. P., Hughes, J. C., Jahr, E., Eikeseth, S. & Cross, S. (2009) Meta- Analysis of Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention for Children with Autism. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 38(3),439-450. Link

Howard, J.S., Sparkman, C.R., Cohen, H.G., Green G., & Stanislaw H. (2005). A comparison of intensive behavior analytic and eclectic treatments for young children with autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 26, 359-383. Link

Harris, S.L. & Handleman, J.S. (2000). Age and IQ at intake as predictors of placement for young children with autism: A four- to six-year follow-up. J Autism Dev Disorders 30(2),137-42. Link

Lerman, D. C., Harper-Dittlinger, L., Fentress, G., & Lanagan, T. (2011). A Comparison of Methods for Collecting Data on Students’ Performance During Discrete Trial Teaching. Behavior Analysis in Practice. LinkMcEachin, J.J., Lovaas, O.I., Smith, T. (1993). Long-term outcome for children with autism who received early intensive behavioral treatment. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 97(4), 359-72. Link

Najdowski, A. C., Gould, E. R., Lanagan, T. M., & Bishop, M. R. (2014). Designing Curriculum Programs for Children with Autism. In Tarbox, J., Dixon, D. R., Sturmey, P., & Matson, J. L. (Eds.), Handbook of Early Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders: Research, Practice, and Policy (pp. 227-259). New York: Springer. Link

O. Ivar Lovaas (1987), Behavioral Treatment and Normal Educational and Intellectual Functioning in Young Autistic Children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 55 (1), 3-9. 

Schiff A., Tarbox, J., Lanagan, T., & Farag, P. (2011). Establishing compliance with liquid medication administration in a child with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 381-385. Link

Kohli Mathur, S., Renz, E., Tarbox, J. (2024). Affirming Neurodiversity within Applied Behavior Analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice. Link

Tarbox, J., Najdowski, A. C., & Lanagan, T. M. (2011). Behavioral observation and measurement. In J. Luiselli (Ed.), Teaching and Behavior Support for Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A “How To” Practitioner’s Guide. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Link

Tarbox, C., Silverman, E. A., Chastain, A. N., Little, A., Bermudez, T. L., & Tarbox, J. (2020). Taking ACTion: 18 Simple Strategies for Supporting Children with Autism During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Link

Additional Resources: ABA & ASD

ASSOCIATION FOR BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS INTERNATIONAL 

ABAI is a professional association for those interested in the philosophy, science, application, and teaching of behavior analysis. 

Visit the website »

ASSOCIATION FOR SCIENCE IN AUTISM TREATMENT (ASAT)

ASAT is dedicated to disseminating accurate, scientifically valid information about Autism and its treatment options.

Visit the website »

THE AUTISM SOCIETY OF AMERICA

With chapters throughout the United States, The Autism Society is dedicated to supporting the autistic community.

Visit the website »

 

AUTISM SPEAKS

Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

Visit the website » 

FAMILIES FOR EARLY AUTISM TREATMENT

FEAT is a caregiver-run association with the mission of providing in-person and online resources, education,  and support to newly diagnosed families and those with children receiving ABA services. They have chapters in both Northern and Southern California.

Visit the NorCal website »

Visit the SoCal website »

NATIONAL AUTISM CENTER | STANDARDS PROJECT

The National Standards Project is working towards producing a set of standards for effective, research-validated education and behavioral intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Visit the website » 

Resources Page

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