For families in the greater Boston area navigating a new autism diagnosis, the immediate availability of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy at First Steps Developmental Services represents a significant shift in access to early intervention services. The center, located at 18 Commerce Way in Woburn, has eliminated its waiting list entirely, allowing children from birth to age six to begin the intake process immediately.
Research consistently identifies early childhood as a crucial developmental window for children with autism spectrum disorder. Delays in accessing therapy during this period can have lasting impacts on skill acquisition and developmental trajectories. "Every week a child spends waiting is a week of potential growth that doesn't happen," said Jarrod Scalzo, MSEd, BCBA, LABA, Founder and CEO of First Steps Developmental Services. The center's policy of immediate enrollment directly addresses what has become a systemic barrier in autism care across many regions.
First Steps Developmental Services operates as a center-based ABA therapy program with a model designed specifically for young children. The program offers both full-day and half-day options, each providing dedicated one-on-one therapists for every child. Therapy sessions are play-based and tailored to individual goals, incorporating structured activities like circle time for social interaction and tactile group activities designed to enhance communication and educational skills.
The center features two clinical therapy spaces—the Discovery Room and the Explorers Room—that are intentionally designed to feel inviting and child-centered rather than clinical. Family involvement is integrated into the therapeutic model through parent and caregiver coaching, ensuring skills developed at the center are reinforced in home environments.
Accessibility is further supported through insurance partnerships. First Steps Developmental Services is currently in-network with major providers including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tufts Health Plan, Harvard Pilgrim, Aetna, Cigna/Evernorth, and Carelon, with United Healthcare in the process of being added. Massachusetts law mandates insurance coverage for ABA therapy for children with autism diagnoses, and the center's team assists families with benefit verification before any service commitments are required.
The elimination of waitlists at specialized therapy centers has broader implications for autism service delivery systems. When children can access evidence-based interventions immediately following diagnosis, it potentially improves long-term outcomes and reduces the need for more intensive supports later in development. For families in Middlesex and Essex Counties, this availability represents not just convenience but a fundamental change in how early intervention services are delivered during critical developmental periods.
