For families in the greater Boston area navigating a new autism diagnosis, the immediate availability of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy is now a reality at First Steps Developmental Services. The center-based ABA therapy center located at 18 Commerce Way in Woburn has announced it is accepting enrollments with no waiting list in place, allowing families with children from birth to age six to initiate the intake process immediately. This development directly confronts a significant challenge in autism care, where waitlists for quality therapy can extend for months while crucial developmental windows identified by researchers continue to close.
"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. "We established this center to eliminate that barrier. Families who reach out today can begin the process as soon as this week." Scalzo brings over twenty years of experience in autism education to the center, which he founded with a mission rooted in both personal conviction as a parent and professional expertise. He holds a Master's degree in Severe Needs Special Education from Simmons University and has dedicated his career to developing evidence-based programs for young children.
The center provides both full-day and half-day programs, each structured around a dedicated one-to-one therapist for every child. Programming is tailored and play-based, incorporating three core daily activities: circle time focused on the calendar, weather, and peer social interaction; one-on-one therapy sessions targeting each child's unique goals; and tactile, kinesthetic group activities designed to enhance communication, peer interaction, and various educational skills. The clinical environment includes two therapy spaces—the Discovery Room and the Explorers Room—designed to feel inviting and child-centered rather than clinical.
A fundamental aspect of the program is family involvement, with parent and caregiver coaching integrated into the model to ensure skills developed at the center are reinforced at home. For families uncertain about where to start, a complimentary thirty-minute parent support call is available with no commitment to services required. Regarding accessibility, First Steps Developmental Services is currently in-network with several major insurance 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 an autism diagnosis, and the First Steps team assists families with benefit verification and enrollment.
The immediate enrollment opportunity at https://firststepsds.com represents a significant shift in local autism service delivery, potentially reducing developmental delays caused by treatment gaps. By removing the waitlist barrier, the center enables earlier intervention, which research consistently links to improved long-term outcomes for children on the autism spectrum. This model, designed by a caregiver for caregivers, emphasizes equipping families with knowledge and tools from the first day, addressing a systemic issue in behavioral health services where demand often outstrips timely availability.
