Helping Children of All Ages
Our children’s services include Early Intervention, Developmental Treatment and School-Age Developmental treatment programs. Children in these programs are offered specialized care to aid in their development.
Infants and Toddlers
The Early Intervention program at First Step is designed to work with children ages birth to 3 years of age. A developmental therapist will work one-on-one with your child and caregiver to improve developmental skills and demonstrate techniques that can be reinforced throughout the week by the caregiver.
Is your child performing at age-appropriate levels in the following skills?
- Sitting
- Talking
- Walking
- Jumping
- Running
- Playing
If you have noticed problems in one or more of these areas, you may be seeing signs of developmental delay.
These might have been caused by premature birth, a condition that requires special attention, or one of many other reasons. Regardless of the cause, it’s important to know that early detection and intervention can ensure the best possible outcome.
Upon the recommendation of your physician, our Early Intervention staff will assess the developmental level of your child and help you pinpoint a strategy that will be most effective. By working as a team with your family and your child’s physician, the professionals at First Step can help your child achieve the best possible results.
Services can be received at no cost to the family at the child’s home, current childcare setting, or at the First Step Center.
For Children Not Yet in School
If your child has developmental delays or any of a number of other developmental concerns, you want him or her to be as prepared as possible to attend public school.
The First Step Developmental Treatment Services for Children focuses on getting your preschooler ready for school. We teach your child basic skills and offer the special attention essential for paving the way to a successful venture into the public school setting.
Upon the approval of your family physician, our Developmental Treatment Services staff—which includes certified Developmental Treatment Coordinators and their assistants—will evaluate your child’s skills and strengths, identify goals and needs, and then chart a fun and exciting course toward success.
We use creative strategies and professional expertise to work alongside each child, encouraging him or her to develop a sense of pride and accomplishment—something that sometimes can be difficult for children with developmental delays to reach on their own.
At First Step, there are no failures or disappointments. It’s just your child, working hard to become his or her best.
For Children not Served in Public School
Our program for school-age children is designed to serve those who need special focus whether their needs are physical, emotional or medical. We teach a very determined group of young people some of the fundamental tasks of youth: dressing and feeding themselves, placing an order at a restaurant and shopping at Wal-Mart. We teach all the independent skills that enable them to function to the best of their abilities.
Our certified Special Education teachers and their assistants demonstrate the commitment and patience to work with every child to bring about the highest levels of independence in their students. We assess continuously for our students’ progress.
For more information, contact your local education representative or call First Step at (501) 624-6468 for contact information.
For Children with Sensory Needs
Because children with autism and sensory, behavioral, and communication needs are each unique, the Ann and Nick Tillman Project will strive to find the right approach for treating each individual.
Teachers, therapists and other workers are trained in numerous techniques to meet the individual needs of participants. The ratio of staff to children is 1:4.
This unique and cutting-edge project was named for Ann and Nick Tillman whose child received services at First Step and for years lent their support to the organization. Ann Tillman chaired the 2008 Designers Vision House, the first fundraising event of the First Step Foundation.
Nick and Ann lost their lives in a plane crash just days after the closing of the Designers Vision House event. Children with autism and the First Step organization were dear to their hearts. We can think of no better way to honor their memory.