Firstpath Autism Announcement Archives

ANNOUNCING: 29+ New Lessons for ABA Therapy at Home!

Here at FirstPath Autism, we believe that by providing families and professionals with access to the same clinical treatments we use every day, we can help more children reach their potential and interact successfully with their peers.

Our program is based on the principle and procedures of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which has the highest success rate and is the most widely recommended treatment for autism. What is ABA? It’s the research-based process of helping individuals to change and better specific behaviors.

FirstPath Autism’s video-based lessons and strategies serve as an introduction to ABA for individuals who have never received services, yet they’re also a helpful resource for individuals who currently receive ABA. FirstPath Autism can be a starting point, or supplemental reinforcement for an existing learning process. Each online lesson also comes with a lesson guide and data sheet so you can track progress, and our lesson progression chart provides guidance as you work through the curriculum.

Using real interactions between children and autism professionals, our videos provide step-by-step examples of how to help children and young adults with autism develop the behaviors and skills they need to move forward and reach their potential.

In addition to our wide selection of previously available video resources, we’re excited to announce the addition of another 29+ videos to our ever-growing library!

We hope you take a look at the broad range of behavioral, social, life, and academic skills and let us know what you think about the new videos!

Behavior management
– Meltdowns
– Self-stimulatory
– Self-injurious
– Non-compliance
– Bolting
– AggressionMaladaptive Behaviors

– Meltdowns

– Non-compliance

– Self-stimulatory

– Bolting

|– LEARNING SKILLS –|

Learning readiness
– Reinforcer assessment
– Token system
– Readiness and compliance skills
– Following instructions
– Asking / Requesting (Basic & Advanced)

Imitation skills
– Imitating actions
– Imitating speech

Classroom readiness
– Basic writing (Writing/Art Skills)

Labeling skills
– Identifying objects
– Identifying colors
– Identifying shapes
– Identifying parts of the body
– Identifying people and occupations
– Identifying actions

Labeling skills (Advanced)
– Complete sentences
– Feature, function, class of objects
– Prepositions
– Pronouns

Visual performance skills
– Puzzles
– Matching and sorting
– Block Imitation

Pre-Reading skills
– Letter Matching
– Letter identification: Upper- and lower-case
– Phonics and blends
– Rhymes

Reading skills
– Reading comprehension

Pre-math skills
– Counting: Rote and terminal
– 1:1 Correspondence: Counting objects
– Number ID
– Number to quantity match
– Patterns and sequencing
– Number sequencing

Math skills
– More than/Less than (Basic)
– Simple addition
– Simple subtraction
– Telling time

Behavior strategies

– Self-injury

– Fragile Learner

– ABC Data collection

– Extinction Burst

|– LIFE SKILLS –| Self-help skills
– Eating skills
– Eating new foods
– Dressing skills
– Grooming skills
– Toileting

Community safety
– Safety and rule signs
– Situations and decision making
– Community Outing
– Assertion
– Desensitization and coping skills

|– SOCIAL SKILLS –|

Conversation (Basic)
– Familiar fill-ins
– Answering WH (e.g., Who, What, When, Where, How) questions
– Greetings and closings

Conversation (Advanced)
– Personal information
– Simple statements
– Follow-up questions
– Follow-up Comments and Questions
– Asking WH questions
– Measuring exchanges

Theory of mind
– Labeling and identify emotions
– Situation-based emotions
– Steps to Social Success (Social Stories)

Observational Learning
– Sequencing and Predication
– Basic memory skills: What is missing?
– Learning to describe: Tell me about …

|– PLAY SKILLS –|

Play skills
– Independent Play
– Parallel play
– Interactive play
– Pretend play

Interested in getting started with FirstPath Autism’s scientifically proven program of success? If you haven’t yet signed up for a free trial, now’s your chance. Help your child reach his potential and interact successfully with his peers using FirstPath Autism’s invaluable training resources, and be sure to check out all the new video lessons!

06/04/2016/by Firstpath Autism

What will Autism support look like in 100 years?

Did you ever bury a time capsule when you were young? Many of us feel a pull to preserve the present, especially as we feel time racing by. We want to leave our mementos for someone else to find. Invariably, the exercise leads us to ponder our futures, to ask, “What will the world look like 100 years from now?”

Just ten years ago in 2006, the incidence of autism in the United States was 1 in 110. Today, about 1 in 68 children has an autism spectrum disorder. The autism rate is rising, and the increase triggers changes in government policy, insurance funding, research, and societal norms.

While we can’t see into a crystal ball and predict the future, we can look at current trends and patterns to help us identify what we hope to see happening with autism support in 2016.

ABA therapy becomes available and accessible for everyone

Limited local availability and high cost are the two most significant roadblocks to families seeking Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services today. There aren’t enough trained clinicians to meet the demand, particularly in more remote areas. Plus, paying for therapy sessions out-of-pocket is out of the question for some families, and it severely strains the resources of others.

Within the next 100 years, we anticipate an increase in the number of ABA therapists and a complete reformation of insurance coverage for autism services, too.

As it so happens, this shift has already begun. Some states and companies continue to refuse ABA coverage, but many more are making positive changes. (Check out Autism Speaks’ State Initiatives page to learn more about insurance reform initiatives in your particular state.)

FirstPath Autism exists to help bridge the gap between families and professional, affordable ABA services. Though in-person therapy isn’t an option for everyone right now, our video library of lessons allows autism families to practice ABA from home.

Mistreatment and abuse can be halted by giving individuals a voice

Autism awareness has come a long way in the last few decades, but there are still disturbingly frequent incidents of prejudice, injustice, and mistreatment of individuals on the spectrum. By 2116, we hope that individuals with autism will be welcomed and fully included in our schools, homes, and communities.

Terri Baker’s son Kyle was treated by our FirstPath Autism Founder, Romey Kiryakous and her team at the Genesis Behavior Center. As Baker wrote in her Student Story guest post, How ABA Therapy unlocked Kyle’s world:

“ABA gave Kyle his voice and saved him …. Kyle had been physically, mentally, and verbally abused by teachers, principals, and administrators for years. This had been the reason his behavior had been so out of control; he had had no voice to get help.”

We grieve the prejudice and poor treatment that Kyle endured, and we’re honored to provide the ABA therapy tools that help individuals to speak up in abusive situations.

The strengths of individuals with autism are harnessed and their contributions honored

In the last decade, we’ve seen major companies step up to the autism employment plate, notably Freddie Mac, Microsoft, Walgreens, and SAP.

On a local level, myriad nonprofits and small businesses now employ adults on the spectrum to farm and harvest organic food, provide service at restaurants, welcome guests at hotels, and create new technology, media, and art.

In the future, we anticipate more innovative businesses and services springing up, allowing adults with autism to contribute to society and earn their livings too.

The gifts of neurodiversity are embraced

When it comes to autism support, we don’t need to aim for uniformity or conformity. Instead, we need to figure out ways to welcome our differences and suspend judgment about what qualifies as a “normal” brain.

As Steve Silberman writes in his bestselling book, NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity:

“By autistic standards, the ‘normal’ brain is easily distractible, is obsessively social, and suffers from a deficit of attention to detail and routine. Thus people on the spectrum experience the neurotypical world as relentlessly unpredictable and chaotic, perpetually turned up too loud, and full of people who have little respect for personal space.”

As we move forward into the future, we at FirstPath Autism focus on supporting individuals with autism in their social and emotional learning. In this way, we equip people on the spectrum to succeed even as we adjust our own expectations and behavior.

Did this post inspire you? Then be sure to share it with your social networks!

02/15/2016/by Firstpath Autism

Firstpath Autism Announcement

Firstpath Autism is a Lifeline for Parents

“Why should effective autism treatments be kept from parents?”

FirstPath Autism began because of that fundamental question. At the Genesis Behavior Center in Turlock, California, our founder Romina Kiryakous (aka “Romey”) saw just how much Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques helped local children.

However, Romina also knew that millions more individuals with autism and their families lacked ABA services. And she was determined to offer affordable, accessible support for those outside the Turlock area.

Now, after years of planning and preparation, Romina’s dream is a reality. We’ve created FirstPath to bridge the gap between autism families and clinically proven, effective ABA services. In short, FirstPath Autism is an autism lifeline for parents.

We know firsthand how hard it can be to parent a child on the autism spectrum, yet we also know that individuals with autism have tremendous abilities and unique gifts. ABA Therapy is an excellent, research-proven way to help empower and support individuals with autism.

Our mission is to help more children with autism to reach their potential, and we believe that by providing families with access to the same clinical treatments we use every day at the Genesis Behavior Center, we can do just that.

One Family’s Story

Meet Shirley Nutt, whose son Wyatt just turned 16. When speaking about Wyatt’s autism-spectrum diagnosis eleven years ago, she says,

“I was actually relieved; I thought, ‘Now we know what it is … let’s see what we can do.’ But … we felt very lost. Nobody could help us, there was no help at all.”

Since there were fewer autism organizations and support systems available when Wyatt was diagnosed, Nutt and her husband sought out parent groups and resources on their own. That’s when they met Romina and heard about ABA for the first time.

Now, Shirley says,

“I would definitely, 1000% recommend FirstPath, without hesitation. I would do it again for my son. I still use the techniques that I’ve learned [through ABA].”

In fact, when Shirley recounts the first-ever conversation she had with Wyatt after he began working with an ABA specialist, she tears up, saying,

“It was amazing. I would give anything for every parent to experience that.”

And that’s the promise of FirstPath: that you can access the tools necessary to promote connections with your child. The FirstPath program is a curated series of ABA training videos featuring professionals with decades of ABA experience, but the motivation behind it is deeply personal.

It’s the car ride when a mother like Shirley Nutt has a verbal dialogue with her son.

It’s the instant when a daughter makes eye contact with her father.

It’s the first time that two siblings play a game together without prompting.

True, it takes consistent practice for individuals with autism to learn the social skills necessary to facilitate these moments. But aren’t these points of connection worth working toward, worth fighting for?

Making Life Easier for Parents

At FirstPath, we understand that securing autism support and advocating for your child with autism can be as demanding as a full-time job. As such, we want to help make life easier for you as a parent while empowering your child to make gains.

Our ABA video series focuses on helping individuals with autism to make tangible, day-to-day victories. That’s why the FirstPath video library includes instruction on dressing skills, interactive play, emotions labeling, and more.

And while our videos do not replace the value of a full-time ABA therapist, they do give you an affordable way to have more control over your child’s learning, using proven, evidence-based methods and treatment strategies.

What Does A Free Trial of FirstPath Autism Include?

Help your child develop to their full potential. Our free 14-day trial includes:

50+ videos to improve your child’s behaviors and skills.
Live phone support from Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) professionals through our ABA Helpline.
Full access to our video treatment library from your home, school, or office.
…and more!

So, why should effective autism treatments be kept from parents like you? Here’s our immediate, heartfelt answer: It shouldn’t be!

09/15/2015/by Firstpath Autism

Autism Resources, Firstpath Autism Announcement

5 things you should know about FirstPath Autism

FirstPath Autism – Are you feeling alone and overwhelmed in the wake of your child’s autism diagnosis? Are you frustrated by the lack of effective, accessible services available to you?

If so, you’re in the right place; FirstPath Autism is here to support you and your family. Our program is designed to bridge the gap between families and trained ABA specialists. We empower children to reach their potential and interact successfully with their peers by providing families and professionals with access to clinically-based support.

FirstPath’s full website launches Fall 2015, but before we do we’d like you to know 5 things about our program:

1. FirstPath Autism is your Autism lifeline.

We offer online ABA-based video training for parents and care providers of children with autism, but in reality, we’re much more than that. FirstPath Autism is a service with the potential to transform your family’s daily life. Our lessons facilitate developmental strides for children and peace of mind for parents and care providers.

We are offering research-proven autism support. So, if you’re dealing with daily meltdowns, anxiety, challenging behaviors, or you just need more autism help, we are here for you. Download our helpful guide to managing a meltdown and sign up for notification of our launch. Soon you will have access to FirstPath Autism’s video library and the power to reduce challenging behaviors.

The best part? Our offerings serve as an introduction to ABA for individuals who have never received services, yet they’re also a helpful resource for individuals who currently receive ABA. FirstPath Autism can be a starting point, or supplemental reinforcement for an existing learning process.

2. FirstPath Autism identifies with your struggles and celebrates your triumphs.

It is tremendously difficult to parent a child on the autism spectrum, but it’s rewarding, too. Individuals with autism are uniquely talented, and capable of significant contributions to their families and communities. FirstPath’s ABA program is a scientifically-based way to allow that potential to unfold.

FirstPath Autism founder Romina Kiryakous is an autism pioneer who has dedicated her career to mitigating challenging behaviors. Along with her team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts at the Genesis Behavior Center in central California, she has worked for over ten years to develop a unique, highly effective, ABA research based approach.

Romina and her team have helped hundreds of children with ASD over the years. Individuals who were once unable to make eye contact are now smiling and talking with the help of ABA clinicians.

We know that your child’s tangible gains mean the world to you. That’s why Romina founded FirstPath Autism: so that more children can receive ABA and connect with the world in new ways.

3. Our ABA helpline provides live, personalized support.

What’s one of the best things that you can do as a parent to help your children progress? Receive support yourself. As a FirstPath Autism member, you’ll also have optional access to a live helpline staffed by autism professionals. You can ask autism therapy questions and receive real-time guidance on your ABA journey.

We understand that having a child with autism can be an isolating experience, and we are committed to supporting you every day. You are not alone.

4. You have complete access to FirstPath Autism’s blog which is full of free autism resources.

FirstPath is launching a blog to cover topics relevant to you and your family. We’ll take on social skills, emotional regulation challenges, ABA therapy tips, sensory processing disorder information, autism news, and more. You can count on us to share relevant information and educational resources through new posts each week.

5. FirstPath Autism serves the needs of many.

At FirstPath, we help individuals from preschool through high school age, and our clinicians are qualified to help children with many neurological diagnoses, including:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Anxiety
Tourette’s Syndrome
Emotional disturbance

In fact, we can even help neuro-typical kids experiencing difficulties related to teenage rebellion and tasks such as homework. Our team believes that behavioral analysis is like physics; it works with everything.

So, don’t miss out on free resources, support, and an exclusive free trial. We believe in your children, and we believe in you.

Lastly, if you’re brand new to the FirstPath community, please take a moment to leave a comment and say “hello!” We can’t wait to get to know our growing community.

07/17/2015/by Firstpath Autism