FIRST STEPS EARLY SCREENING
EARLY CLARITY, COMPASSIONATE GUIDANCE, & A CLEAR PATH FORWARD
First Steps Early Autism & Developmental Screening Program
✔ Personalized Recommendations
✔ Compassionate Guidance
✔ Early Identification
✔ Expert Clinicians
✔ Reduced Wait Times
For Toddlers & Young Children (18 Months - 6 Years)
Many parents notice early signs that something about their child's development feels different, whether it's delayed speech, difficulty with transitions, sensory sensitivities, reduced eye contact, or concerns raised by daycare or preschool. These observations can feel overwhelming, and it's not always clear what they mean or what to do next.
First Steps is a structured early-identification and developmental screening program led by child psychologists at IMPACT Psychological Services. Designed for children between 18 months and 6 years, the program helps families understand how their child is developing overall and whether their child's traits are consistent with autism risk or other developmental differences. Rather than waiting months for a comprehensive evaluation, First Steps offers a faster pathway to clarity, giving families the information they need to take meaningful next steps sooner.
What Does the Screening Assess?
First Steps evaluates a range of developmental areas to give families a
well-rounded picture of their child's functioning. Our screening process looks at:
✔ Autism Likelihood
Identifying behavioral and social-communication patterns associated with autism spectrum risk
✔ Social-Communication Differences
Observing how your child initiates interaction, responds to others, and engages in shared activities
✔ Language & Communication Development
Assessing early speech, gestures, joint attention, and symbolic play
✔ Emotional Regulation
Evaluating your child's ability to manage transitions, frustration, and big emotional reactions
✔ Sensory Processing Differences
Screening for sensory seeking, avoidance, or sensitivity patterns
✔ Global Developmental Concerns
Identifying whether developmental differences are focal or more broadly impacting motor, cognitive, and adaptive skills
By examining these areas together, our clinicians can distinguish between autism-related traits and other developmental considerations such as language delay, sensory regulation challenges, or the effects of early developmental trauma.
How the Program Works
The First Steps program is designed to be thorough yet efficient, giving families clear answers without the months-long wait that often accompanies full evaluations. The process includes four key steps:
1. Intake & Screening Visit
Your child's screening begins with a detailed parent interview and a play-based observation session (approximately 90 minutes total, which can be completed in one visit or split across two). During the parent interview, our clinician will walk through your child's developmental history, including pregnancy and birth history, early milestones, social engagement patterns, sensory sensitivities, play preferences, and family neurodivergence history. Your child will also complete a series of brief, play-based observational tasks designed to assess joint attention, imitation, flexibility, symbolic play, regulation, and use of gestures and eye gaze.
2. Standardized Screening Battery
Alongside the clinical interview and observation, we administer a carefully selected set of standardized screening tools based on your child's age and presenting concerns. These may include parent-report autism screeners, broad developmental questionnaires, language and communication scales, adaptive functioning measures, and sensory profile assessments. These instruments are chosen to capture a comprehensive picture of your child's development across multiple domains.
3. Scoring & Integration
Following the screening visit, our clinician scores and integrates all data, including parent reports, screener results, observational findings, and developmental history, to determine your child's overall risk profile.
4. Feedback & Roadmap Session
You'll meet with our clinician for a dedicated feedback session where we walk through the findings together. You'll receive a screening summary that includes the reason for referral, tools used, behavioral observations, risk level determination, and personalized recommendations. We also offer optional follow-up coordination to help connect your family with appropriate next steps.
Is First Steps Right for Your Family?
First Steps may be a good fit if:
Your child is between 18 months and 6 years old
You've noticed differences in your child's speech, social engagement, play, or behavior
A pediatrician, daycare provider, or preschool teacher has raised developmental concerns
You're seeking clarity but aren't sure if a full evaluation is needed yet
You want a faster pathway to answers and recommendations
→ If screening results indicate elevated autism likelihood, we can refer your family directly for a comprehensive neuropsychological or developmental evaluation at IMPACT, ensuring continuity of care.
Why Early Screening Matters
When children receive support sooner, they have more time to build foundational communication and regulation skills during the critical early developmental window.
Early screening allows children to access intervention services earlier, build communication, social, and regulation skills during key developmental periods, reduce long-term frustration for both the child and family, and give parents the confidence and understanding they need to support their child effectively.
First Steps was created to bridge the gap between a parent's first concern and actionable guidance, reducing wait times and giving families a clear path forward rather than months of uncertainty.
Research consistently shows that earlier identification of autism and developmental differences leads to better outcomes.
WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE
Every Family That Completes The First Steps Program Receives:
A clear explanation of findings and what they mean for your child
An understanding of your child's strengths and areas of vulnerability
A risk level determination (low likelihood, elevated likelihood, or mixed/unclear
Guidance on whether a full neuropsychological evaluation is recommended
Personalized recommendations, which may include parent coaching or therapy, speech therapy referral, occupational therapy referral, monitoring and re-screening, or referral for a comprehensive developmental or neuropsychological assessment
All-Inclusive Cost: $1,000
The program fee covers all screening visits, standardized measures, scoring and integration, and the feedback session with a written summary.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
First Steps is a screening program, not a diagnostic evaluation. It's designed to identify developmental risk markers, provide clarity on your child's current functioning, and determine whether a full evaluation is recommended. A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation involves more extensive testing and typically results in a formal diagnosis and detailed report.
-
The screening visit is approximately 90 minutes (which can be split across two sessions). After the visit, our team completes scoring and integration before scheduling your feedback session. Most families complete the full program within two to three weeks.
-
First Steps is designed for toddlers and young children ages 18 months through 6 years.
-
If your child's results indicate an elevated likelihood of autism or other developmental concerns, we'll discuss specific referral options during your feedback session. This may include a recommendation for a full neuropsychological or developmental evaluation at IMPACT, as well as referrals for speech therapy, occupational therapy, or early intervention services.
-
The First Steps program is offered at an all-inclusive cost of $1,000. Please contact our office to discuss payment options. For information about insurance and assessments more broadly, visit our Fees/Insurance page.
Thrive. Heal. Grow. Restore.
Take the First Step!
If you have questions about your child's development, you don't have to wait for answers.
✔ Safe & Supportive Environment
✔ Inclusive Care
✔ Expert Clinicians
✔ Tailored Treatment
Your Journey Starts Here