Serving Burlington, MA
ABA Therapy for Burlington, MA Families
First Steps Developmental Services provides ABA therapy for young children in Burlington, Massachusetts and the surrounding Middlesex County towns. Our Woburn center is about 13 minutes from Burlington, delivering individualized, play-based programs for children with Autism and Down Syndrome under age six.
WORKING HOURS 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM
BCBA-owned and operated
ABA Services for Burlington, MA Families
Families in Burlington seeking ABA therapy for a child with autism or Down syndrome can access services through our Woburn ABA center. First Steps Developmental Services provides individualized 1:1 EIBI programs for children under age six, delivered by Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs).
Our clinical team works with Burlington families to develop practical communication, social, and adaptive skills — building progress that carries into daily life at home, at play, and in the community. We do not have a waiting list for new patients.
Alongside center-based programming, home-based ABA is available for children three and under, bringing a therapist directly to your Burlington home. Caregiver and parent coaching is also available to help families extend their child's progress beyond the therapy session.
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After an Evaluation: Next Steps for Burlington Families
If your child was evaluated by a developmental pediatrician at Atrius Health in Burlington — or at the Mass General Lurie Center for Autism in Lexington, or by another provider — and an autism diagnosis was confirmed, or if your child has Down syndrome, the next step is typically an ABA assessment. First Steps Developmental Services begins with a comprehensive evaluation conducted by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, reviewing your child's current strengths, communication abilities, and developmental priorities to build an individualized treatment plan with specific, measurable goals.
Some families continue physical, occupational, or speech therapy alongside ABA, addressing different areas of development in parallel. When families are already receiving those services, our BCBAs coordinate goals so the programs work together rather than duplicating each other.
Before therapy begins, the BCBA walks families through the treatment plan and explains what each goal means and how progress will be measured. The plan is reviewed regularly and adjusted as your child grows. Learn more about our assessment and treatment planning process.
Schools in Burlington
Burlington Early Childhood Center (BECC), located at Burlington High School, 123 Cambridge Street, is the town's integrated public preschool for children aged three to five. It supports children in general education and special education settings, with services in speech-language, fine motor, and gross motor development. For children approaching that setting, ABA therapy builds the foundational skills a group classroom requires: following instructions, managing transitions, and communicating with peers.
Play-based ABA therapy allows children to practice communication and social skills in natural, low-pressure settings — sharing toys, taking turns, requesting items — the same behaviors that matter most when entering a preschool environment for the first time.
First Steps Developmental Services offers a dedicated Preschool and Daycare Readiness program to support exactly this transition. First Steps Developmental Services also provides a School Partnership Program available to public and charter schools in Massachusetts — Behavior Technician support and BCBA consultation for students with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental challenges, subject to staffing availability and scheduling.
Getting to Our Woburn Center from Burlington
First Steps Developmental Services is located at 18 Commerce Way, Suite 1500, Woburn, MA 01801. From Memorial School, 125 Winn Street in Burlington, the drive is about 3.5 miles and about 13 minutes depending on traffic, via Mishawum Road into Woburn and then Commerce Way.
18 Commerce Way, Suite 1500
Woburn, MA 01801
≈ 13 min from Burlington
Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM–6:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Burlington families have access to both center-based and home-based ABA?
Yes. First Steps Developmental Services provides center-based ABA at 18 Commerce Way in Woburn — about 13 minutes from Burlington — in half-day and full-day formats. Home-based ABA is also available for children three and under, with a therapist traveling to your Burlington home. A hybrid model combining center and home delivery is available as well. The BCBA recommends the format that best fits your child's current needs and your family's schedule.
How far is the First Steps Developmental Services center from Burlington, and what is the drive?
From Memorial School on Winn Street in Burlington, the drive to 18 Commerce Way, Suite 1500, Woburn is about 3.5 miles and about 13 minutes depending on traffic, via Mishawum Road into Woburn and Commerce Way.
What age range does First Steps Developmental Services serve?
First Steps Developmental Services specializes in ABA therapy for children under age six — the early developmental window where structured, play-based support has its greatest impact on communication, social, and adaptive development.
Which insurance plans does First Steps Developmental Services accept?
First Steps Developmental Services accepts most major insurance plans for ABA therapy, including Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Tufts Health Plan, Carelon Behavioral Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, Aetna, Fallon Health, and Health New England. Coverage is verified before services begin, and the team handles insurance authorizations. As of January 1, 2026, Massachusetts requires insurers to cover ABA therapy for children with Down syndrome. Call (781) 460-9756 or email info@firststepsds.com to confirm your specific plan.
Is a formal diagnosis required before starting at First Steps Developmental Services?
ABA therapy at First Steps Developmental Services is available to children who have received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder or Down syndrome. If your child has not yet been evaluated, our Early Insights developmental assessment may be a useful first step — or contact the team to talk through your situation.
What happens after an evaluation in Burlington, and how do we begin?
After an autism diagnosis is confirmed — whether through a developmental pediatrician at Atrius Health in Burlington, at the Lurie Center for Autism in Lexington, or by another provider — the next step is typically an ABA assessment at First Steps Developmental Services. A BCBA conducts a comprehensive evaluation of your child's current skills and developmental priorities and builds an individualized treatment plan with specific, measurable goals. Families review the plan before therapy begins, and goals are updated regularly as your child progresses. To start, call (781) 460-9756 or send a message through the contact form on this page.
Can my child receive ABA therapy if they have Down syndrome but not autism?
Yes. First Steps Developmental Services provides ABA therapy for children with Down syndrome as well as children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Massachusetts requires state-regulated health plans to cover ABA therapy for children with Down syndrome as of January 1, 2026. Call us and we will verify your plan.
When is First Steps Developmental Services open, and how do I book a support call?
First Steps Developmental Services is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The team offers a free 30-minute parent support call — a chance to talk through your child's situation, ask questions, and explore next steps with no commitment to begin services. Call (781) 460-9756 or email info@firststepsds.com to schedule a time.
What Families Say
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