Friends in STEP (Social Thinking, Executive function, Physical fitness)

New playground equipment is the best gift to preschool students. Enrolling now! Contact Brittany Freilinger at 513-423-9496 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Abilities First is fundraising for a fully inclusive playground. We are always accepting donations for children's services.

Abilities First School Age Program offers both before and after school care for school-agers up to 5th grade. We have incorporated the K-12 guidelines into our school age program to reinforce the skills our children are learning at school. Contact Brittany Freilinger at 513-423-9496 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As the program continues to grow, we are always accepting donations for the Autism Learning Center. Abilities First Autism Learning Center is currently enrolling 1st and 2nd grade students.
The highly acclaimed Autism Learning Center started a new school year on Aug. 22nd with 4 classrooms serving Preschool, Kindergarten,1st, and 2nd grade students.
The ALC has grown since its inception in 2009. With the addition of Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade classrooms, Abilities First is able to prepare more children with Autism the opportunity to be well equipped with the skills to engage in one of these classroom environments:
*3rd grade at local school district
*3rd grade at local school district with Special Ed Support
*Specialized school for students with autism
*Home Schooling
The ALC practices:
-Educational content alignment with Ohio Department of Education learning standards
-Individualized Learning Plan requirements
-Inclusion activities
-Routine parent teacher conferences
Family Advocate/Social Worker to assist with family needs
-Regularly scheduled home and community visits to help families generalize and carry over approaches used and skills learned into daily life and problem solve critical issues
-Assistance with transitioning into local school districts
-On-site year-round childcare provided at additional cost
-Additional year round outpatient therapies and specialized summer programming (subject to availability and additional cost)
-Group and individual Physical, Occupational and Speech Language Therapy, Music Therapy and Animal Assisted Therapy.
Request a tour, ask a question, or register now for the Autism Learning Center. Contact Bettie at (513) 423-9496 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kids Connect 2 and the Friends in S.T.E.P. social groups ended their summer with a fun night at Kings Island on August 31st. The crew rode many rides and the night was capped off with fireworks! Everyone looks forward to this outing each year. Special thanks goes out to staff and volunteers who helped make this night a success. The next outing will be a night at Niederman Farm in October.

Kids Connect 2 social group is best suited for children who are verbal and have challenges with their social communication skills. The group provides children the opportunity to learn how to interact with peers. Fun activities are designed to target flexible thinking, expected and unexpected behaviors, following the group plan, and the size of the problem.

Friends in STEP (Social Thinking, Executive function, Physical fitness) is designed to increase independence with activities of daily living, social communication, fitness, nutrition and problem solving. The group works on organization and planning by incorporating community outings and utilization of these skills in everyday situations. An evaluation is needed for appropriate placement.