Early Days Autism Center

ESDM is a naturalistic and routine-based program that integrates a relationship-focused developmental model with teaching practices and strategies of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA/not DTT). It is the first comprehensive behavioral education empirically validated and considered Evidence-Based-Practice for toddlers with autism (ages 12-36 months and continuing until ages 48-60 months). ESDM is grounded in current empirical knowledge of infant learning, developmental psychology and education.

In practice, ESDM uses daily routines and play-based activities to facilitate developmental trajectories in young infants who are at risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder similar to their peers with typical development, reducing the severity of autism symptoms, and accelerating children’s developmental rates in all domains, and in particular on cognitive, and social-emotional skills, communication, fine and gross motor development.

For more information about ESDM please visit the UC Davis site or use link: UC Davis Mind Institute

The Group-Based Early Start Denver Model (GESDM ) is an approach developed at La Trobe university for delivering ESDM in group based programs. By implementing the GESDM children can receive education within existing community group programs; the group environment provides them with opportunities to participate in cooperative play activities with peers (both with ASD and without) and to initiate communication with peers. Furthermore it allows for targeting educational goals in the social domains.

The GESDM Manual (available here) was published at 2017 as part of the cooperation between La Trobe university and Prof. Rogers own team, Dr. Giacomo Vivanti and Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu who joined the Australian program to lead the research and implementation of a group based ESDM program, the outcomes of this program have been reported in a number of scientific publications.

What is Early Days Autism Center (EDAC)?
EDAC started in the year 2015 as a community-based program implementing the Early Start Denver Model in home settings in both the Sacramento, California.   In 2016 we began to transition to the use of the Group Early Start Denver Model in community based preschool and inclusive settings.  In 2018 we founded a partner nonprofit organization,  Every Child  to fully realize our mission to research, train and implement the GESDM in early education.  In 2020 and 2021 we expanded our reach to the San Francisco Bay area and Orange County and opened centers.  As of 2022 EDAC has partnered with more than 8 schools around the world and extensively trained 60 early educators.  Our demonstration programs (Every Child Bay, Foothills and Orange) allow us to fully embrace our unique contribution to the field as consultants.

We offer the following services:

• ONE ON ONE: Domestic Intensive education of ESDM model (**we only offer this to our youngest clients not yet ready for Group services- very limited)
• PARENT COACHING: 12 support sessions program “ESDM for parents” developed at the MIND Institute and delivered by official coaches.
• PLAY GROUPS: parent coaching with children in play-groups to promote parents’ empowerment and children’s social interactions with peers.
• GROUPS: specialized groups using the GESDM model to support social skill development, communication and play with peers
• INCLUSION PROGRAMS: Supervision of inclusion programing in preschools using the G- ESDM Model education in preschools, eliciting learning opportunities with peers.
• CONSULTING: Supervision, coaching and consultative services for clinicians and educators.

We offer consulting services in the ESDM and GESDM to:

• PARENTS
• CLINICAL PROFESSIONALS
• EDUCATORS

Who is the founder of EDAC?

Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu, Ph.D. is a developmental and licensed clinical psychologist specializing in working with young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families. She worked as a clinical supervisor and project manager for the Collaborative Start Laboratory at the UC Davis MIND Institute for twelve years under the mentorship of Dr. Sally J. Rogers. She was also a lead trainer in the ESDM Training Program. Dr. Zierhut also managed a collaborative Group-ESDM group delivery project in Melbourne Australia in 2011 with her colleagues Dr. Cheryl Dissanayake and Dr. Giacomo Vivanti. Dr. Zierhut Ursu aims to make accessible high quality learning opportunities for therapists in local communities and for our international colleagues to disseminate the ESDM so that more children and families have access to this highly effective intervention in those early days.

Who are we?

EDAC comprises an international team of Certified therapist, Instructional Assistants and Consultants who provide services in English, Italian, Spanish and Vietnamese. We are providers for Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Shield of California, MHN, Magellan, Tricare, and United Healthcare*

*verification of benefits required to determine eligibility.