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  5. First Words Project — Early Social Communication Milestones
Learning Resource›Toolkit

First Words Project — Early Social Communication Milestones

by FSU Autism Institute — FIRST WORDS® Project

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About this resource

About

The FIRST WORDS® Project is a longitudinal research programme at the Florida State University Autism Institute, directed by Dr. Amy Wetherby and funded by the U.S. Department of Education, NIH, and CDC. For decades it has studied early social communication development in thousands of children and produced foundational knowledge on the earliest detectable signs of autism and language delay.

What It Does

The project's public website (firstwordsproject.com) offers:

  • 16 by 16™ Lookbooks — illustrated guides showing the 16 gestures and 16 actions with objects children should demonstrate by 16 months as a foundation for spoken language
  • Social Communication Growth Charts — milestone charting tools for tracking month-by-month development from 9 to 24 months
  • Free downloadable handouts for parents and providers in English and Spanish
  • Clear information on early intervention and how to request services under IDEA Part C if milestones are not met

Who It Helps

Parents of infants and toddlers ages 9–24 months, especially those monitoring for autism or language delay; early interventionists and paediatric speech-language pathologists seeking family-friendly milestone handouts to share in home visits and clinic settings.

Who it helps

parents of infants and toddlers
parents monitoring for autism or language delay
early intervention speech-language pathologists

Details

Cost
Free
Age groups
  • Early Intervention (0–3)

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