Quiénes Somos

At Autism FIRST, our mission is to ensure every child and every family can reach their fullest potential. Our team brings together compassionate clinicians, evidence-based practices, and a hybrid model of in-clinic and in-home services across Virginia. We believe that high-quality care should be accessible, human, and built around your child’s unique strengths.

Autism FIRST team supporting children and families

Mission & Vision

Our Vision

We believe that early intervention opens the door to lifelong independence, and we have the demonstrated opportunity to prove it. From our STEPS Ahead program starting at 18 months to our Life Skills for adulthood, we are building a proven trajectory that helps children master everything from daily routines to reading a paycheck. By sticking to the simplicity of personalized, goal-driven plans, we ensure lasting growth and confidence for every unique family we serve.

Our Mission

At Autism FIRST, we are laser-focused on empowering children on the autism spectrum to reach their absolute fullest potential. We don’t just talk about it; we execute through compassionate, evidence-based care that hits the ground running with early intervention and strong family partnerships. Our goal is simple and super compelling: help every child build the skills, confidence, and independence they need to thrive at home, in school, and in life. We are here to deliver a high-quality service model that works.

Our Values

Evidence-Based, Outcome-Focused Care

We deliver individualized, evidence-based treatment guided by data, clinical expertise, and measurable outcomes, not volume alone.

Consistency & Accountability

We believe consistent attendance, stable staffing, and clear expectations are essential to progress, and we hold ourselves and our families accountable to those standards.

Family Partnerships

Families are active partners in care, and meaningful progress is achieved through collaboration, coaching, and shared responsibility beyond therapy sessions.

Compassionate, Coordinated Care

We lead with empathy while maintaining high clinical standards, ensuring care is coordinated, clearly communicated, and designed to work in real life.

Our Leadership Team

Autism FIRST is led by a team of mission-driven professionals who balance clinical excellence, operational reliability, and a deep commitment to families.

Jeff Shiring

Chairman and Founder

With more than three decades of executive leadership experience, they bring a proven ability to scale organizations while maintaining quality and purpose. At Autism FIRST, this experience supports thoughtful growth, strong operational foundations, and expanded access to high-quality, family-centered autism services across Virginia.

Deb Kotin

Founder Board Member

Deb is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 30 years of experience supporting children and adults across diverse clinical settings. Trained in ABA therapy at the New England Center for Children and with over two decades at Inova Loudoun Hospital, her work reflects deep clinical breadth and continuity of care.

Dan Fradin

Chief Executive Officer

Dan is a seasoned entrepreneur and CEO with nearly 30 years of experience building and scaling technology-driven organizations. At Autism FIRST, he applies this experience to strengthen access, engagement, and sustainable growth across services. Their leadership centers on one core belief: every child deserves compassionate, evidence-based care that adapts to their strengths, supports their family, and grows with them at each stage of development.

Jenny Argueta, MA, CCC-SLP, BCBA, LBA

Chief Clinical Officer

A board-certified expert in autism and ABA services, they oversee clinical quality, training, and professional development across all locations. Their leadership ensures that every child receives individualized, evidence-based support delivered with compassion. Jenny’s experience in working with a diverse population has provided her with the knowledge and experience of implementing clinically, culturally and linguistically appropriate procedures across settings.

Brandi Harris

Chief Operating Officer

With extensive experience in healthcare management, they ensure that each clinic maintains the highest standard of safety, quality, and family experience. Their work strengthens the operational backbone that allows our clinicians to focus on care. Throughout her career, Brandi has successfully led the growth of multiple regions, overseeing diverse operational functions such as intake, credentialing, scheduling, recruitment, onboarding, and community outreach.

Sanjana Rao

Regional Director

With extensive experience in directorial roles, Sanjana has successfully launched and developed both in-home and clinic-based service lines, strengthening access to high-quality care for diverse communities. Her leadership is grounded in clinical excellence, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to building strong, collaborative teams that help every child and family thrive.

Ashley Shamrock

Regional Director

Ashley is a Regional Director with extensive experience as a BCBA and Licensed Behavior Analyst, bringing a strong clinical foundation to leadership. Their work emphasizes evidence-based practice, collaboration, and operational excellence. At Autism FIRST, she is committed to ensuring high-quality care that supports children, families, and clinical teams alike.

Randy L. Wilson

State Director of Business Development

With leadership experience in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, Randy supports the organization’s growth and serves on several community boards and advisory councils.

Operational Team Leadership

Leadership that supports consistent care, strong operations, and a great family experience across every Autism FIRST location.

Clinical Directors and Operational Managers

Michael Robbins

Operational Manager

Supports clinic operations and systems so teams can focus on care, families experience reliability, and each location runs smoothly day to day.

Clinical Managers

Abigail D.

Clinical Manager, Chantilly

Sophia L.

Clinic Manager, Winchester

Glenda G.

Clinic Manager, Manassas

Ly'Ric B.

Clinic Manager, Roanoke

Shakura T.

Clinic Manager, Newport News

Beveline M.

Clinic Manager, Newport News

Carson R.

Clinic Manager, Lynchburg

Shakura T.

Clinic Manager, Virginia Beach

Christopher J.

Clinic Manager, Richmond

Carson R.

Clinic Manager, Danville

Our Approach to Care

Autism FIRST provides evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) through a compassionate, whole-child lens. Our approach blends research, family partnership, and real-world goals.

Our care model combines:

Research-supported ABA strategies grounded in current best practices.
A hybrid model of in-clinic and in-home services tailored to each family’s needs.
Family partnership as the foundation of progress and decision-making.
Culturally sensitive and neurodiversity-aware practices that honor each child’s identity.
Collaborative care with schools, pediatricians, and specialists for coordinated support.

We meet each child where they are and help them build the skills that matter most for daily life, learning, and independence.

Our Story & History

From one clinic to a statewide network, our growth has always been driven by one focus: doing what’s best for children and families.

Autism FIRST began with a simple but powerful vision: to make high-quality autism services accessible to families across Virginia. What started as one clinic grew steadily—driven by community need, clinical excellence, and a belief that every child deserves evidence-based support delivered with compassion.

Timeline Highlights

2021: Autism FIRST is established, opening its first clinics in Northern Virginia with a focus on multidisciplinary, evidence-based autism care.
2022–2024: Expansion into additional Northern Virginia communities, strengthening clinic-based services and building strong family partnerships.
June 2025: Whitecap Care acquires Family Insight, P.C., expanding Autism FIRST’s capabilities across ABA services, outpatient therapy, and value-based care models.
Today: Autism FIRST operates a growing network of clinic-based and home-based services across Virginia, providing hybrid ABA care to families in Northern and Central Virginia and beyond.

Our story continues to grow, as does our commitment to families.

Autism Answers

Autism Answers is our resource hub for families, caregivers, and professionals. Find Autism FIRST updates, practical guidance, and evidence-informed topics that support your next step, whether you are exploring services or already in care.

Autism FIRST Updates

Posts and announcements from our team, including program highlights, clinic milestones, community partnerships, and service expansion across Virginia.

Practical, Family-Friendly Guidance

Clear, supportive content on routines, communication, behavior, and school collaboration, written to help families apply strategies at home and in daily life.

Research-Informed Topics

Evidence-informed articles that explain ABA and related supports in plain language, so you can make confident decisions and understand what quality care looks like.

Explore Autism Answers →