NOW ENROLLING: Therapeutic Day & After School Program
300 Barney Drive Joliet, IL 60435
708-374-5558
Get to Know Us!
At A First Step Towards Hope, we're more than a therapy provider—we're your partners in creating a brighter future where every child can learn, grow, and thrive. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential.
OUR APPROACH
Our fearless leader,
Dr. Hope Merritt
What sets us apart is our belief in walking with families, not just guiding them. We use ABA strategies rooted in compassion, combining personalized support, practical tools, and compassionate care in a safe, supportive, and engaging environment. Our unique approach helps children build confidence, find stability, and move forward with hope while strengthening our entire community.
Our new space!
Meet Your Team!
Together with my dedicated team, I am committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based support that empowers learners and strengthens our community.
Dr. Hope Merritt, Founder
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DR. HOPE MERRITT
Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Founder
Dr. Hope Merritt, BCBA and Founder, is dedicated to connecting with parents, educators, and professionals through local events and outreach. By engaging directly with the community, she ensures that families have access to ABA resources, education, and compassionate support when they need it most.
Whether through workshops, family events, or one-on-one conversations, Hope’s mission is simple: to create meaningful relationships that empower children to thrive and give families the tools they need to feel supported.
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DR. ADRANIECE KEMP
Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA
Clinical Director
Dr. Adraniece began her work in the field of developmental disabilities in 2010 and transitioned into Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in 2017, becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2018. She earned her doctorate from The Chicago School, where her research explored the use of TAFMEDS (Type All Fast Minute Every Day Shuffle) with a frequency building to performance criterion to learn U.S. Supreme Court cases.
Adraniece is passionate about empowering her clients by fostering autonomy and skill independence. She is equally committed to supporting families by equipping parents with practical tools and strategies to ensure long-term success in the home environment.
ELLIE GIBERSON
Educational Coordinator
Ellie Giberson loves working with young children and their families. Over the past 32 years, she's taught preschool and kindergarten, coached and trained early childhood teachers, supported families in advocacy for children with disabilities, and managed a Head Start program. Ellie has been married for 26 years and raised two wonderful children to adulthood, navigating the special needs parenting world with them as well. She loves to garden and read.
QUANISHA JACKSON
RBT
Quanisha is a dedicated Registered Behavior Technician with over a decade of experience providing high-quality ABA therapy across school, in-home, and clinical settings. At A First Step Towards Hope, she brings a compassionate, client-centered approach to every session—focused on helping children build meaningful skills in communication, independence, and social development. Known for her strong collaboration with clients’ families and other therapists, Quanisha is passionate about creating lasting change through evidence-based practices and personalized care.
LATRICE GORDON
Lead RBT
LaTrice Gordon, originally from Chicago, Illinois, has been working in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for 18 years. She has been a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) for the past 7 years and brings a wealth of experience working with clients ranging in age from 2 to 86 years old.
LaTrice has a deep passion for learning and continues to expand her knowledge in behavior analysis to enhance the quality of her sessions and provide meaningful, individualized support for each learner. She also takes pride in mentoring and training other RBTs, offering constructive feedback and guidance to help them grow in their professional journey.
Outside of work, LaTrice enjoys watching sports and cooking shows, and she has recently developed a love for building LEGO sets, a new hobby that allows her to unwind and express her creativity. Known for her compassionate nature and genuine heart, LaTrice is dedicated to serving others and helping individuals show up as the best version of themselves every day.
CARITA
RBT
Carita is a dedicated Behavior Technician with over three years of experience providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a clinic setting. Her passion, ambition, and genuine love for helping children have driven her to create meaningful interactions that foster growth, learning, and independence.
Outside of work, Carita enjoys spending time with her children at various sports events, where she values building discipline, structure, and a sense of community. Her commitment to both her family and the families she serves reflects her heart for helping children reach their fullest potential.
Diversity Statement from A First Step Towards Hope
At A First Step Towards Hope (AFSTH), we believe that diversity is a cornerstone of meaningful, compassionate, and effective care. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive environment where individuals of all races, ethnicities, cultures, languages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, and belief systems feel seen, valued, and respected.
Our mission to support individuals and families through Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is strengthened by our differences and enriched by our shared commitment to equity and understanding. We actively work to identify and dismantle barriers to inclusion—within our team, our services, and the communities we serve—and will continue to evolve our practices to meet the changing needs of those we support.
AFSTH is equally committed to protecting and supporting our staff and our clients. We strive to foster a safe, equitable, and empowering environment where all employees and individuals receiving services are respected, heard, and cared for.
Cultural humility guides our approach to therapy, education, and organizational growth. We engage in continuous reflection, listen actively to diverse voices, and prioritize ongoing training that challenges bias and expands our perspectives. Our DEI efforts include structured staff training on cultural responsiveness and implicit bias, inclusive hiring and promotion practices, and incorporating feedback from clients and team members to strengthen accountability and belonging.
AFSTH is more than a provider—it is a community. And in our community, diversity isn’t just welcomed; it’s essential to who we are and how we help others take their first step toward hope.
