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Episode 2
Bridging Group-ESDM and Inclusive Early Childhood Education
About This Episode
In this episode, we welcome Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu, a child clinical and developmental psychologist whose career bridges early autism diagnosis, evidence-based early intervention, and inclusive early education. Initially trained in early autism diagnostic profiles, She later retrained in the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and now specializes in the Group Early Start Denver Model (GESDM). Based in Sacramento, she leads Early Days, an organization dedicated to implementing and disseminating GESDM in preschools and community settings. She also shares the origins and evolution of GESDM — from its early classroom-based beginnings in Denver in the 1980s to formal adaptations in Australia — and how she brought this model to her own community to bridge the research-to-practice gap. Her work centers on inclusion, social connection, and the alignment of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) with neurodiversity-affirming early education practices.
Bridging Group-ESDM and Inclusive Early Childhood Education
Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu
About Our Guest Speaker
Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu
Dr. Cynthia Zierhut-Ursu is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 19810) with over 20 years of experience working with young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families. After her early training at the University of California, Los Angeles, she spent more than a decade at the University of California, Davis, MIND Institute. Cynthia managed several treatment studies and the training program for the Early Start Denver Model. Her career shifted dramatically to community-based work after spending more than a year at La Trobe University in Australia with Dr. Dissanayake and Dr. Vivanti in the program that produced the first randomized control trial of the Group Early Start Denver Model. She subsequently founded Early Days Autism Center, Incorporated in 2015, a community-based treatment program in Sacramento and the Bay Area to equip educators to utilize the GESDM in preschool settings.
Show Notes
In this episode, we welcome Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu, a child clinical and developmental psychologist whose career bridges early autism diagnosis, evidence-based early intervention, and inclusive early education. Initially trained in early autism diagnostic profiles, She later retrained in the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and now specializes in the Group Early Start Denver Model (GESDM). Based in Sacramento, she leads Early Days, an organization dedicated to implementing and disseminating GESDM in preschools and community settings. She also shares the origins and evolution of GESDM — from its early classroom-based beginnings in Denver in the 1980s to formal adaptations in Australia — and how she brought this model to her own community to bridge the research-to-practice gap. Her work centers on inclusion, social connection, and the alignment of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) with neurodiversity-affirming early education practices.
Episode Highlights:
Why Group-Based ESDM Matters – How inclusive, play-based preschool settings can foster peer connections and provide natural opportunities for social communication growth.
International Relevance – Why GESDM is a crucial model in countries without in-home programming or where cultural norms make school-based services more acceptable.
Early Days Implementation – How Dr. Zirit Ersu’s organization partners with preschools, blends clinician and teacher expertise, and offers play groups and parent coaching to strengthen early social development.
Practical Tips for Starting GESDM –
Begin with dyads (1–2 children) to individualize activities and scaffold peer interaction.
Gradually expand to small groups with similar developmental levels.
Use sensory tables, train tables, and other elevated play setups to encourage eye-level interaction.
Staff roles include Lead, Prompt, and Float to ensure engagement, support, and inclusion.
Collect group-based data to monitor progress and maintain therapy intensity.
Inclusion and Neurodiversity – How NDBIs naturally align with inclusive early education principles and support belonging for autistic children in mainstream early learning environments.
Key Quote:
"Start with two children you know well. Build an environment that brings kids together, and fade yourself into the background so you can support—not lead—the interaction."
Episode Resources
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