First Phrases was created because the need was undeniable. As a speech-language pathologist, our founder saw many autistic children struggling to connect, not because they couldn't, but because the right tools didn't exist to support how they naturally learn. Most resources available are clinical, deficit-based, and disconnected from the joy, brilliance, and authenticity present every day.
So we made them. The founder initially wrote down the phrases that clients used, paired them with images and voice recordings from real children, and watched kids light up and their language and connection explode. Parents felt hope. Therapists leaned in. What started as a boxed set quickly turned into something far bigger.
Families and professionals worldwide began asking for more access, more languages, and more cultural relevance. That's when First Phrases evolved into a digital platform that is research-driven, neurodiversity-affirming, and designed to meet real-life needs in real time.
Today, First Phrases offers a suite of easy-to-use, no-prep multilingual tools voiced by native speakers and built around 12 essential communication functions. We support echolalia, early learners, and meaningful neurodivergent communication. Every child deserves more than words. They deserve to be heard, honored, and celebrated.
First Phrases are embedded in real life, not added on. They look like a parent modeling a phrase at breakfast, a teacher using visuals during circle time, or a therapist supporting a child during play simply by selecting a phrase card that fits the situation. It’s not a drill or a flashcard; it’s a living, breathing language support system rooted in connection.
Think of it as turning on the subtitles of life. Children begin to link visual, verbal, reading, and auditory cues with the world around them, naturally connecting meaning through authentic experiences. Each phrase is paired with an image, text, and voice recording from a real child, spoken in their native language. These aren’t translations; they’re authentic, functional phrases children use daily.
The platform centers around 12 essential communication functions, which is how we use words to relay an intent or message. These multimodal supports not only increase confidence, executive functioning, and motor planning of speech but also support language development and academic success.
In practice, First Phrases empower adults to meet children where they are. It builds confidence, fosters intrinsic motivation, and transforms communication into something joyful and meaningful, not drilled or forced.
First Phrases has been spreading authentically through word of mouth, social media, and the passion of its founder, Farwa Husain, M.S., CCC-SLP. As a nationally recognized speech-language pathologist and speaker, Farwa presents at leading conferences on neurodiversity-affirming, evidence-based practices for autistic children. Her workshops inspire families and professionals alike to rethink how language is supported.
Therapists share it with their teams; parents tell other parents, and school districts reach out because they see results. Farwa’s deep commitment to changing the world for autistic children is evident in every training, talk, and interaction. She leads with education, compassion, and lived expertise, and that passion shines through.
People don’t just see the product, they see the vision. And they stand behind it.
Our platform has expanded globally through this community of educators, clinicians, and families who believe in a better, more affirming way to support communication. First Phrases continues to grow because it meets a need with heart, research, and purpose.
First Phrases began as a boxed set of phrase cards paired with QR codes that linked to real voice recordings from children, a first in the field. The goal was to make language support feel authentic, playful, and rooted in how children naturally connect. As demand grew, we quickly expanded into a digital platform to reach families and professionals more easily and flexibly.
We’ve grown because there was a clear need, and because no tools existed that truly honored how autistic children learn. We transformed our original physical cards into interactive digital content, added an additional communication function to reflect cultural nuances, and expanded beyond English. Spanish was our first added language, and we continue building a growing library of native-voiced, culturally meaningful content.
We’ve added a customizable clinician tracking tool, therapeutic games with embedded text for authentic connection, and on-demand, 30-minute webinars for parents and professionals.
We will continue to grow based on need, always listening and building tools that reflect the realities of families, educators, and children around the world.
To get started, visit firstphrases.com and sign up. First Phrases is designed to be intuitive, no-prep, and easy to use. Whether you're a parent, clinician, or professional. You'll get access to research-based tools, real children's voices, and a growing suite of supports that make meaningful communication easier to model in everyday moments. No complicated training is needed, log in and start exploring. Connection is only a phrase away.
