About Giant Steps
Giant Steps meets each child at his or her own level of comfort and capability, and they build from there.
Giant Steps is a special education school and therapy center for children with autism. Our center is a placement alternative
for students who have struggled in larger schools and need more intensive support to make academic progress. 
Student plans generally include Speech, Occupational and Music therapies, Academic Instruction, Social Skills, Service Learning, Visual and Performing Arts and Physical Education.
Pre-Vocational Instruction is available for older students. When a student is ready to benefit from a general education setting, we
facilitate gradually increasing inclusion time. Giant Steps serves Missouri and Illinois students between the ages of 3 and 21.
The strength of Giant Steps' program lies in our staff and our treatment philosophy. Our teachers and therapists are experts in nurturing the abilities of young people with autism. In daily team meetings, staff share notes and observations, troubleshoot and adapt as needed to keep students moving toward their objectives. Parents are kept up-to-date and encouraged to communicate their own observations and concerns via a daily logbook that travels with the student.
Giant Steps' approach starts with respect for our students. We understand the challenges of living with autism: anxiety, sensory discomfort, the frustration of struggling to communicate or master the skills of everyday living. When students join our program they learn that their sensory needs will be honored. They learn that their fears and anxieties will be addressed. They learn that we will help them find the means to express themselves and take the time to understand. In this environment of trust and support, it is remarkable how quickly our students open up and show progress.
Giant Steps' school-year program follows a regular 179-day school calendar from mid-August to early June. Students attend from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with breaks for major holidays and school vacations. The 6-week summer program, Camp Giant Steps, meets from mid-June to the end of July.