How Giant Steps helps students with autism one at a time

At a recent meet-and-greet evening at Giant Steps to start the new school year, five educators enthusiastically waved at the large windows of their bright classroom when they looked out and saw some of their young students returning.

The spontaneous response reflects the dedication the Lisle day school offers kids, teens and young adults with autism to help them reach their goals through academics.

"Giant Steps is really a special place with a wonderful, caring staff that goes above and beyond to create a foundation," said Dan Dahlke, senior director of development.

Autism is unique to each person. It comes with a wide variety of strengths, challenges, talents and interests.

"Autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong developmental disability distinguished by social communication and interaction challenges," according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"The symptoms and manner in which these impact the lives of children with ASD vary greatly. While ASD cannot be 'cured,' early intervention can make the biggest difference in the lives of children."

All the students and young adults at Giant Steps have a primary diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The school has 156 students ages 5 to 22, and a field of experts that include licensed special education teachers, speech language pathologists, neurological music therapists, special education directors, occupational therapists, behavior analysts, social workers, special recreation and creative arts staffs for a total of 220 program staff to support students.

"I am most proud of the fact that we have a first-class, state-of-the-art facility for these kids," Executive Director Sylvia Smith said. "If we do not try it, we know the answer is 'no,' but by providing the opportunity, we find the path to 'yes' … that is our challenge."

Smith explained that Giant Steps works on a cluster system that varies from one student with one teacher to small groups, still with a one-to-one student-faculty ratio in the elementary levels. Each child is supported by a team consisting of an occupational therapist, speech/language pathologist, music therapist, social worker and behavioral analyst, depending on the needs of each child.

A typical classroom has between six and nine students. This year, the school opened a graphic design center for its junior high and high school students.

The building itself has all the classrooms on the outer walls of the building to allow natural light to come into the rooms through those large windows. A specialty architect redesigned a former call center into a fun, warm place for the students.

The hallways, which have no boring long walls, have therapy rooms and offices on the inside spaces of the building. Soft hues follow each wave of the wall in an interesting pattern.

Open spaces are used for special recreation, music therapy, gym activities and kitchen space, which all are designed to teach life skills.

"A generous donation for flooring, padding and equipment allowed us to open a sports program in a large gym space," Dahlke said. "We are proud that a student in our high school program was the Illinois Special Olympic state bowling champion the last several years."

Some students start their day at the school in the gym, running on the treadmill or using the StairMaster because it might help their body get ready for the day.

"A student may come in anxious and they need to slow down a bit, and 10 or 15 minutes in the gym really helps," Dahlke said as he pointed out the gym's popular rock climbing wall and basketball hoop.

Giant Steps celebrated its 20th year last spring. Seven years ago, it moved from a 2,200-square-foot space in Burr Ridge into its present 72,000 square feet at 2500 Cabot Drive, Lisle.

"Our core values have not changed over the years," Smith said. "They have always been child-centered, but … we have been able to … weave together the therapies and learning process to make a tighter tapestry for the child."

Giant Steps has a coordinated program that goes all the way through its curriculum framework to ensure that key points are reinforced at all the different levels, from kindergarten to transition. Its quality of programing is unique because of its whole-child approach; there is not a concern of what your child will do next.

"Our competency is teaching and learning," Smith said. "We have a whole congeries of therapeutic services that help to prepare our students since they often have challenges for them to sit and learn.

"Our goal is to move them back into their home school as soon as they can, but we have some that are not able to go to the public school system, so we have some of our students go through our whole program," Smith said.

Giant Steps' high school has an emphasis on vocational skills as a preparation for becoming adults. There is art therapy and other therapy for the 18- to 22-year-olds.

The school is in the process of beginning a young adult day program called Canopy in Sugar Grove at Rich Harvest Farms for those ages 22 to 29 as a way to offer a structured and supportive environment to help young adults with life skills and interaction with the larger community.

To help support Giant Steps, donate, participate or volunteer at its annual fundraiser, the 5K Walk for Autism at 10 a.m. Oct. 1 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. To register or donate, go to mygiantsteps.org/walk2016. Save the date April 21, 2017, for the Giant Steps annual charity auction at Bobak Signature Room in Woodridge.

Fundraising is a critical part of the formula for Giant Steps, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. It works with local school districts to ensure every child receives a free and appropriate public education with a written individual education program. Its success grows out of the opportunities it offers its students to reach their goals.

"We are filling a gap for children that absolutely deserve the best," Smith said.

To learn about autism, Dahlke and training specialist Joy Cooper suggest visiting the Giant Steps website at mygiantsteps.org, the Centers for Disease control at cdc.gov, verywell.com, and Autism Speaks at autismspeaks.org.

• Joan Broz writes about Lisle. Her column appears monthly in Neighbor.