While scientists struggle to unravel the mysteries of developmental disorders, the dedicated families and staff at Giant Steps are working hard to provide each child with a safety net of services designed to promote development and independence. Inherent in the philosophy is a team-centered approach that incorporates feedback from various disciplines to develop and provide strategies and support. Therapists and teachers at Giant Steps use a trans-disciplinary approach to achieve a cohesive and integrated plan for each student so that goals from each domain are addressed in multiple settings and generalized throughout the student's day.

The Academic Curriculum at Giant Steps is highly individualized. A variety of materials and specialized techniques are adapted to address each student's unique learning style to teach academics. An effort is made to provide experiences throughout the day to make learning functional, age appropriate, challenging, motivating and relevant to the student's life. As our students begin transitioning back to their mainstream schools, curriculums are modified and pre-taught to ensure success.

COMMUNICATION

The Communication Department includes Speech-Language Pathologists, Play and Social Communication Specialists, and an Assistive Technology Specialist. Speech and Language Therapy goals are to develop and enhance communication skills so that students may successfully engage and participate in interactions across a variety of settings. Therapists use a total communication approach to support a student's receptive, expressive and pragmatic language development including speech, sign language, gestures, facial expressions, picture symbols, written words, and voice output devices. Play and Social Communication goals are to integrate and support the cognitive, language, and motor skills necessary for successful social interactions, while providing a release for stress and the opportunity for the development of leisure pursuits.

MUSIC THERAPY

Music Therapy goals are to develop each student's self-expression, physical coordination, and auditory perception through movement, rhythm, and music while enhancing the development of communication, cognitive skills, and social interactions.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Occupational Therapy goals are to facilitate improved sensory regulation and organization through appropriate sensory input and motor challenges, and to help each student develop more adaptive responses, impulse control, and a heightened awareness of self-modulating strategies.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Physical Therapy goals are to support the student's physical development to allow them to access their school, community, and home environments to the greatest extent possible. A variety of strategies are used to promote independence in both the school and community settings.

ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING

The overall goal for the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) program is to provide each student with skills necessary to take care of his or her own needs in order to function as independently as possible in a variety of environments including home, school, and the community. We help students develop skills using natural contexts. Areas addressed include toileting, mealtime, dressing, personal care, household jobs, community participation, safety awareness, and pre-vocational activities.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM

Vocational Training Program goals are to provide students with a foundation of work skills necessary to help them succeed in life after school. A multi-disciplinary approach including academic, therapeutic, social, and behavioral objectives is blended to create a vocational program based on each student's individual strengths, interests, and abilities.

STUDENT SUPPORT

Behavior Specialists provide ongoing and data driven analysis of student behavior addressing the medical, sensory, emotional, movement, and communicative function of behavior. Student behavioral support plans provide strategies to promote independence, self reliance, and developmental growth. Students are supported with a full-time nurse skilled in assessment of students who have difficulty communicating. Families are encouraged to become fully involved in their child's program through daily communication journals, monthly newsletters, attendance at team meetings, parent training, and support groups.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

If you would like more information about our programs, please contact us.