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Giant Steps
A Leader In The Field Of Autism

Giant Steps has stood at the forefront of autism and education for 40 years. Our intensive educational and therapeutic program, offered in both French and English to 113 students aged 4-21, is unique in Quebec, and has been replicated worldwide.

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Students aged 4-21
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The number of schoolboards that refer their students to us
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Professionals that work at Giant Steps - one of the biggest autism teams around
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Applicants are refused each year due to lack of space

The key to Giant Steps’ success has been its flexibility in adapting its program to the individual needs of each student.

We are a private school recognized and subsidized in the public interest, which means that parents do not have to pay tuition for their children to attend Giant Steps. In fact, more than 60% of our students come from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

What also makes us unique is our community inclusion program. We collaborate with 14 school boards to offer our students school based inclusion in elementary and high-school settings, and partner with employers across multiple sectors to offer work experience programs to adults on the spectrum.

In collaboration with the English Montreal School Board, we offer adult education programs. Giant Steps is also the Quebec hub for the Federal Government’s Ready, Willing & Able program, which seeks to match employers with autistic employees. To date, we have helped 250 individuals with ASD find employment with 100 companies. We aim to provide employment to 140 more people with autism over the next three years.

In addition, our Resource and Training Centre plays a vital role in providing ASD training across sectors and supports many types of organizations. Our team advises and trains professionals in Quebec and around the world.

VISIT GIANT STEPS
1980
Darlene Berringer, along with parents from the community begins to offer an after-school music program to 7 children on the autism spectrum in a church basement.
1980
1981
The school moves to the third floor of the Westmount Park elementary school in Westmount. It continues as an after-school program with no funding, an empty classroom and a growing need from the community.
1981
1983
Ms. Berringer, along with parents, secures funding and is able to turn this after-school program into a formal school, and the Canadian Institute For Neuro-integrative Development (Giant Steps) is born.
1983
1985
The Giant Steps Foundation is created to help fulfill the financial needs of the school and support its mission.
1985
1992
Hillside School in Westmount is purchased as the new location for the Giant Steps School.
1992
1993
Our innovative program becomes world renowned and schools open in Toronto, Connecticut, Missouri, Tasmania, Sydney, Kamloops, Chicago.
1993
2003
Ms. Berringer continues to grow the programs in the school, advances the cause of autism and establishes Giant Steps as a world-renowned autism school until her departure in 2003.
2003
2005
The Giant Steps Resource and Training Centre is created to support the community.
2005
2008
Giant Steps purchases its current building on Connaught.
2008
2014
Thomas Henderson, a forward-thinking educator who had taught at Giant Steps for almost 20 years, is welcomed back as school director.
2014
2017
A visioning meeting is conducted with 75 members of the community to envision the future of Giant Steps. The diverse participants offer insight and challenges that are faced in the community. A strategic plan is formulated, and the new Giant Steps Autism Centre is conceived!
2017
2018
After visiting multiple buildings and locations around Montreal, Giant Steps begins discussions with Société de développement Angus (SDA).
2018
2019
Giant Steps signs an agreement with SDA securing our partnership and beginning the building planning and design.
2019
2020
A turn key project cost is established and the silent fundraising phase begins.
2020
2023
September 2023, we opened the doors to the new Giant Steps Centre!
2023
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