- Kirkwood Early Childhood Center
- Community Resources
- Autism Spectrum
Parents as Teachers
Page Navigation
- About Us
- How to Enroll/Cómo inscribirse
- Program Features
- Screening - Developmental, Hearing and Vision
- Skip Hop-Kirkwood PAT Podcast
- Area Preschool & Childcare Directory
-
Community Resources
- Abuse/Crisis
- Addiction
- ADHD
- Adoption
- Allergies
- Anxiety
- Autism Spectrum
- Behavior / Social Skills
- Bereveament Support
- Breastfeeding Support
- Car Seats
- Child Development
- Childcare
- Clinics
- COVID-19 Resources
- Counseling
- Developmental Delays
- Disease
- Divorce
- Education and Learning Disability Support
- Employment Support
- Family Support
- Financial Support Benefits
- Hearing and Speech
- Housing
- Immigration/English Language Learner Support
- Medical and Health
- Mental Health
- Multiples
- Nutrition
- Postpartum Support
- Pregnancy
- Racial Equity
- Resource Directory
- Safety
- Sleep Health
- Substance Abuse
- Technology - parent resources
- Therapy Centers
- Trauma Support
- Vision
- Skip to the LOU-Wander, Play + Explore St. Louis with Young Kids
- Donate to Kirkwood PAT
- Calendar
- PAT Lite
Giant Steps
Giant Giant Steps is a nonprofit organization that offers a therapeutic school and a specialized summer camp for children and teens with autism spectrum disorders. The programs serve students from the surrounding St. Louis and Illinois region.
Despite the “Giant” name, this school is a small 501c3 organization that relies greatly on grants and donations to provide the special care required for the development of their students.
Autism is a disability that affects a child’s developing brain, leading to symptoms in three broad categories: Language, social interaction, and behavior. Autism is termed a “spectrum disorder” because the severity of these challenges varies from one child to the next.
Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD is a term used for a complex disorder with no known cause or cure. ASD is diagnosed when a child has a severe delay in social communication and acquiring language. Also present must be some type of repetitive behaviors that the child displays. In the May 2013, publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, ASD disorder has merged into one umbrella diagnosis.