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.