HELP US SAVE GIANT STEPS NOW

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 Giant Steps is a school & therapy centre that builds 

the skills and abilities of children with AUTISM 

through academics, therapies, life skills and inclusion


The York Region District School Board's 

PLAN TO SHUT DOWN GIANT STEPS in September 2021

is a shameful and damaging hit on children and families


OUR SCHOOL + OUR KIDS NEED YOU NOW

THE THREAT TO GIANT STEPS

Earlier this year, the York Region District School Board suddenly announced their intent to end our 25 year-old partnership in September 2021.

 

 The Board claims their decision is mostly due to their policies of “equity” and “empowering ethical leadership”, and the unsubstantiated claim that they now provide identical levels of therapies and other autism services. They denied their decision was budgetary or based on performance or student outcomes. 


Our community is stunned.

There has been no study, and no consultation with families, the Giant Steps’ team or other autism professionals. 


Why is the York Region District School Board targeting children with autism and their families?

We are left to ask this question and fight back against another attack on families living with autism in this province. 

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR KIDS

Giant Steps will close at the end of the 2020-21 school year. 


Gone will be the funding for our kids’ academic program.  No more teachers, program assistants or integration of our students into their local public schools. Our children will lose their speech, behaviour and occupational therapies and the seamless collaboration with academics, life skills and inclusion programs that is the foundation of their growth and development.


And gone will be our school with all its specialized equipment and resource areas for students with autism. No less of a loss will be that of the community of support for parents of children navigating the challenges of living with autism. 


PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MISSION 

TO SAVE GIANT STEPS

Scroll down to ask the  

York Region District School Board to rescind this decision.



SPEAK UP FOR KIDS WITH AUTISM!

ASK THE BOARD TO REVERSE THEIR DECISION TO CLOSE GIANT STEPS!
SEE BELOW FOR LINKS TO SEND AN EMAIL AND TO SIGN OUR PETITION




JUANITA NATHAN
CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

416-885-3479

juanita.nathan@yrdsb.ca

LOUISE SIRISKO
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

905-727-0022 or 416-969-7170 ext. 2278
louise.sirisko@yrdsb.ca

KATE DIAKIW

CO-ORDINATING SUPERINTENDENT 

OF EDUCATION

905-727-0022 or 416-969-7170 ext. 3235 (Student Services)
kate.diakiw@yrdsb.ca 

JEFF FAIR

SENIOR MANAGER, LEGAL, LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

905-727-0022 or 416-969-7170 ext. 2247
jeff.fair@yrdsb.ca 


 

JOIN OUR 8,300+ SUPPORTERS and sign our petition at change.org

CLICK HERE TO SIGN + SHARE OUR PETITION

SAVE GIANT STEPS IN THE MEDIA

TVO.ORG

YORK REGION REVIEW.COM

YORK REGION REVIEW.COM

November 20, 2020

"A shining light in a dark valley"

Read here

YORK REGION REVIEW.COM

YORK REGION REVIEW.COM

YORK REGION REVIEW.COM

October 22, 2020

Changes coming to autism services

Read here

YORKREGION.COM

YORK REGION REVIEW.COM

YORKREGION.COM

October 20, 2020

Parents object to YRDSB closing Giant Steps

Read here

Global news

omni tv focus cantonese

YORKREGION.COM

October 16, 2020

Parents protest cuts to autism program

Watch here

omni tv focus cantonese

omni tv focus cantonese

omni tv focus cantonese

October 16, 2020

OMNI TV covers parent protest

Watch here

CBC Metro Morning

omni tv focus cantonese

omni tv focus cantonese

October 16, 2020
A Giant Steps parent speaks to CBC Radio

Listen here

newmarket today

Education Action Toronto

newmarket today

October 15, 2020

Outraged parents protest YRDSB decision

Read here

Canada Newswire

Education Action Toronto

newmarket today

October 14, 2020

YRDSB to cut autism services

Read here

Education Action Toronto

Education Action Toronto

Education Action Toronto

October 8, 2020

A Giant Step backwards for autistic kids

Read here

CityNews Toronto

Giant Steps Media Release

Education Action Toronto

September 18, 2020

Reporter Maleeha Sheikh visits Giant Steps

Watch here

Giant Steps Media Release

Giant Steps Media Release

Giant Steps Media Release

September 16, 2020
YRDSB repeats Ford autism cuts

Read here

our families speak out

It’s clear the closure of Giant Steps by the York Region District School Board will be a blow to children like these


KARTHIK

KARTHIK

KARTHIK

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"Giant Steps’ individualized program plan for Karthik is almost too good to be true; everything in one setting and in one unified program including academics, speech, behaviour & occupational therapy! Our son is making great gains in his abilities to communicate, socialize and participate in school and other activities, we are now much more hopeful for his future. Huge thanks to every teacher, therapist and program assistant on Karthik’s team!"

MARIKA

KARTHIK

KARTHIK

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 "At Giant Steps we found the program that provides our daughter Marika with the consistent expert intervention she needs to make real gains. Their amazing teachers and therapists work as a team to give her the support and strategies she needs to learn and live her best life. Her progress in so many areas has been unbelievable, and can always be seen in her contagious smile. There is no other program like it!"

LUCAS

KARTHIK

JOHN PAUL

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 "Lucas had no communication system and many challenging behaviors & sensory issues when he entered Giant Steps. Now, we hardly see any difficult behaviors and he is using his voice and his iPad to communicate. He has made so many incredible gains and is far more independent and happier. We are so thankful for his teachers and his therapy team at Giant Steps. None of this would have happened without their devotion and expertise."

JOHN PAUL

JOHN PAUL

JOHN PAUL

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 "Giant Steps provides JP with an integrated approach to learning in a supportive and caring environment. His specific needs are at the core of a collaborative customized education plan that is reviewed and readjusted regularly. With the help of his teachers and therapists who work together, John-Paul has learned to communicate with his iPad, a huge milestone! Thank you Giant Steps! You’re JP's school, social network and second home."

DANIELLA

JOHN PAUL

DANIELLA

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"Thanks to the specialized therapy programs at Giant Steps, Daniella’s speech and communication skills have greatly improved, along with her focus on doing assignments and socializing with her peers. It makes a huge difference to have such a dedicated, expert team of teachers, therapists and program assistants working together every day for the common goal of having your child succeed. We are so grateful for Giant Steps!"

SHRIHAAN

JOHN PAUL

DANIELLA

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 "This is our son’s first year at Giant Steps. After he spent 2 tough years in kindergarten in a regular public school, we couldn’t be happier. The daily programming with specialized therapists and teachers, all tailored to our son’s unique needs, is invaluable and cannot be found elsewhere under one roof. 

The progress our son has made in under a year makes us wonder why there aren’t more schools like Giant Steps everywhere!"


families OF GRADUATES HAVE THEIR SAY

The York Region District School Board is ensuring there will be no more success stories like these


Mikayla

Mikayla

Mikayla

Mikayla was diagnosed with autism at age 3. When Mikayla started Giant Steps in kindergarten, expressed her dislike for certain lessons or tasks with severe tantrums that took place frequently throughout a single day. 

Giant Steps provided our daughter with an experienced Special Education teacher who worked alongside therapists providing direct therapy in speech, music, occupational and behaviour therapy.  

Read more

Brendan

Mikayla

Mikayla

Many years ago, our son Brendan was diagnosed with autism – we were told by experts that he would likely never talk, never socialize appropriately or be able to manage anything beyond grade 2-3 academic work. 

Giant Steps gave our son a shot at being successful academically, professionally and socially. I can’t imagine how different his life would be had he not had this innovative program to support him through elementary school.

Read more

William

William

William

From an early age, our son William struggled with simple things - eating, speaking, dressing and toileting to name a few.  He had such severe sensory issues that he had to have a feeding tube to keep him alive.  When it came time for school, we knew that a regular kindergarten classroom could not meet his needs.  This is when we were blessed to find out about Giant Steps.  

Read more

Kadin

William

William

 Our son Kadin entered Giant Steps in Grade 1 with behavioural and speech difficulties; he had only a few words and was unable to focus on lessons or tasks. Thanks to Giant Steps’ specialized therapy and academic programming, he made incredible gains during his elementary school years. He became a very happy, social boy. 

Read more

 

OUR KIDS, STAFF & FAMILIES THANK YOU!


learn more about Giant Steps

ABOUT GIANT STEPS

Founded by a dynamic group of parents and professionals in 1995 and affiliated with the York Region District School Board, Giant Steps Toronto/York Region is a school and therapy centre for elementary school-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

  It’s a special place where kids with autism thrive and gain new skills and abilities through a unique combination of academics, specialized therapies and inclusion into their local public schools. 

ABOUT AUTISM

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a lifelong neurological disorder that has risen dramatically in recent years, and now more than 1 in 66 Canadian children have autism.

   Children with autism experience a wide variety of challenges in speech and communication, learning, social interactions and behaviour. They are unique individuals with their own strengths and special needs.

OUR APPROACH

Kids at Giant Steps participate in weekly sessions of speech, behaviour and occupational therapies, and our therapists work closely with our teachers and program assistants to meet each child's needs. Many of our students spend part of their week in their local schools with Giant Steps' support.

We believe this data-driven approach of academics, therapies and inclusion makes the difference for kids with autism.

Learn more about autism & Giant Steps

REACH OUT

FOR ALL MEDIA REQUESTS  
Martin Buckingham
President, Giant Steps Board of Directors
647-407-8403


FOR ALL OTHER INQUIRIES/COMMENTS
Save Giant Steps

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE NOW FOR KIDS LIKE GWEN!

You can make a difference for the kids with autism at Giant Steps by giving today.

Your donation will help fund our kids’ speech, occupational and therapy programs this school year. 

DONATE NOW

VISIT US

www.giantstepstoronto.ca



giant steps toronto/york region

35 Flowervale Road, Thornhill, Ontario L3T 4J3

(905) 881-3104

Copyright © 2020 Save Giant Steps Toronto - All Rights Reserved.

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