A 2nd grade boy plays with building blocks, puts together puzzles and practices counting. When he gets home from school, his mother gets a full report on how he spent his day, but not from her son. Nick is nonverbal.

Nick is one of about 30 students who attend Giant Steps of St. Louis , a specialized program for children with differing degrees of autism. The school also enrolls more than 70 children in camps throughout the summer.

Giant Steps celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. It began in 1994 as the project of a group of parents with young autistic children who sought to offer both a tailored education and secure care under the same roof. It was modeled off a similar school started in Australia.

Students at Giant Steps enroll when a typical school setting proves to be a poor fit. A common characteristic of autistic children is Sensory Processing Disorder, thus the sights and sounds of the average school can be overwhelming, and many school districts do not have the means to offer the necessary accommodations to these students.

That’s where Giant Steps enters the picture. With a 1:1 student to teacher ratio, each child gets the assistance and attention they need.

“We treat each child as an individual,” Nora Kelleher, director of development at Giant Steps, said.

“If you can create a program that gives the child what they need, no matter how quirky it is, you can see an amazing transformation happen.”

And Kelleher said they have indeed adapted to some quirky circumstances, such as a young man who only felt calm and focused while balancing on an object. After quickly realizing that he could not continue balancing on the backs of chairs while he learned, Giant Steps provided a safe piece of climbing equipment that he carried with him throughout the day.

Besides offering an alternative educational environment, Giant Steps provides speech and occupational therapy, music therapy, adapted physical education and art programs, group academic classes and assistance with vocational skills so that students can later be placed in available jobs in their communities.

The right kind of intervention early on will do wonders on [children’s] ability to be independent and lead fulfilling lives,” Kelleher said.

With the Old Newsboys Grant they received, Giant Steps has been able to purchase new equipment to enhance their curriculum. This enables them to draw out individual students’ interests in order to get them more engaged in learning.

Nick’s mother discussed the transformation she saw in her son after switching him from a large public school to Giant Steps. Her 7-year-old used to dread going to school, and now she said he runs to the bus.

“Our prayers have been answered,” she said. “The teachers there are phenomenally patient and just really understand our kiddos.”

Nick’s mother also wanted to emphasize her appreciation for the support of the St. Louis Community. Giant Steps will host several fundraisers throughout the year, including a trivia night in February and a silent auction and gala in April.

“I don’t want him anywhere else,” Nick’s mother said. “I know he’s safe and loved and cared for, and he’s making progress every day.”