Amaar Ahmad has been attending Giant Steps, a Toronto school and therapy centre for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), for five years.
Giant Steps offers one-on-one support, speech, behaviour and occupational therapies as well as specialized equipment and resource areas for students with ASD.
“Until you see what Giant Steps offers, you really don’t know what you’re missing out on,” Amaar’s father, Barkaat Ahmad, said.
For the past 25 years, Giant Steps has operated in partnership with the York Region District School Board (YRDSB), but that is now coming to an end — the YRDSB has officially decided to end the partnership, effectively shuttering the program in June 2021.
“It’s important to note that YRDSB is not closing Giant Steps,” said Licinio Miguelo of YRDSB’s corporate communications. “Giant Steps is a separate and independent organization, with its own Board of Directors, and makes its own decisions.
According to Miguelo, there have been many changes in autism programming.
“The Board’s special education programs, supports and services for students who have a diagnosis of autism has been further developed and enhanced,” he stated.
Miguelo added that the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has also enhanced services for children with autism, and provides services to YRDSB students with autism through the Children Treatment Network (CTN).
“Together with CTN, YRDSB provides the programs, supports and services for students with autism. YRDSB feels it is no longer necessary to have a Memorandum of Understanding with an outside provider as part of its service delivery model.”
Families, staff and volunteers of the school have been continuing to fight to save Giant Steps by emailing school board decision-makers, garnering over 8,700 petition signatures, collecting letters of support from local MPPs and even organizing protests.
“Giant Steps is an answer to so many people’s needs … and a step forward for autism education and the fact that the school board can’t see that and embrace that is extremely frustrating,” said Buckingham, whose son also previously attended Giant Steps.
Buckingham added YRDSB’s partnership with Giant Steps has allowed parents to access resources for their children without paying high prices at comparable programs or private schools.
While Giant Steps charges an annual $7,000 fee, that fee can now be paid through the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) funding, said Buckingham, adding other programs and schools can add up to anywhere from $50,000 to $70,000 a year.
Buckingham said, “The decision was made with no study, no evidence-based decision-making, no consultation with autism advocates.”
Families contend the YRDSB did not consult their Equity and Inclusivity Advisory Committee or their Special Education Advisory Committee.
In addition to navigating heightened hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Giant Steps families have also been experiencing increased stress and worry about the school closure and what this means for their children.
Buckingham said, “The timing of this and the inability to adjust the timing on this due to COVID … speaks to the lack of real commitment and the lack of real understanding.”
Maya Sabharwal said Giant Steps is a collaborative environment where both teachers and therapists have worked to come up with an education and therapy plan for her son.
She added that there simply aren’t any equivalent options available to her and other parents of children with ASD. “Initially (the board) said it’s not equitable and there are similar supports available in the board, and what I’ve heard from other parents whose kids have been in regular community classrooms is there isn’t the equivalent support,” she said.
“I’m definitely not ready to give up. We’ll fight whatever it takes to save the school,” said Barkaat Ahmad. “And my fight is honestly not just for my son, my fight is for every child (with ASD).”
