Giant Steps Holds Autism Walk

On October 6, 2012, Giant Steps will hold the Second Annual Autism Awareness Run/Walk at St. James Farm, located at 2S541 Winfield Rd in Warrenville. The run portion is 3.1 miles (5k) and starts at 9:00 am. The walk is 1 mile and starts at 10:00 am. Runners and walkers may use the Giant Steps’ website, www.mygiantsteps.org, to register. Runners pay a $35 entrance fee ($40 the day of) to participate in a chip-timed race through the beautiful woodlands and prairies of St. James Farm. The course is perfect for runners that prefer grass.

There is no registration fee for walkers, instead, walkers are asked to either join or create a fundraising team. Teams are asked to set a fundraising goal and to reach out to friends and family for donations to meet that goal.  All proceeds go to the Giant Steps Community Campaign with the goal of fully funding the school’s one-of-a-kind facility in an effort to free up the working capital essential for programming, innovation and expansion of autism specific services.
 
Autism affects as many as 1 in 88 children born today, impacting their ability to interact with the world around them and their social relationships, communication and sensory interpretations. Giant Steps, located at 2500 Cabot Drive in Lisle, provides education, therapeutic and recreational programs for Elementary, Junior High and High School students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), their families and the community. Giant Steps is currently designated as a therapeutic day school in the State of Illinois licensed and certified to exclusively serve students with a primary diagnosis of autism.

Giant Steps’ goal is to improve a child's ability to interact, communicate, and develop academic and daily living skills through a one-on-one integrated approach encompassing: Autism Education, Training, Therapy, Recreation and Life Skills. Giant Steps currently has students from 60 cities in the greater Chicago area. Through individualized programs focused on learning, social and physical development, Giant Steps turns small steps into giant steps for their students.