Stepping Stones is funded by the Division of Developmental Disabilities and operated by the Bergen County Special Services School District. Developed for individuals 21 years and older residing in Bergen County, the program specializes in providing a structured and supportive environment with intense behavioral supports.
https://bcss.bergen.org/index.php/stepping-stones
The program relocated to the District’s Educational Facility at 296 East Ridgewood Avenue in Paramus in September 2015. After a smooth transition the individuals in the program have settled in nicely. Our new location provides more opportunities for community integration and shared activities with peer groups in the area.
Program emphasis at Stepping Stones includes pre-vocational skills, independent living skills, community involvement, and communication/socialization skills. These activities are introduced and reinforced in a structured and sequential manner. Activities may be group oriented or individually based. While in the midst of activities and individualized objectives, staff members assist individuals to reach maximum participation, learn new skills, and be engaged with others. The team works closely together and partners with individuals and their family members to develop a meaningful plan of care for each year. Each individual’s plan is unique to them. We are able to obtain a high level of support and make modifications as needed because of the high staff/client ratio.
One of the program’s many attributes is the caring and experienced staff who work with our clients on a daily basis. There is a unified approach to instruction and daily scheduling. Staff sensitively support individuals on the autism spectrum to adapt to change and meet daily challenges. They take a hierarchical approach to behaviors, and may adjust the environment and programming to provide safe milieu and promote positive outcomes for adults in the program.
Programmatically, each individual is guided to demonstrate more self-directed behavior, increased adaptive skills, and increased independence and interpersonal skill development.