| 1994 | Mariellen Cupini, Director and Speech Pathologist at Rochester Children’s Nursery, opens a fully inclusive early childhood program serving children with and without special needs. |
| 1994 | The program,Stepping Stones Learning Center, is operated out of one classroom in the former St. Thomas the Apostle School Building in Irondequoit. The first class has a total of nine children and is staffed with two teachers. |
| 1995 | Stepping Stones Learning Center receives approval from the NYS Department of Health and the NYS Education Department to service children with special needs. By the end of the year, 26 children were enrolled in the classroom and an additional 22 children were being seen in their homes. Services are now provided in Monroe,Wayne, and Ontario Counties. |
| 1995 | Receives approval by the Department of Health as an Early Intervention service coordinator, service provider, and as an evaluation site. Also approved by the State Education Department as a 3-5 evaluation site, integrated classroom provider, special education itinerant provider, and related service provider. Granted a provisional charter from the NYS Education Department. |
| 1996 | Stepping Stones Learning Centerd evelops and offers Autism specific therapy, utilizing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). |
| 1997 | Begins hosting student teachers and graduate student observers from all educational disciplines from regional colleges and universities. |
| 1998 | Stepping Stones Learning Center expands Autism Programming to include Developmental Individual Relationship Model (DIR) Therapy. |
| 1999 | Stepping Stones Learning Center designs and operates the “Leap Frog” classroom; a reverse mainstreaming model for children with Autism. |
| 1999 | Opens the Minnow classroom in the school building, joining Polliwogs, Tadpoles, and Frogs in serving children ages 2-5. |
| 2002 | In response to a growing demand for services, Stepping Stones Learning Center enters into a collaborative agreement with Hillside Family of Agencies to operate additional classrooms at an offsite location. |
| 2005 | In response to a growing demand for services, Stepping Stones Learning Center enters into a collaborative agreement with the Wayne Central School District to operate classrooms in a Wayne County school. |
| 2005 | The National Institute of Health awards the University of Rochester and Strong Memorial Hospital a grant to study the impact of the gluten and casein free diet on children with Autism, as well as to study the impact of Autism Therapy. They select Stepping Stones Learning Center as the host study site. |
| 2005 | Now using the entire building owned by St. Thomas, Stepping Stones Learning Center improves and renovates classrooms, hallways, clinics, and meeting spaces. |
| 2005 | Stepping Stones Learning Center opens a wrap around program for children in its classroom program. This allows families to drop off and pick up children up to an hour before or after class. |
| 2006 | Based on the success of its satellite classrooms, Stepping Stones Learning Center enters into a collaborative agreement with Heritage Christian Services to operate a classroom at Springdale Farm in Spencerport. |
| 2006 | In response to a need from employees, Corning Inc. collaborates with Stepping Stones Learning Center to develop an Autism Therapy program in Corning, New York, Steuben County. |
| 2006 | Stepping Stones Learning Center begins providing services to children in Genesee County. |
| 2006 | Stepping Stones Learning Center seeks and receives approval from the NY State Education Department to operate an 8:1:3 full day classroom for children with severe special needs. |
| 2006 | Families, the community and funders design and install a Sensory Garden Playground on site, transforming an open space into an outdoor educational area. |
| 2007 | Awarded a permanent charter from the State Education Department. |
| 2008 | Awarded funding from the Finger Lakes DDSO for a Respite Camp program for children up to age 8, a Behavioral Consultation Program for children up to age 21, and Medicaid Service Coordinator for individuals up to age 21. |
| 2008 | Opens a second 8:1:3 full day classroom for children with severe special needs. |
| 2008 | Awarded designation as a Rochester City School District Universal Pre Kindergarten Program. |
| 2009 | Awarded approval to be the Monroe County provider for Intensive Behavior Services for children ages 3-21. |
| 2010 | Stepping Stones Learning Center initiates a Feasibility Study with Danforth Development to determine if a Capital Campaign is feasible to support the future growth of the school. |
| 2010 | Awarded funding from Finger Lakes DDSO for an Autism Support program. |
| 2011 | Favorable results from the Feasibility Study resulted in a decision to initiate the Campaign for Kids. |
| 2011 | Received approval to conduct a half day special class for children ages 3-5 with behavioral challenges or diagnosed to be on the autism spectrum. |
| 2011 | Received approval from Finger Lakes DDSO for a “Coffee House Social Group” for children with developmental disabilities age 13 – 18. |
| 2011 | Mariellen Cupini, our CEO, attended the signing of the Autism Bill in Albany,NY |
| 2012 | Received approval from the Office of Developmental Disabilities for Community Habilitation Services. |
| 2012 | Press Conference by Assemblyman Joe Morelli to announce Community Campaign for Kids, for the down payment and closing costs for the new building. |