Testimonials
“When our son was diagnosed with Autism, we were shattered. The only thing that made our lives bearable was the knowledge that he was in the hands of such highly capable and compassionate therapists. Without the crucial intervention provided by The Center, he would not be the happy, engaged and expressive little boy he is today.”
- A family
Greenwich, CT
“After our family got our autism diagnosis, we were faced with an insurmountable amount of information. However, after talking to our pediatrician and other families, our first step was clear: Call the Center for Growth and Development. Over the last three years, their caring and skilled team of therapists have given us the strategies we need to support our son’s–and our family’s–happiness and success.”
- A family of three
Greenwich, CT
“When our twins were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, we had no idea what our next step should be. From our first meeting with the staff at CGD, we knew we found the right environment for our boys. The staff was warm, friendly and professional from day 1. My children immediately felt at ease, which was a great comfort to us. Through creative means, the team at CGD was able to find what motivated each of my children to learn. Thanks to their dedication, my boys have a solid foundation for learning.”
-The Ruscil Family
“Having a child with special needs puts you into a world of teachers that others do not fully appreciate. Life for my daughter has been overwhelming; from a medical perspective, from a sensory perspective. For 15 years, I have met and worked with a myriad of professionals trying their best to help. But despite their hard work and love for my child, no one knew how to teach her.
What about growth and development? It was only at The Center that a cohesive, highly trained team implemented an approach that brought progress. Step by step, we opened up a new world to my child. She has made gains there that I dared not to dream of anymore. The Center is allowing her to make the most of her abilities.”
- mother of a 15 year old girl
“All parents hope and dream for nothing but the best for their children. This certainly does not fall to the wayside when you discover your child has special needs. At age 2, my son was diagnosed with ASD, verbal apraxia, and sensory integration disorder. Although heartbreaking to discover our child has these challenges, we quickly understood that time is of the essence in getting into the appropriate therapies with the right group of people.
My son has been going to The Center for Growth and Development for 3 years now. From the onset, the Center has been key in helping my family navigate this new world… We have watched our son make amazing progress over the years. His individualized programs are delivered by highly trained therapists in a nurturing, structured and supportive environment. He continues to make great strides thanks to the skillfulness and dedication of his team members.
Balancing a days worth of therapies required for a child on the spectrum is difficult on many levels. However, we know innately that each day we are doing what needs to be done and our son is moving one step closer to achieving his potential. We know he is happy, safe, and learning when he is at the Center.
We know we are leaving him in the capable hands of caring individuals who have his best interests at heart, and who will help him put his best foot forward. We know in our hearts that it is the people we surround our son with that will shape his future. “It takes a village to raise a child” as the saying goes…
We have unwavering beliefs in the capabilities of our son and the talents and expertise of his team members at the Center. Together they work hard every day, and together, they possess the keys to unlock the doors…
The staff at the Center for Growth and Development has certainly touched the life of our little boy. But they have also touched the lives of our entire family. We will be forever grateful for being given the gift of hope for a bright future.”
- An appreciative mom
“It is with great pleasure that I recommend The Center for Growth & Development to families in need of ABA therapy for their children. Having served my boys, now ages 11 & 13, for the past ten years, the Center for Growth and Development means much more to us than just our ABA provider, they are like family.
As founder of the Autism Parents Group, a support group of over 200 families with children on the autism spectrum in FairfieldCounty, a board member for SPED*NET Wilton, and having been involved with many ABA providers on the school district level, I could undoubtedly say that The Center for Growth and Development is a leader in the field.
The staff is highly educated, thoroughly trained and the nicest group of people under one roof that I have ever met. The Center’s employees display a high work ethic, are extremely dependable, and are very understanding and nurturing. I’m very impressed with empathy, caring and knowledge toward children; they understand the way a child with autism thinks and feels. Their advanced approach has been proven to be effective in the families they serve. My own children are leaps and bounds beyond what I had originally dreamed. My younger son currently attends school without support, thanks to the Center. My older son continues to need support, however the gaps in his academics and communication are diminishing. He is more engaged socially and able to participate and absorb the information within the classroom setting, keeping up with the other children. Of course, he will always need assistance with his social and emotional development, however he continues to surprise us all and has made great strides. This past summer he attended a typical sleepaway camp for the first time and was able to successfully go without support! He had a fantastic time, made a friend (for the first time on his own) and keeps saying that he cannot wait until next summer to go again. This milestone would not have been possible without the foundational skills he received and the pre-planning, involvement, and support from his team of therapists and his consultant from the Center.
The Center’s convenient location on the Norwalk/Wilton border doesn’t hurt either. It is so helpful to be able to drop off your child in good hands and be able to ricochet around to complete your errands (or have a quick cup of coffee with a friend). The Center for Growth and Development would be an asset to any family affected with autism and I sincerely recommend them.”
- Patti Sylvia
Founder, Autism Parents Group, SPED*NET Wilton Board Member
“Lynn Hartigan and the staff at The Center for Growth and Development are true angels. Our son and family were extremely blessed by their hard work, dedication and genuine personal commitment to saving our son’s life. Our son, who was low functioning and completely mute, today is fully recovered and a vibrant young boy who attends school without any assistance or therapies. A miracle it may seem to many, but in reality is due to the hardworking therapists. The therapists worked with our son on a daily basis for several grueling years and ultimately helped him reach what seemed an insurmountable goal. Our families both immediate and extended will forever be indebted to the incredible staff at the Center. During a time when autism awareness was almost non-existent and help was nowhere to be found, the Center came to our rescue. Each therapist that worked with our son was truly gifted, emotionally invested and completely transformed our son while keeping us hopeful throughout the process. I cannot say enough about how highly we regard the Center’s staff and they will forever hold a place in our hearts for rescuing our baby boy as well as an entire family.”
- A Connecticut Family
“My son was diagnosed by The Yale Child Study Clinic, and The McCarton Center (NYC) as autistic in Early 2006. Both Yale and McCarton advised us that The Center for Growth and Development (owned by Lynn Hartigan) would be the best ABA provider for us, and our son.
We became clients of The Center for Growth and Development in March, 2006.
In November of 2008, Our son was diagnosed by Dr. McCarton as no longer meeting the label of Autism, and she considered him as “recovered”. He will be entering the public school system as a typical 5 year old, without the need of supports, aides.etc.
Lynn Hartigan and her staff of therapists of The Center for Growth and development are incredible. Thanks to Lynn and her staff, my son can now live life as a normal, typical child.”
- Dad of two boys
“The Center made it possible for my son to recover from an autism spectrum disorder. They are one of the few ABA providers that have the experience and technology to teach children Theory Of Mind, one of the core deficits of autism. Parents have no idea how fortunate they are to have access to this caliber of talent. Unfortunately, what they know isn’t mainstreamed into schools and providers across the country.
The Center were the only people that understood my son, and knew what he needed. They created, implemented, and oversaw his development from age 3 to age 6. They collaborated with our other therapists, making our program concise and just what my son needed week after week. Our team were trained by the very best people in the business, and continue to learn from our children. They truly enjoy working with our children, and are dedicated and invested in their progress.
I have also seen The Center work the same miracles with my friends’ children with various functioning levels and unique needs. They have the ability to meet the needs of every child an individual. Not a day goes by where I don’t think of what they have done for us.”
- A Proud Mother
“Our decision to seek services from The Center for Growth and Development was one of the best decisions we have made. In one of our first sessions, the therapist said, “Come see what your son can do.” Those words were transforming. For the first time I was hearing someone say what he could do instead of what he couldn’t do. They loved my son exactly the way he was but did not put any limitations on the potential they saw for him. They laughed at his silliness and sympathized with his struggles – without ever sacrificing the integrity of the program. The Center embraced our whole family and for the first time I felt I could breathe when seeking therapy for my son.”
- Mother of a 6 year old
