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The Step By Step Program

Preventing Child Neglect through competence-based assessment and intervention for parents with Learning Difficulties

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Services are matched to each parent’s learning style, functional abilities, and real-life environment to ensure meaningful and sustainable progress.

Sunrise Tour

Professionally Presented Program

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Competence & Context Based Rights Model

Evidence Based Practice

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Universal Design Principles

Ray of Light

What is Step By Step?

The Step By Step Program was developed by Professor Maurice Feldman at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. He is considered a world-leader on parenting by persons with learning difficulties. The primary objective of the program is to reduce child neglect due to parenting skill deficits and promote the preservation of families. 

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This approach ensures that parenting skills are not only taught, but can be consistently demonstrated in daily caregiving situations, supporting safe parenting capacity, strengthening parent-child interaction, and promoting long-term family stability.

 

This program specializes in evidence-based parenting education specifically designed and tested for adults with cognitive challenges.

Who is this program for?

Sunrise Step By Step is appropriate for individuals who:

  • Have difficulty learning through traditional instruction

  • Require hands-on, repetitive, or simplified teaching approaches

  • Have cognitive, developmental, or learning-related challenges

  • Are involved in or at risk of involvement in child welfare systems

  • Need support applying parenting skills consistently in daily life

  • Parents with learning difficulties

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Not all parents learn the same way—and effective services should reflect that.

What Are Learning Difficulties?

Learning Difficulties is a term that encompasses a variety of conditions that could impact an individual's ability to learn new skills. Examples include but are not limited to:

  • Having had an IEP or 504 while in school

  • Learning Disabilities

  • ADHD

  • Extreme Anxiety

  • Expressive/Receptive Language Delay

  • Low Literacy 

  • Executive function challenges

  • ​Borderline Intellectual Disability

  • Intellectual Disability

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

  • Brain Injuries

  • Learn Best Through Hands On/Interactive 

  • Experiencing Overwhelm with Grief, Trauma, etc

    • There is an overrepresentation of these cases in child welfare proceedings.

    • Children of parents with learning disabilities may be at risk for developmental, school-related, and behavioral issues, especially when parents do not receive training and families are left supported.

    • Children of parents with learning disabilities may be at risk for attachment issues related to parental history of trauma, not parental IQ.

    • Parents with learning disabilities may be presumed to be incompetent or unable to benefit from parenting education resources.

     

    Why Focus on Parents with Learning Difficulties?

    What Does Sunrise Step By Step Offer?

    Our leadership team brings experience across and including:

    • Special education (PreK–12)

    • School counseling  

    • Child welfare systems (Caseworker III)

    • Behavioral health and trauma-informed care including

      •  Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) delivery 

      • Conducting Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA)

      • Mobile Therapy

    • Parenting education and supports for neurodiverse populations

    We understand—not theoretically, but operationally—how these cases present, where systems break down, and what documentation counties need to support decision-making​​​​​​

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