The Birth of Milestones

  • The Beginning

    When Tyler Letso was born two months premature in 1989, his parents, Suzanne and Roger, soon noticed developmental differences from other children his age. Despite their persistence, his pediatrician simply attributed them to Tyler’s premature birth.

  • Taking Control

    It wasn’t until Tyler was four that his doctor acknowledged that his lack of functional speech was more than a developmental delay. At a time when only one in 10,000 children were diagnosed with autism—and few doctors or educational professionals understood the disorder—Tyler’s diagnosis meant the Letsos were on their own.

  • Early Struggles

    Initially, Tyler was enrolled in a special education program but made very little progress. He had no meaningful communication skills, only a few repetitive phrases. His inability to communicate left Tyler frustrated and prone to tantrums and self-injury. Life was hard and scary, and the future seemed bleak.

  • Discovery of ABA

    Fortunately, thanks to Suzanne’s background in medical research, a ray of hope appeared. She applied her skills to researching autism and soon discovered the field of Applied Behavior Analysis—which seemed to offer promising results. At the time, her son’s educators were unwilling to adopt any of the principles of ABA and perceived Suzanne’s suggestions as pushy over-parenting. So, on their own, the Letsos implemented a rudimentary ABA program at home. And suddenly, the little boy who seemed uneducable was able to learn. In fact, thanks to this new system, Tyler mastered 20 of the 22 learning objectives that had been in his IEP for over a year in less than six weeks.

  • The Birth of a New Educational Approach

    At this time, there were few schools that provided ABA services—and hundreds of kids were on waiting lists to get in. It became clear that Tyler would likely never be admitted, so the Letsos took matters into their own hands. They hired their first Behavioral Analyst and began a journey that would change the face of educational services for children and adults with autism in Connecticut.

Institutional Growth – From CCCD to Milestones

1995
09/01/1995
1995: Founding of CCCD

The Letso family officially establishes the Connecticut Center for Child Development (CCCD), driven by the need for accessible and individualized services for children with autism. The organization begins by offering consultations, workshops, and conferences, rapidly growing in response to the community’s needs.

2025
09/02/2025
1999: Opening of the First Dedicated School Facility

As demand for services grows, CCCD outgrows the basement of Trinity Church. A new, dedicated school facility opens on Bridgeport Avenue in Milford, Connecticut, offering expanded services for students with autism and developmental disabilities.

09/03/2025
2000s: Expansion of Programs

CCCD expands its offerings to include diagnostic and consultative services, after-school and extended day programs, and an adult day program, all to meet the evolving needs of the community.

09/04/2025
2010: Opening of Wolf Harbor Campus

With continued growth, CCCD opens the Wolf Harbor Campus, further increasing its capacity to serve families in need of specialized programs. This campus helps accommodate the increasing demand for ABA services.

09/05/2025
2017: Opening of the Boston Post Road Campus

The Boston Post Road Campus opens in Orange, Connecticut, further expanding CCCD’s ability to offer educational and behavioral services for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities.

09/06/2025
2017: Name Change to Milestones Behavioral Services

In recognition of the organization’s growth and its expansion beyond autism-specific services, CCCD changes its name to Milestones Behavioral Services. This name change reflects Milestones’ dedication to serving a broader population with special needs while continuing its commitment to improving the lives of individuals through behavioral analysis.

09/07/2025
Today: Milestones Behavioral Services Continues to Thrive

Milestones is now an organization of over 200 highly-trained professionals, serving individuals with developmental disabilities and special needs, committed to providing high-quality, individualized care.

Growing & Evolving

Milestones is committed to community-focused care, continually innovating to meet the evolving needs of individuals with developmental disabilities.

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NUMBER OF CAMPUSES

200+

DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS

25+

YEARS OF SERVICE
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