The year was 1954. RCA released the first color television. Bing Crosby’s White Christmas was aired for the first time. Americans were listening to Frank Sinatra and Doris Day. Dwight Eisenhower was President. The average home in the US was about $8,600 and gas was 21 cents a gallon.

At that time, there was no such thing as “special education.” In fact, many parents of children with autism and other disabilities had only two options: keep their child home, or agree to send their child to a state institution. No one even knew what “autism” was – many children on the autism spectrum were labeled schizophrenic, emotionally disturbed, or mentally ill. Parents were desperate for effective services.

Determined to create a better future for their children, a small group of Bergen County parents began meeting. On September 2, 1954, they reached out to a young teacher who reluctantly agreed to take on the task of educating four children, ranging in age from four to seven. The Forum School opened its doors in two tiny rooms in the VFW hall in Carlstadt. It was the first school of its kind in New Jersey, and only the second of its kind in the nation.

Within a year, news of the school spread, and the number of enrolled children increased. To keep costs down, parents and volunteers cleaned, painted, renovated, and raised funds. Over the years, the school moved several times, each time growing in size and program scope.

Knowing that there were thousands of children who needed help, early leaders at The Forum School pushed lawmakers, policy leaders, and the media to do more to help students with autism – children who were then still considered to be emotionally disturbed.

From its earliest days, the compassion at The Forum School was evident. The school’s first brochure described the teachers, emphasizing their stability, compassion, and willingness to celebrate small gains.

Today, those values remain deeply engrained in the mission, the vision, and the work of The Forum School, where academic rigor, job placement, college experiences, and community-based instruction are part of each day. Educators at The Forum School are rooted in a commitment to believe in the potential of each child.