25 Years:
The Sonnenberg Story
At its heart, our story is about people. It is about building stronger services for individuals and creating a grounded, supportive environment for the teams who carry out this vital work every day. Over the last quarter century, we have grown from a small home office into a multi-location community, guided at every step by the partnership we share with the families who walk this path with us.
The Foundation (2001–2014)
The roots of Sonnenberg go back to 1996, when Farrah Sonnenberg answered a small newspaper ad that set her on a new path as an autism treatment therapist. That experience sparked a passion that led her to officially create Sonnenberg in 2001.
In those early years, things were small and straightforward. We started out of a home office before moving into a modest space in downtown Kenosha, using that time to see what truly made a difference for families and to create a steady, unified approach to care.
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Finding Our Footing
(2015–2016)
As more families reached out, we expanded into Pleasant Prairie to keep up with the growing need. This became a season of rapid adjustment. In 2015, a planned move into a school building was derailed when the space was vandalized, so we redirected our efforts and created summer programming in Pleasant Prairie instead. That experience shaped our direction, giving us a clearer sense of how our services should be structured.
By December 2016, we expanded into Mount Pleasant and opened the Sonnenberg School, allowing our clinical and educational teams to work closely together to support the individuals and families in our care.
Shaping the Work
(2017–2019)
We have always believed that everyone should have room to grow in their own way. In 2017, we started a weekly social group that soon expanded as our experience deepened. Over time, we developed new ways to help people navigate routines and build confidence.
By 2018, we developed specialized life skills and behavior programming, and in 2019, we added adult services to ensure support could continue well beyond the school years.
During this time, we became the first clinic of our kind in Wisconsin to receive accreditation, setting a benchmark for the level of care in our community.
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Meeting the Moment
(2020-2021)
When the pandemic hit in 2020, we shifted our services online to keep people connected and supported.
The following year brought another unexpected challenge when heavy snowfall caused the roof of our Mount Pleasant location to collapse. Our team moved quickly, securing a new space within eight days and resuming services in less than a month.
That period of rapid change pushed us to clarify our mission, vision, and values so we could move forward with a shared sense of purpose.
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Growing with Purpose
(2021–2025)
With our values taking shape, we began to grow with purpose. In 2022, the Sonnenberg School moved to its Franklin location, giving our programs room to expand in a space built for learning.
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During this time, we also added everyday practices that strengthened how our staff worked together: clear communication, steady routines, and a shared approach to supporting one another with intention.
Our Vision for
the Future
(2026 & Beyond)
We’re so excited about what comes next. This September, we’re moving into a more focused center model that supports people through every chapter of life. Mount Pleasant will become the Early Intervention Center, a warm and welcoming space for our youngest learners and for building the early skills that help them feel ready for school.
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Pleasant Prairie will become the Community and Development Center, where children, teens, and adults can build everyday skills, confidence and independence.
These steps help us offer a more natural, connected experience for families, with support that carries through each stage of life.
Thank You
As we reflect on the past 25 years, we’re reminded that this story has always been a shared one. It has been shaped by the families who welcomed us into their lives, the staff who bring their hearts to this work, and the community that has supported us along the way.
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Thank you for being part of this journey. Every step has mattered. The foundation built over time continues to guide the path ahead, and there is so much to look forward to in the years to come.