The Beginning 1999 A group of highly committed parents and professionals identified the need for improved support for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder living in Central Pennsylvania.
Opening Doors 2002 On February 4, 2002, The Vista School® opened its doors to 4 children. Vista was the first licensed private academic school to receive Approved Private School status in 30 years.
Unique Partnership 2004 The Vista School® formed a unique partnership with a local behavioral health provider in a demonstration project to join educational and therapeutic aspects of the treatments that are primarily used for the remediation of ASD.
Medical Assistance 2005 In 2005, Vista was granted a Medical Assistance Partial Hospitalization License from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
Move to Current Facility 2011 Vista moved to its current facility in 2011 – a breathtaking 18-acre campus owned by the Hershey Trust Company that had once been used as a residential program for Milton Hershey School. The campus has four separate buildings – high school, junior-high school, middle school and elementary school.
Employment Services Established 2014 The Vista Adult Services Employment program was established to introduce individuals with autism to competitive, integrated employment opportunities and training to give them the skills they need to lead fulfilling lives.
Community Integration Center Opens 2015 The doors of our Community Integration Center (CIC) opened in the fall of 2015 at 24 Northeast Drive, Hershey. The CIC provides instruction for adult clients that is individually designed and targets skills most relevant to securing, enhancing, or maintaining job placement.
Early Intervention Program 2017 In November 2017, Vista Autism Services launched our brand new Early Intervention program consisting of one classroom made up of six young children. The first year of the program showed great success in improving the lives of the children and helping them achieve the building blocks for future learning.
CoVE Autism Support Classrooms Established 2019 Vista offers contract services to fully staff and run autism support classrooms in district-based, private, or other school settings outside of The Vista School.
Vista's New Look 2022 Vista celebrated its 20th anniversary on February 4, 2022 and unveiled our new butterfly logo. The new look is a reflection of Vista’s continued evolution while incorporating meaningful elements that symbolize Vista’s steadfast core identity.
Camp Hill Community Integration Center Opens 2022 Vista expanded it’s Adult Day Services program to Camp Hill, leasing space from the Good Shepherd parish in their former school. This allowed Vista to serve west shore clients closer to their home.
Vista Today 2026 Today, Vista employs more than 350 skilled professionals and serves over 500 individuals and their families across South Central Pennsylvania.