Elmy's Special Services

Elmy's Special Services works with people with disabilities and their families and caregivers in New York City. For more than 20 years, Elmy's has worked to support families and help clients enjoy an improved quality of life. At its inception, the organization served immigrant families in low-income areas who had difficulty accessing social services due to language and cultural barriers. Since then, Elmy's Special Services has grown to serve a much broader base of clients with a full range of supportive services.

What Kinds of Programming Does Elmy's Special Services Offer?

Elmy's Special Services partners with stakeholders in the community to deliver programs that encourage independence, support the dignity of the individual, and promote opportunities for children to live full and happy lives in their natural environments. Elmy's helps clients and families reach those goals through activities that promote social and intellectual engagement, educational opportunities, therapeutic exercises, and safe and inclusive opportunities for clients to integrate into the larger community. Here are a few of the services available.

Early Intervention Early intervention services work with children three years old and younger with disabilities. The program seeks to help these children meet developmental milestones and master life skills.

Every child served through Elmy's Special Services early intervention programs gets an individual, personalized service plan. To qualify for services, the child must live in New York City, be between zero and 3 years old, and have a diagnosed developmental or physical delay or disability such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, or autism.

Home Care Services Elmy's Special Services provides home care that allows people with disabilities to remain independent in their homes. Some clients qualify for services for a few hours a day, while others may need care 24 hours per day. To be eligible for home care services, clients and families should ask the attending physician to make a referral. An intake nurse with Elmy's Special Services will assess the home to determine the services, equipment, supplies, and medications that most benefit the client. The individualized care plan includes the schedule for home care services and can be updated as needs change.

After School Programs Elmy's Special Services offers after-school programming with educational support, socialization opportunities, and recreational activities in a safe environment. To qualify for the after-school program, clients must be between 6 and 19 years old with a diagnosed developmental disability.

The service plan for each client includes assistance with homework and meeting IEP goals.

Common activities include visits to the public library, daily writing activities, games, crafts, and holiday celebrations.

Day Habilitation Day habilitation services give people with disabilities a place to interact with other members of the community. From 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every weekday, clients participate in volunteer activities, social interactions, and work-related programming to encourage interconnectedness.

Elmy's Special Services provides transportation to and from the center each day.

Community Habilitation Elmy's Special Services offers community habilitation programs to help people with disabilities develop the independent living skills necessary to stay in their homes and communities. Each client's plan is designed with input from family members and healthcare professionals. It includes home visits, activities in the community, and training on activities of daily living such as managing money, housekeeping, personal hygiene, and safety skills. Clients also explore career possibilities.

Residential Services Elmy's Special Services provides residential services for people with developmental disabilities to help them live independently. The homes support the individual's independence while striving to help clients live more fully integrated with the community. The professionals working in the residential setting respect the needs and wants of each client while offering recreational and social activities. These highly trained individuals also help with daily food preparation, shopping, and housekeeping tasks.

Respite Services Elmy's Special Services offers respite services to give family caregivers in Brooklyn a break from the constant demands of caring for a loved one with a disability. Families need time to run errands, get away for the weekend, or take a mental health break. Elmy's offers holiday and overnight weekend respite care inside and outside the home.

Summer Camp Elmy's Special Services offers summer camps for children with disabilities where they can make new friends, experience new things, and build independence. Activities focus on developing decision-making skills, social and emotional abilities, and character building. Elmy's provides transportation to and from camp each day from the last day of one school year until the first day of the next.

These are just a few of the services Elmy's Special Services offers. The team of professionals at Elmy's Special Services believes passionately that every individual, regardless of age or disability, has the potential to grow, pursue opportunities, and achieve goals. The organization

provides its services in the community with the utmost respect for the inherent dignity of the individual without regard to race, creed, or sexual orientation.