13 minute read
Education Guide
PRESCHOOLS & DAY CARE
Bright Minds Academy
75 SkyLine Drive • 10304 877-826-2060 brightmindsacademysi@gmail.com bma.school facebook.com/brightmindsacademy instagram.com/brightmindsacademy
PROGRAMS:
Voucher and private pay accepted. Pick-up/ drop-off services. Fun educational curriculum, nutritious meals, certified teachers.
ACTIVITIES:
Arts & crafts, sewing, baking, music, dance, zumba, chess, pod casting, Robotic UBtech, and more.
The Children’s Center - College of Staten Island
2800 Victory Blvd. • Bldg. 2R/Rm 104 • 10314 718-982-3190 childrenscenter@csi.cuny.edu csi.cuny.edu/childcare
PROGRAMS:
Infant/Toddler, Preschool, School age (For Children of CSI students). 3K and PKA Full Day (3K & Pre-K for all funded by NYC DOE)
ACTIVITIES:
Early education featuring developmentally appropriate hands-on learning experiences in a caring, well-supervised environment.
4 Angels Day Care, Inc.
245 Simonson Ave. • 10303 917-821-5048 my4angelsdaycareinc@msn.com 4angelsdaycareinc.com
PROGRAMS:
M-F 7am-7pm. 6 wks-12 yrs. Cert. teachers. Spanish/ English vouchers accepted. Free UPK for 3- and 4-year-olds.
ACTIVITIES:
iStartSmart technology in the classroom. Everything your child needs in a friendly, loving, multi-cultural environment giving parents peace of mind.
JCC of Staten Island
1297 Arthur Kill Road • 10312 718-475-5224 485 Victory Blvd. • 10301 718-475-5290 1466 Manor Road • 10314 718-475-5230 2221 Richmond Ave. • 10314 718-475-5100 sijcc.org
PROGRAMS:
Infant/Toddler Care - 12 mos; ages 3 mos-2.8 yrs; 3, 4, 5 days/week 7am-6pm; extended hrs 7-9am & 4-6pm. Full Day 3K and PreK for All. Contact facility for specific programs.
ACTIVITIES:
Literature, art, music & movement. Intro to Jewish culture and tradition. Indoor and outdoor play area.
St. Joseph Hill Academy
850 Hylan Blvd. • 10305 718-981-1187 egregor@stjhill.org • stjosephhillacademy.com
PROGRAMS:
Pre-K3 – 8th grade. Aftercare available. Call for info. Alignment of ELA and Social Studies Curriculums, Project Based Learning including STREAM Pre-K to 8, Project Lead The Way Science Curriculum aligned with NGSS K to 8.
ACTIVITIES:
Sports: Soccer, Swimming, Golf, Basketball and more to come. Clubs: Theater, Band, Chess, Fencing, Robotics, Computer Repair, Wacky Science, Hill Explorers, Story and Craft, Hill Herald, Book Club, Zumba and more.
Staten Island Academy
715 Todt Hill Road • 10304 718-303-7803 ccrane65@statenislandacademy.org statenislandacademy.org
PROGRAMS:
Coed college prep school for Pre-K3-Gr 12. Free extended day 7am-7pm. Summer programs. College guidance program. Academic Resource Center staffed with Orton-Gillingham trained specialists. Needbased Financial Aid available beginning in Kindergarten.
ACTIVITIES:
Honors Math & Science, AP curriculum, varied electives, Model UN & Congress, musical theater Gr. 5-12, Gr.9 Academy in London, Gr.10 New York Experience incl, Varsity & JV teams, Maker Space studio.
Tender Care Preschool
6581 Hylan Blvd. • 10309 718-317-2849 lherman@cc-si.org mountloretto.org/tender-care-preschool
PROGRAMS:
Free full day UPK and 3-K, half & full days for 2 year olds. Summer Camp.
ACTIVITIES:
Large enclosed playground & indoor gym, library. music and movement specials during the school day. Extended hours 7am-6pm. Sprinkler park on campus for Summer Camp. Located on the grounds of beautiful Mount Loretto. Plenty of parking.
SPECIAL NEEDS
JCC of Staten Island - First Foot Forward
1466 Manor Road • 10314 718-475-5226 1297 Arthur Kill Road • 10312 718-475-5224 2221 Richmond Ave. • 10314 718-475-5100 sijcc.org
PROGRAMS:
Special education preschool for ages 2.5-5. Full day. Center based & integrated classes. Related services. Transportation & tuition at no cost to eligible children.
ACTIVITIES:
Multi-disciplinary evaluations. Speech & language, occupational, physical & play therapy. Movement & music. Mainstreaming. Parent support groups.
Anthony S. Danna, Esq.
CERTIFIED ELDER LAW ATTORNEY *
SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY & APPLICATIONS ASSET PROTECTION ESTATE PROBATE / ADMINISTRATION GUARDIANSHIPS WILLS & TRUSTS ELDER PLANNING
_______________________________________ 406 Forest Avenue | Staten Island, NY 10301 | 718-273-0300 | inquiry@dannalaw.com Visit our website: dannalaw.com
*Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, which is not affiliated with any governmental authority. Certification is not a requirement for the practice of law in the State of New York and does not necessarily indicate greater competence than other attorneys experienced in this field of law.
5 Tips for a Successful IEP Meeting
One mom shares what she does in Individualized Education Program meetings to help them run smoothly.
BY DANA GREENBERG
Those of us who’ve been through it before are very aware how stressful and unpredictable IEP meetings can be. IEP stands for Individualized Education Program, which is the plan created for every child eligible for special-needs services from their public school specifying how the school will meet your child’s specific educational needs. IEP meetings are the yearly get-together at which parents gather with a team of professionals from the school district to discuss your child’s needs for the upcoming school year and develop your child’s plan for the year. We parents know what our children need better than anyone, but, unfortunately, we are not always heard.
Here are some of the things I do at my meeting to help ensure that it is a success.
SHOW A PICTURE OF YOUR CHILD. One of the first
things I do is hold up a picture of my son and introduce him. Usually there are people at the meeting who have never met him. I would like them to all see the boy we are talking about.
TAKE GOOD NOTES. Ask the professionals to slow down if you need them to. Let them know you don’t want to miss anything. I usually bring a notebook to write in. Be sure to ask who everyone is and what their titles are. Before you leave, ask for a copy of the minutes (that someone should have been taking). You can compare the minutes to your notes to make sure you're all on the same page.
NEVER SIGN ANYTHING — EXCEPT THE
ATTENDANCE SHEET. This is definitely something to remember. If they ask you to sign something else, tell them you want to review it at home; you're allowed to say this. Before you leave the meeting, ask them to give you a copy of the attendance sheet as well.
DON’T LET THEM RUSH YOU. If these meetings are
still new to you, you may hear words and terms that are not completely familiar to you. Feel free to ask them to explain everything. That is their job. Remind them, if necessary, that this is your child who is being discussed, not an abstract idea. If time runs out and you feel like you need more time, you can ask for an additional meeting to continue the discussion.
DISCUSS PLACEMENTS. If you have already visited potential schools, let them know. Give them details of what you saw and why it would not work for your child. Let them know that you have been proactive about the situation. Ask them to discuss their ideas about possible placements for your child. Remember, nothing is set in stone at this time, but it's something that should be discussed.
These are some of the things I always do at my son’s IEP meeting, I hope they may help guide you to a smoother, more successful IEP meeting of your own.
Dana Greenberg is a mom of twins living in Manhattan. Her site, TheAutismClub.com, was created to connect moms who have kids with special needs, like her son Jack—who has autism—and offer them a space to tell their stories. This article was originally published in 2017.
Helping Your Child Succeed in the Classroom
5 things you can do to help your child have the best school year possible
BY JACQUELINE NEBER
Good parent-teacher communication is crucial for any successful school year, but being on the same page becomes even more important when your child has a learning disability. There are a few steps you can take to help ensure your child has the best year possible.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND SPEAK UP. Parents
are entitled to receive information about special education from their schools and teachers—reading up and staying informed is the best way to advocate for your kid. When attending Committee for Special Education meetings, annual review meetings, or parent-teacher conferences, if you don’t understand something, ask questions.
COMMUNICATE WITH TEACHERS
FREQUENTLY. Kathy Devine and Emily Cole, teachers at Waverly Avenue Elementary School in Holtsville, say parents of students with special needs must be extra communicative with teachers. “We would like to know sooner when things might be happening at home, whether it’s medication changes or maybe something in the home life has changed,” Cole says. When it comes to homework, “reach out to us as soon as possible so that we’re not waiting until the end of a trimester to know [kids are] struggling,” Devine says. Another tip? Write a letter describing your child and their needs at the beginning of the year (you can still do this now, as it will help your child’s teacher get to know them better).
UNDERSTAND INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION
PLAN GOALS. Equally important is understanding your child’s IEP goals—which can differ from their classroom goals. This difference often confuses parents who see their student accomplishing goals on one end of the spectrum and not the other.
INVOLVE YOUR CHILD. Cassie Reilly, transition coordinator at Northport High School, suggests involving your kid in IEP and parent-teacher conferences. Being open with them from the time of diagnosis helps them stand up for themselves and understand their learning disability does not make them inferior to others.
BE SENSITIVE TO DIFFERENCE. Parents should un-
derstand their kids might be different at home than at school, Reilly adds. And, even more importantly, their kids might have an atypical path toward success. Communicating with teachers is key to understanding how your kid can progress in the best way.
Sunny Days Early Intervention Services
Making the world brighter, one child at at time. Providing a full range of services: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Psychological Services & ABA Special Instruction Services. We tailor these services to specifically target each child’s needs with an individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Tele-Health services available immediately!
718-556-1616 or 311 1110 South Ave., Suite 405 • SI, NY 10314
sunnydays.com
Person Centered Care Services
Person Centered Care Services is a not-for-profit organization creating social change within communities by supporting people with disabilities on their search for identity and acceptance. Services available include Community Supports, Residential Supports, Career Supports, Day Supports, Family Education & Training, and Self-Directed Supports. Additional opportunities for trainings and education available include but are not limited to the Disability Ally Initiative, an interactive training that offers insight into and knowledge of disability culture, seeking to cultivate communities of belonging where businesses, agencies and people work together to better understand and fully include people with disabilities in society. We also offer CEUs for NYS Social Workers. To learn more about opportunities available, visit pccsny.org.
150 Granite Ave. • SI, NY 10303 718-370-1088 • info@pccsny.org facebook.com/pccsny • instagram.com/pccsny • twitter.com/PCCSny
pccsny.org
Milestones in Motion
Babies are amazing, let us show you how. Our mission is to educate parents what motor milestones are, how to achieve them, and how to support one another through parenthood. Check out our Instagram for FREE TIPS on gross motor development, parenting, pregnancy, and more. MIMPTW offers 1-on-1, individualized physical therapy services in the comfort of your own home. We also offer specialized, “parent & me” style wellness classes focused on a particular developmental skill. If you want to learn how to purposefully play with your child to facilitate rolling, crawling, or walking, these classes are for you. Lastly, we offer sport specific training for people of all ages to improve their ability to participate in their sport.USE CODE “SIPARENT” FOR $10 OFF ANY SERVICE.
646-334-0703 facebook.com/milestonesinmotionptw • instagram.com/milestonesinmotionptw
milestonesinmotionptw.com
MiMa Create and Play
MiMa Create and Play offers tons of opportunities to create, play, learn and explore in every possible way. Our sensory gym and play space is designed to spark kids’ imaginations and their love to discover. We are proud to say that our space is filled with different kinds of swinging equipment and endless imaginative activities. Help improve your child’s motor skills and body awareness with our overhead equipment including hammocks, hanging ladders, buoy balls and much more! Try an art class in our paint room. We use high quality equipment and washable paints suitable for specific age groups.
MiMa CREATE AND PLAY
881 Main St., Suite 14 Sayreville, NJ 08872 732-952-8444 info@mimacreateandplay.com
mimacreateandplay.com
The GRACE Foundation
The GRACE Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was established to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Today the rate of newly diagnosed children is 1 in 54. As individuals with ASD age, more specialized services are required to address the changing needs of the individual and their families. Currently GRACE provides programs (including Site Based Respite/In-Home Respite, Day Hab, Com Hab, SEMP and FI) for over 300 participants (ages 5-30) and growing. The ultimate goals are to enable individuals with ASD to lead independent and productive lives. THE GRACE FOUNDATION
718-983-3800 460 Brielle Ave. • 10314 facebook.com/graceofny.org
graceofny.org
SERVICES
A VERY SPECIAL PLACE, INC. (AVSP)
A Very Special Place, Inc. provides a comprehensive network of programs and services, including fiscal intermediary services for Self-Direction for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
49 Cedar Grove Avenue • 10306 info@avspny.org • avspny.org facebook.com/AVSPSI instagram.com/averyspecialplace
SERVICES
INCLUDEnyc
We are the Staten Island Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Center and can answer your questions about special education and disability serving systems, from birth to age 21. Call our FREE Help Line: 212-677-4660 (English) and 212-677-4668 (Español). Interpretation available in over 200 languages.
212-677-4660 | info@includenyc.org includenyc.org facebook.com/includenyc instagram.com/includenyc
PRESCHOOL
JCC FIRST FOOT FORWARD
The JCC of Staten Island offers First Foot Forward as part of our continuum of services for people with disabilities. First Foot Forward is a special education preschool program which provides services for children with speech/language, motor, and cognitive delays.
Jayne Smith, Chief Program Director
718-475-5265 • jsmith@sijcc.com 1466 Manor Road • 1297 Arthur Kill Road 2221 Richmond Ave.
Sensorielle
Sensorielle was established in 2020 after recognizing how many parents were struggling with their children during the unprecedented COVID-19 experience. We possess a combined 15 years of professional experience working with monolingual and bilingual children from birth through adolescence including early intervention, speech delays, sensory processing disorder and children with ASD. Sensorielle provides a variety of classes and services tailored to children’s needs and interests. With a vision of providing the community of children with a multiple intelligence approach to learning; we believe in having children fully immersed in their learning. We incorporate proprioceptive activities, thematically correlating arts, culture, music, movement, and social emotional skills.
1847 Victory Blvd. • 10314 347-341-6849 • sensoriellenyc@gmail.com • instagram.com/sensoriellenyc
sensoriellenyc.com
Eden II Programs
The mission of Eden II Programs is to support people with autism throughout their lives to achieve their full potential through service, science, and passion. Programs and services include: Preschool, school, SEIT, SETSS, adult services, residential services, community habilitation, respite, afterschool recreation, consultation support, and various other supports and programs for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders.
EDEN II PROGRAMS
Agency Headquarters | 15 Beach St. • 10304 facebook.com/eden2programs twitter.com/Eden_Two instagram.com/eden2programs/ youtube.com/user/EDEN2Programs
eden2.org
AHRC NYC James P. Murphy Staten Island Prep
At the James P. Murphy Staten Island Preparatory School, we are proud to provide a rigorous curricular program combined with ABA programming to meet the needs of students with disabilities from ages 3 to 13. Our curriculum includes ELA, mathematics, science and social studies with the use of the Next Generation Learning Standards modified for our students to access instruction. Our school is excited to provide on-site related services and a social emotional learning emphasis for each student in our building. Small classroom ratios and specially trained staff allow for an individualized experience and approach to learning. AHRC NYC JAMES P. MURPHY STATEN ISLAND PREP
23 Summit St. • 10307 • 718-285-9377
