INFORMATIONAL:
OPWDD: NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
www.opwdd.ny.gov/
NYSED New York State special education department
www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/
NICHCY (National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities) (www.nichcy.org) Phone:1-800-695-0285.
VESID (Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals
with Disabilities) (web.nysed.gov/vesid) a division of the New York
State Education Department.
WRIGHTSLAW: www.wrightslaw.com/ Parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, reliable information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities.
Local Diploma Safety Net Options for Students with Disabilities who Enter Grade 9 in September 2011 and Thereafter: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/localdiplomaoptions-may2011.htm
SPECIAL PROGRAMS:
JCC-Sid Jacobson - Special Needs programs and Respite
Contact Sharon Hanover at 516-484-1545 ext. 148 or via email at shanover@sjjcc.org for fees and details on these and other great programs!
Mid Island Y - Jewish Community Center (JCC) - Plainview , The K.I.S.S. Center offers a variety of after school programs to meet the needs of your child. Programs such as Art, Dance and Sports are run by dedicated and professional staff. Check out their current brochure online for more information on specific classes. Programs include vacation respite, and swim classes. Call Joanna at x332. www.miyjcc.org
AHA NY—Family Bowling (Nassau and Suffolk locations), Rock-n-Bowl event, NY Islander outing event, Fall conference (Issues in Education for School Age Children on the Spectrum) and more! Link onto site for all the details and programs http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/localdiplomaoptions-may2011.htm
Fay J Lindner Center—Programs and therapies for tweenies/teens/young adults, including a Halloween party, home living and social programs, like an adult ‘social café’. Link onto www.fayjlindnercenter.org
The Support and Skills Program for Children with Autism and Siblings—Long Island University, CW Post Campus - Brookville, NY, contact, Kathleen Feeley, www.cwpost.liu.edu. This weekend program will provide intensive instruction in key social, communication, and leisure skills for children with ASDs, as well as a support group for their siblings. The instruction and support will be followed by an inclusive recreation activity in which children with autism can practice their new skills with their siblings, and other typically developing peers.
LEGO CLUB FOR CHILDREN for 5th-12th graders. Held in the Garden City offices, Life’s WORC has a new social club designed for children and adolescents with autism. The club offers a social and interactive experience encouraging participants to use imagination and creativity with the use of Lego building blocks. Six session/one hour each session starting Oct 14, $135.00 fee (six week session) Contact Gisela Leon via email gleon@lifesworc.org
THE INTREPID’s Disability Awareness Month. The Intrepid hosts a series of activities that include specialized performances, family activities, tours, movie screenings and speaker events tailored for children and adults who are, or work with, the deaf or hard-of- hearing, blind or partially-sighted, wounded warriors and veterans, or are affected by autism. For more information, please visit: http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/DisabilityAwarenessMonth.aspx
Nassau Musuem’s Arts Programs: Autism & the Arts Program 11-12.
Held on once a month on Tuesdays (Oct 18, Nov 29, Dec 13, Jan 24, Feb 7, Mar 6, Apr 3, May 8, June 5)—This program is not just for children on the Autistic Spectrum—call for details: Noemi Fletcher at Nassau County Museum of Art 484-9338 ext 12 or email nfletcher@nassaumuseum.org
Broadway Theater: The Theater Development Fund, a nonprofit organization, is looking to help families with children with autism attend Broadway productions. Their kick off event is on October 2nd with a sold-out matinee of "The Lion King" in a what they call "the first ever autism-friendly performance in Broadway history." Programs and events like these are exactly what families need. They need a place where they can have their children feel comfortable and watch an amazing show, while still feeling comfortable enough to enjoy themselves without worrying about the feelings and prejudices of other viewers. For more on the program and article on the Theater Development Fund, check out the New York Times article at: article http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/program-hopes-to-make-broadway-friendlier-to-those-with-autism/
New York Families for Autistic Children (NYFAC) opening new autism center in Queens: NFAC looks to offer a number of new programs and workshops to help individuals with autism spectrum disorder and people diagnosed with a developmental disability at a more convenient location. You can read the article at:
http://www.queenscourier.com/articles/2011/10/11/news/top_stories/doc4e94b751d0f21036891402.txt