Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) is a non-profit organization that provides educational assistance to families in New York City. The AFC Thrive Project focuses on low-income families with children with disabilities who need legal representation or a thorough defense of their cases. Our staff advises parents on their legal rights, negotiates on their behalf, and represents them at administrative hearings to get the services their children need to support their development, succeed in school, and maximize their independence. Read some of our success stories.
The services and supports provided by the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) or our service providers can help families live in the home of their choice, find employment and other meaningful activities in which they can participate, build relationships in the community, and enjoy health and well-being. The Children and Families Council has the mission to act as a neutral body to coordinate New York's health, education, and human services system to ensure that all children and families in New York State have the opportunity to realize their full potential. These efforts have the potential to affect thousands of children with disabilities in the New York City public school system. The Beyond Access series is part of the Specialized Instruction and Student Support Division of the New York City Department of Education.
It supports families of students with disabilities by offering sessions on topics related to special education. Advocates for Children of New York has been protecting and promoting the educational rights of students with disabilities since 1971. Each year, the Bronx Child Development Center at Easterseals New York provides special preschool education to nearly 200 young children with disabilities. The center's goal is to prepare every child to enter the next grade and to eliminate the need for services in the future. At the Bronx Child Development Center, children ages 3 to 5 receive individualized educational plans and personalized speech, physical, occupational and play therapies to ensure their continued development. The New York State Early Intervention Program (EIP) is part of the National Early Intervention Program for infants and young children with disabilities and their families. Brooklyn Blue Feather Elementary School (BBF) accepts children between the ages of 5 and 12 who reside in the five boroughs of New York City. The mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a particular focus on providing hope and recovery to adults with serious mental illness and to children with serious emotional disorders.
Based on data collected and interviews with professionals, special education advocates, and parents of students with disabilities, a document was created that makes recommendations for addressing obstacles to chronic traumatic encephalopathy. In addition, students can receive small-group instruction from a special education teacher to help them achieve their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals, and students whose IEP recommends assistive technology (AT) will receive face-to-face training by a member of the DoE's AT team. Family and Community Engagement Centers (FACE) provide family services for school-age and early childhood students with disabilities. These centers help families of children with disabilities participate in their children's education. The New York City Department of Education was challenged when it did not provide free breakfast and lunch to children with disabilities who would normally be entitled to receive meals at school but had to attend private special education schools because the DOE did not provide them with adequate public school education.
