"FROM THE ORDINARY TO THE EXTRAORDINARY!"

SPECIAL EDUCATION


Special Education
Impartial Hearings:
Information on Impartial Hearings and how to file


Related Services Information:
NYC DOE Special Education HotLine                    
Dial 311 OR 718-935-2007
Beginning 8/1/12, Available from 9pm-5pm
DOE Website Resources: Understanding Special Ed in NYC 
http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/SpecialEducation/default.htm

UFT Parent Fact Sheet on Special Ed Reform May 2012
http://www.uft.org/files/attachments/parent-fact-sheet-special-ed-reform.pdf

ARISE Coalition Spec Ed Reform Fact Sheet May 2012http://arisecoalition.org/ARISE%20Reform%20Fact%20Sheet%20English.pdf
Advocates for Children:Turning 5 Guide November 2012
http://www.advocatesforchildren.org/sites/default/files/library/turning_5_guide.pdf?pt=1

Advocates for Children:Kindergarten Placement for Students with IEPs May 2012
http://www.advocatesforchildren.org/sites/default/files/library/T5_placement_process_ENG.pdf
August 2012
Advocates for Children has a newly updated fact sheet to help families of students with disabilities through the start of the school year. It covers a number of concerns that typically come up at this time of year, including:
  • What to do if a child does not yet have a school assignment or the school assigned says they cannot serve the child’s needs;
  • What to bring to a new school to enroll a child;
  • How to find an accessible school; and
  • What to do when specialized transportation is required, but not yet arranged.
Click here for the English fact sheet.
Click here for the Spanish fact sheet.

Resources for Children with Special Needs (RCSN):
RCSN  is New York City’s only independent nonprofit organization that works for families and children with all special needs, across all boroughs, to understand, navigate, and access the services needed to ensure that all children have the opportunity to develop their full potential.
Advocates for Children of New York:Advocates for Children of New York Provides advocacy, litigation support, and free individual case assistance to help ensure that all children receive appropriate educational services.
 Parent to Parent of NYS:Parent to Parent of New York Sta
Organization whose goal is to connect and support families of individuals with special needs.
Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled:Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled Since 1956, BCID is a consumer-based, non-profit agency providing services and advocacy toward independent living for individuals with disabilities.Sinergia NY:
Sinergia NY
Non-profit organization which offers services to developmentally disabled persons and their families.
Disability Etiquette 101 by Parenting Special Needs Magazine
http://parentingspecialneeds.org/article/387
Revised New York State Procedural Safeguards Notice: Rights for Parents of Children with Disabilities, Ages 3-21 Cover Memo Only PDF PDF document (64 KB)
Revised Procedural Safeguards Notice - Word Word document (358 KB) or PDFPDF document (297 KB)
January 2012   RevisedTo: School Districts, Individuals and Organizations Interested in the Education of Students with DisabilitiesFrom: James P. DeLorenzo
Subject:        Revised New York State Procedural Safeguards Notice: Rights for Parents of Children with Disabilities, Ages 3-21
Attached is the revised mandatory New York State Procedural Safeguards Notice: Rights for Parents of Children with Disabilities, Ages 3-21.  References to the Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) were replaced with the Office of Special Education, the mailing address for filing of a State complaint was updated and website links were updated.  None of the changes are substantive, and therefore districts are not required to replace any previously duplicated copies to disseminate to parents, but should use this version when making new duplications of the notice.
The procedural safeguards notice must be provided to parents of a student with a disability, at a minimum one time per year and also upon:
    • initial referral or parental request for evaluation; 
    • request by a parent;
    • the first filing of a due process complaint notice to request mediation or an impartial due process hearing;
    • a decision to impose a suspension or removal that constitutes a disciplinary change in placement; and
    • receipt of a parent’s first State complaint in a school year.
    School districts are encouraged to develop their own cover letter to parents to accompany the required notice.  School districts may add an addendum of local district policies but may not change the content of the State-mandated procedural safeguards notice.
Creative Arts and Respite Program for Children with Autism
Mercy Home for Children, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit specializing in programs and services for children and adults with developmental disabilities, announces openings in the Creative Arts and Respite Programs for children ages 4-16 diagnosed on the autism spectrum. The free program is available on Saturday’s from 9am-3pm. For information or to download an application visit the website at www.mercyhomeny.org or call 718-832-1075.

Cognitech Café's FREE Assistive Technology Support ProgramWe are available to help any school age children and their families (early intervention to college bound) discover how assistive technologies may help them address learning, communication, vision, hearing and physical access needs in the classroom. Parents may call or e-mail for a free appointment. Assistive technologies may be used to augment a child's ability to communicate, support writing and reading needs of children with learning challenges, and provide direct access to educational materials for children who have vision, hearing or physical impairments. Parents need to become informed consumers of such tools in order to advocate successfully for their children in the school system and on their IEP's. In NYC, students are guaranteed such support by the Chancellor's Continuum of Services Appendix B <http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/2BCCCF14-9EAE-4506-BD3E-42E9789BCE99/28444/ContinuumofServices.pdf> . Under Federal law all children are entitled to a "free and appropriate education", and assistive technologies often provide such a means toward success. We are available to support, train, and problem-solve any assistive technology need with parents and their child.All interested parents must make an appointment by e-mail or phone (details below)--we are not available for walk-in services. After our one hour consultations with parents/children, we help them navigate school, public, and private resources for more formal assistive technology and augmentative communication evaluations when needed. Associated professionals are welcome to accompany the family and child as well. Parents are also invited to return with questions or for actual support with assistive technology products they or the schools acquire for the child.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Mark Surabian at ATHelp@me.com <mailto:ATHelp@me.com>  or if you do not have e-mail, call 917-586-8000. Please be sure to indicate that you are interested in scheduling a consultation at the JCC in Manhattan.
Free assistive technology consultation and support is available on select Sundays of each month for any school-age child. Please note that it is by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, contact Mark Surabian at ATHelp@me.com or call 917-586-8000 if you do not have e-mail.

The JCC in Manhattan
Lower Level 2 Basement, MultiMedia Center
334 Amsterdam Ave. @ 76th St. New York, NY 10023

Available Dates/Times to choose from:
Sunday, Dec. 9th at 9, 10, 11, 12, or 1 pm
Sunday, Dec. 16th at 9, 10, 11, 12, or 1 pm
Sunday, Dec. 23rd at 9, 10, 11, 12, or 1 pm
Nov 2011
NYC DOE Kindergarten: An Orientation Guide for Families of Students with Disabilities http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/AFAF452E-E9BF-450F-814A-FEABF4654882/0/KindergartenOrientationGuide2011.pdf
NY State Procedural Safeguards NoticeThe Office of Special Education has revised the mandatory New York State Procedural Safeguards Notice: Rights for Parents of Children with Disabilities, Ages 3-21. References to the Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) were replaced
with the Office of Special Education, the mailing address for filing of a State complaint was updated and website links were updated. None of the changes are substantive, and therefore districts are not required to replace
any previously duplicated copies to disseminate to parents, but should use this version when making new duplications of the notice. More information is available at<http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/psgn-cover-jan12.htm>http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/psgn-cover-jan12.htm

New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (NYSDDPC)SPECIAL EDUCATION GUIDE IN PLAIN LANGUAGE:A User Friendly Handbook on Special Education Laws, Policies and Practices in New York StateRevised 2011The NY Special Education Taskforce has created a guide that offers information to parents, advocates, and school districts about the laws and regulations that outline special education programs and services. The goal of this publication is to unite parents, families and school districts so that they can work together to help students with disabilities reach their full potential. http://www.nyspecialedtaskforce.com/uploads/Special_Education_in_Plain_Lanugage_Rev_2011.pdf
Autism Speaks    August 2011Has released "Individualized Education Plan (IEP): Summary, Process and Practical Tips"http://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/iep_guide.pdf
NEW IEP FORMS
March 2010
The New York State Education Department has developed model Student Information Summary and Individualized Education Program (IEP) forms for use with preschool and school-age students with disabilities. The model IEP form will assist school districts to meet federal and State requirments for IEP development. This form will be required for use for all IEPs developed for New York State students beginning with the 2011-12 school year. Further information can be found athttp://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/formsnotices/IEP/home.html
 New  York City Department of EducationSept 2012 Parent Guide:
http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/34463799-FCA8-43C0-8559-5B95A82B6578/0/ParentGuidetoSpecialEd_09052912_English.pdf

2011 Parent Guide:
http://schools.nyc.gov/documents/teachandlearn/ELL/Parent_Guide_English.pdf

The DOE's  Special Education Standard Operating Procedures Manual:Standard Operating Procedures Manual: The Referral, Evaluation, and Placement of School-Age Students with Disabilities (February 2009) 
Special Ed Services as part of a unified service delivery system:
The Continuum of Services for Students with Disabilities
Creating a Quality IEP:
Creating a Quality IEP
Assistive Technology:
Assistive Technology Guidebook (2008-09) 
Continuum of Special Ed Services for School Age Children:      http://www.nysut.org/files/bulletin_080911_specialed.pdf
Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc.
116 East 16th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10003
tel (212) 677-4650 x20 | fax (212) 254-4070  
RCSN Special Camps Directory 2011:  http://www.resourcesnyc.org/sites/default/files/Camps%202011-2012%20_English%20Version_%20FINAL_0.pdf

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