Everyone in New York is hocking the latest news about the services which their children with special needs receive in school.
It’s hard to get through the heavy and confusing text, so we’ve broken the story down here into a simple visual process. (Scroll down for a glossary of terms.)
Although all districts in New York State are equally affected, the issue stemmed from the NYC district, known as the DOE…
Glossary
Board of Regents – New York’s Board of Regents sets education policy for the state.
DOE – The New York City government Department of Education
Due process hearing – A formal process to resolve disagreements between a parent of a student with a disability and a school district.
Enhanced rate – a rate which providers get paid at that is higher than the rate which the DOE pays it’s own providers
IESP – Individualized Education Services Program. The IESP may include services such as Related Services, Special Education Teacher Support Services (SETSS), and/or transportation.
Related Services – Might include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and counseling
Providers – Any professional who provides a service, such as a speech therapist.
Proposed amendment – A suggestion to change an existing regulation
- Mrs. Lieberman had to attend her child’s performance one morning, which was nice, but she had nobody to care for Shoshana, a teenager with a host of medical issues. Shoshana spent most of her day at home with her devoted mother at her side, as it was nearly impossible to find babysitters willing to care for a girl who was immobile and heavy to lift, not toilet-trained, and who had a feeding tube and a seizure disorder. In the evenings, other family members were home and able to assist, but during the daytime hours it was very difficult for Shoshana’s mother to get out. A few days before the performance, a desperate Mrs. Lieberman called Ezreinu. The next day, Ezreinu got back to her with a willing babysitter, and she was able to attend the performance like any other mother.
- Zalman, a fun, social, and somewhat behavioral high functioning adult had been accepted into a fantastic day hab program, although it was quite a distance away from where he lived. Arranging transportation would be prohibitively expensive and the hour-long trip each way would be exhausting for Zalman. Ezreinu spoke with the director of the day hab which he was joining, and together they discussed options until residential arrangements had been made for Zalman.
- When Mr. Schwartzman was looking for information on a specific doctor for his child with special needs, he called Ezreinu. Ezreinu was able to provide him with information they received from other parents who had first-hand experience with this doctor, and Mr. Schwartzman arranged the doctor’s appointment with confidence, knowing that his child would be in good hands.
Does every babysitter in the neighborhood turn you down time and again when they hear you have a child with special needs?
You have an appointment, visiting day at camp, a party… And you can’t leave your child with special needs at home without supervision. That’s tough.
The good news?
Holding Hands is helping families like yours every day.
Call Ezreinu today at 718-750-1010.
We’re waiting to hear from you:)