Bronx Parent Center

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

You have the opportunity to help shape the direction of the US Department of Health and Human Services' Administration on Developmental Disabilities!  

Round 2 of pre-kindergarten admissions begins this Monday, July 19.

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) has just released a "Q&A" document to provide information regarding the IDEA requirements relating to individualized education programs (IEPs), evaluations, and reevaluations.

New York City schools are moving toward inclusion of students with disabilities in more neighborhood schools and classrooms. With the goal of including all but students with the most severe disabilities in the city’s 1,500 neighborhood schools, the Department of Education is beginning its implementation of “special education reform” this school year with 260 “Phase 1” schools.

Check out the DOE's "Making Choices" Summer Workshop Series: June 30 - August 10. Middle school students and their parents are invited to attend summer workshops to learn about the high school admissions process. Dates, locations and topics are here on the DOE website.

Don't miss Jean Mizutani discussing special education reform and children's rights on WFAS' "Peace of Mind with Bernie the Attorney" tomorrow, June 3, from 6:05 pm - 6:35 pm!

You can tune in online or on AM 1230 on your radio dial.

A major reorganization at the New York State Education Department (NYSED), announced last week, will merge Special Education with General Education from preschool through high school beginning July 1, 2010. 

This is a very significant shift in policy and structure, one that will certainly have profound consequences for all students -- especially those with disabilities.

Our friends at the PACER Center tipped us off to strengthofus.org and the Think College newsletter, two great new resources for young adults with disabilities navigating their transition years.

Transition to college was the focus of a lively event presented by RCSN on May 13. 

Dr. Chris Rosa (Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, City University of New York) and Alan Wachtel, MD (Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine and Director, Familyhealth Associates) engaged nearly 150 audience members in a lively conversation about the academic, social, developmental, legal, family and practical perspectives of this critical process.

Since the transition process for students with disabilities from preschool to kindergarten can be complicated, it is especially helpful to have current information.

The NYC Department of Education recently released its 2009-2010 Turning Five Orientation Guide, an orientation guide for students with disabilities transitioning from preschool to school-age programs.

The Bronx Parent Center's latest eNews has been sent out to your inboxes!

Click here to view the May newsletter, and make sure you're getting the news e-mailed to you -- click here to sign up.

Are you a Manhattan or Bronx Parent, having a problem with your child’s special education?

What can you do? What should you do?

Please join IMCR Dispute Resolution Center (The Bronx Mediation Center), Safe Horizon (The Manhattan Mediation Center), and The Bronx and Manhattan State Special Education Parent Centers for a free problem solving training session!

The 6th Annual Mental Health Forum for parents and professionals will be held on Friday June 4th at Lincoln Hospital and Medical Center. 

This one-day, free event is for anyone in the Bronx concerned with the well-being of children, adolescents and young adults with emotional and behavioral special needs, with a focus on Bronx community collaborations and coordination. RCSN is proud to be part of the planning group and our very own Gary Shulman will be one of the presenters. 

 
Please see below for the text of US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s speech at the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Convention & Expo on April 21.

The NYC Department of Education has just released its Parent's Guide to Special Education Services for School-Age Children.

The guide contains the most current and up-to-date information that parents can use as they navigate NYC’s special education system.

Starting this week, we're moving into the next phase of updating our new RCSN Resource Directory -- our free website to search for and list services for children and youth with special needs in and around NYC. We'll be making phone calls to each of the resources listed in the Directory, making sure their information is updated and accurate.

Financial assistance is available to young adults with Down syndrome who want to enroll in post-secondary programs or take classes that will help them with employment, independent living and life skills.

The Office of Transition Services at District 75 just published a Directory of District 75 High Schools.  Download the Directory below.  Please contact us if you need further assistance.

Last week RCSN Program Director Gary Shulman spoke with New York Family magazine about choosing a summer camp for a child with special needs. Click here to read more about the many benefits of summer camps for kids with special needs, how special needs camps are different, what parents should look for, and scholarships for campers with specials needs.