Education

Was your child born in 2006?

It can be overwhelming to discover that the child you are raising has a health, learning, emotional or behavioral issue, and to understand and navigate the education and community services systems on their behalf. You are not alone. RCSN can help.
 

Having a child with a disability can be stressful in many ways. Not the least is ensuring that your child receives the appropriate educational services that are necessary to progress in school.  Having a grandchild, niece or nephew, or stepchild with a disability living with you can present even greater challenges to ensuring the child receives what he or she needs from the public school system. One of the major issues that may be an impediment to securing the appropriate services for the child is the question of who can make educational decisions and give consent for evaluations and services.

School choice has grown over the past several years, and most districts offer application opportunities. Doing a little research online in a timely manner is good practice for the middle school application process.

Vanderbilt University’s Center for the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning has just published some helpful, easy to read materials for families of infants and toddlers who wonder about their child’s behaviors.

 
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.

If your child is...
     • between the ages of 5 and 21,
     • has a developmental disability, and
     • is not receiving the appropriate educational services

... RCSN's experienced education advocate can help your family:
     • get evaluations
     • find the just right classroom or school
     • prepare for and attend meetings, hearings, and mediations 

This one-on-one service is free for all Manhattan families of children with developmental disabilities!  

RCSN friends Parents for Inclusive Education (PIE) have launched a new blog to facilitate online conversation between parents, educators, and advocates to work together to make inclusion of children with disabilities a more viable option in New York City's schools.