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NEW LOCATIONS
LIU Post
Riggs Hall
720 Northern Boulevard
Brookville, NY 11548
Brentwood Campus of LIU
100 Second Avenue
Brentwood, NY 11717
LIU at Riverhead
121 Speonk-Riverhead Rd
LIU Building
Riverhead, NY 11901
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Drop-in Centers Hours
Monday:
LIU Post 9:30am-4:30pm
Tuesday:
Brentwood 9:30am-3:00pm
Wednesday:
Riverhead 10:00am-2:00pm
LIU Post 9:30-4:30pm
LIU Post 5pm-8pm
Thursday:
Brentwood 9:30am-3:00pm
Friday:
LIU Post 11:30pm-4:30pm
Saturday:
LIU Post 9:00am-12:00pm
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LIPC Radio Show
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 | | Steps Parents Should Take Once Their Child is Identified with A Learning Disability |
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Dear Friends and Colleagues,
We hope you are enjoying the Long Island Parent Center (LIPC) newsletter which is sponsored through the Center for Community Inclusion (CCI) at LIU Post.
This edition of the newsletter addresses a variety of important topics and we will highlight some of our Spring events.
As many of you know, I am a parent of two young adults with special needs, and a professional in the field of education. My oldest, members of my family, and many of my students have struggled with learning disabilities throughout their lives. Research continues to identify best practices to teach students who learn differently and it is important to spread the word. Please help us to do so! As always, my focus in life and in my professional capacity has been building positive relationships. As we move forward with the work of the Long Island Parent Center, building positive educational teams will always be a priority. Parents and families of children with special needs, as well as the students themselves, are the link to improving outcomes. Our goal remains to provide technical assistance, support, and resources to families and professionals. We are here to serve you and truly look forward to our work together. Please feel free to contact us to arrange a training, ask a question, or just check in!
Helene Fallon, Project Coordinator
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Intellectual Disability
What is it?
"Intellectual disability is a term used when a person has certain limitations in mental functioning and in skills such as communicating, taking care of him or herself, and social skills. These limitations will cause a child to learn and develop more slowly than a typical child. Children with intellectual disabilities (sometimes called cognitive disabilities and formerly referred to as mental retardation) may take longer to learn to speak, walk, and take care of their personal needs such as dressing or eating. They are likely to have trouble learning school. They will learn, but it typically will take them longer. There my be some things they cannot learn. However, most children with an intellectual disability can learn to do many things, it just takes them more time and effort than other children."
Adopted from the NICHCY Website
To learn more about intellectual disabilities please follow this link.
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Highlighted Acronym
ESEA| Elementary & Secondary School Act
No Child Left Behind
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10 things to know about the ESEA waiver
New York State has successfully applied for a waiver from specific provisions of No Child Left Behind (also known as ESEA-the Elementary & Secondary School Act). "We see this as an opportunity to align federal funds and requirements with the work we've already started through the Regents Reform Agenda and Race to the Top. It's a chance to spur innovative ideas while eliminating programs and mandates that have not proven to be effective in helping our students". (NYSED)
Read about the ten things you should know about the ESEA waiver opportunity for New York State by following this link.
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Field Memo
New York State Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Commencement Credential.
The New York State Board of Regents has approved regulations that establish an important new exiting credential for students with disabilities. Beginning with the 2013-14 school year and thereafter, students with disabilities will be able to earn a New York State Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Commencement Credential. This credential will recognize each individual student's preparation and skills for post-school employment. More information is available here.
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Events to celebrate!
Project Search™
On the evening of May 21st, the Long Island Parent Center was proud to introduce to families the Project SEARCH™ transition from school to work program on Long Island. Project SEARCH™ is a nationally and internationally respected program for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities who are interested in achieving competitive employment as a post-secondary outcome. Project SEARCH™ on Long Island is a collaboration of Eastern Suffolk BOCES/Islip Career Center, the Suffolk Independent Living Organization (SILO), the Long Island Parent Center and Medford Multicare Center is the host business. It will be modeled after a Project SEARCH™ Program at the University of Rochester Medical Center, where 82% of the graduates have secured competitive employment! Ten students from Eastern Suffolk BOCES and their component districts, who are in their final year of high school will experience total workplace immersion at Medford Mulitcare Center. Five days a week, these students will report to the work site and learn employability skills in the classroom and develop job skills by participating in three workplace internship rotations. These on-site rotations at Medford Multicare Center can include supply management, food service, recreation, clerical support and building maintenance. Lynn Russo, ESBOCES transition specialist said, "SILO will provide job coaches who will use structured intervention techniques to help students learn to perform job tasks to the employer's specifications."
The LIPC is excited to be part of this Project SEARCH™ pilot on Long Island. We believe that by working with school districts and agencies which assist individuals with disabilities in educating families on transition planning and programming on Long Island we can expand the menu of post-secondary choices available to students with special needs upon high school graduation. Look for Project SEARCH™updates in our future LIPC newsletters!
"Building Effective Educational Teams; Meaningful Stakeholder Involvement"
On June 7, 2013 a very special symposium took place at LIU Post.. "Building Effective Educational Teams; meaningful stakeholder involvement". This exciting event was moderated by Helene Fallon, Long Island Parent Center. Guest Speakers included: Senator Carl Marcellino, Regent Roger Tilles, Michael Yudin Acting Assistant Secretary Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services US Department of Education, James DeLorenzo, Assistant Commissioner, NYS Education Department Office of P -12; Office of Education, Joanne Cashman and Patrice Linehan, IDEA Partnership; National Association of State Directors of Special Education, and Debbie Benson, Executive Director NYS Council on Children and Families. A distinguished panel representing all stakeholders in education responded to questions proposed directly relating to Building Effective Educational Teams. Patricia Geary; New York Special Education Department (NYSED), Richard Burns; superintendent of schools East Hampton Union Free School District, Jaci Harris; Long Island Special Education Administrators, Desiree Moore; Youth Powers, Yvonne Sinisgalli; Parent, David Rothus; New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), David Brewer; Transition/Employment Disability Institute Cornell University, Cathy Romano; New York State Parent Teacher Association (NYSPTA) and Evelyn Castro; New York City Parent Academy; LIU Brooklyn.
The focus of the symposium was building relationships and the importance of collaboration and meaningful stakeholder involvement in education. What does the research show? How can we improve stakeholder collaboration?
The guest speakers together with the panel representatives agreed to "continue the conversation". The IDEA Partnership hosted a webinar on Monday, August 26th with the speakers, the panel and the participants of the Symposium. Over 140 people participated to discuss topics of importance. Along with Assistant Secretary Yudin, Melody Musgrove, the Director of OSEP joined the call as did Assistant Commissioner James DeLorenzo and Coordinator of Policy and Professional Development, Pat Geary of NYSED. If you are interested in being part of this conversation as we move forward, please call the LIPC office at (516) 589-4562 to join our distribution list. We at LIPC and the Center of Community Inclusion LIU are sincerely appreciative to all of the stakeholders who participated in these very important events.
Helene Fallon, Mr. Michael Yudin, Yvonne Sinisgalli
Bridging the Gaps; Connecting medical, Educational, and Familial Systems
On Thursday, June 13, 2013, an unprecedented, Bridging the Gaps Conference, of which Long Island Parent Center was a sponsor, took place at Nassau University Medical Center. This unique conference gathered professionals from the fields of education and medicine/health care combined with families/caregivers of children with special needs to discuss how to improve communication amongst all stakeholders.
The conference enabled participants to share multiple perspectives related to special needs. Mike Hoffman, President of the Down Syndrome Advocacy Foundation touched the audience by sharing a parent's perspective. Kathy Cappella of NYS Disabilities Advocacy Association and Network, educated everyone about the Partners in Health Education for People with Disabilities initiative. Dr. Jack Levine a board certified pediatrician with a specialty in developmental behavioral health at Nassau University Medical Center provided the keynote address. After a comprehensive and engaging stakeholder panel discussion, moderated by Helene Fallon of LIPC, with distinguished representatives from NYU, NYIT, Long Island Association of Special Education Administrators, BOCES, DSAF, and Parent to Parent of NYS, participants attended topic specific informational breakout sessions of their choosing.
There were over 150 attendees representing families, treatment providers from both health care and education including public school teachers and administrators. Everyone in attendance was also impressed by the number of participants that were students studying in the field of health care, education and family support services. This conference helped build communication and provided networking opportunities and information resources related to people who have family members or friends with special needs. The conference was a result of a team effort organized by the Interagency Coordinated Council of Long Island, a collaboration of over 20 agencies on Long Island who serve persons with disabilities. Along with LIPC, the conference was sponsored by FEGS, Long Island Advocacy Center, Nassau Suffolk Law Services, Nassau University Medical Center, NYS Regional Technical Assistance Team, and the Downs Syndrome Advocacy Foundation. Thank you to all of our partners; this was an event that will clearly have a positive impact for all of us!
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Save the Date
September 22, 2013 Special Needs Expo-special day 4 special kids, Huntington 11AM - 4PM
September 25, 2013 SANYS, LI Regional Conference. 9 AM-3PM Melville Marriott
September 27, 2013 SUNY Farmingdale, Annual Multicultural Conference
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We look forward to working with you. Please check out the LIPC Website for updates on future trainings and workshops and be sure look out for our next newsletter in late Fall 2013!
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