Resources for Special Needs Caregivers in New York State
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Able accounts NY State
NY ABLE is sponsored by the state of New York and administered by the Comptroller of the State of New York. NY ABLE is intended to be a qualified ABLE program within the meaning of Section 529A. Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, LLC, the Program Manager, and its affiliates, have overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations, including investment advisory, recordkeeping and administrative services.
Autism Speaks NY
https://www.autismspeaks.org/new-york-state
Serving all communities in Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, Westchester/Fairfield, Greater Hudson Valley, Rochester, Nassau, Suffolk and Upstate New York communities, Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
Autism Society of America:
https://www.autismacceptance.org/
The Autism Society is the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization and exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. Annually, the Autism Society and its 75+ local affiliates served over 600,000 individuals impacted by autism through education, advocacy, information and referral services, support, and providing community inclusion and acceptance at the national, state and local levels.
Cerebral Palsy Associations of NY State
CP of NYS is a broad-based, multi-service organization encompassing 24 Affiliates and 18,000 employees providing services and programs for more than 100,000 individuals with cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities, as well as resources for families.
Disability Rights NY
DRNY provides free legal and advocacy services to individuals with disabilities. Working tirelessly to protect and advance the rights of children and adults with disabilities, DRNY is committed to enabling those we serve to exercise their own life choices and fully participate in community life.
Early Intervention Families:
The purpose of the Family Initiative Coordination Services Project is to facilitate, support, and develop parent involvement at all levels of the Early Intervention Program.
Early Intervention Program for NY State:
https://www.health.ny.gov/community/infants_children/early_intervention/
The New York State Early Intervention Program (EIP) is part of the national Early Intervention Program for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The EIP is administered by the New York State Department of Health through the Bureau of Early Intervention.
Guardianship NY State:
https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/guardianship/index.shtml
Guardianship is a legal arrangement where a court gives a person the legal right to make decisions for another person who is unable to make decisions for themselves. Depending on the type of guardianship asked for and the person over whom guardianship is requested, the case is handled by the Family Court, the Supreme Court or the Surrogate’s Court.
Justice Center for the Protection of People With Special Needs
https://www.justicecenter.ny.gov/
Justice Center provides guidance and information to victims, & their families. The Justice Center works hand in hand with providers to prevent individuals with troublesome histories from working with vulnerable populations. Staff Exclusion List (SEL) and Criminal Background checks of prospective employees and volunteers who will work directly with individuals with special needs are required by law, with the intention of stopping abuse or neglect before it happens.
National Down Syndrome Society
The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) supports and advocates for the Down syndrome community by focusing on three key areas of programming: Resources & Support, Policy & Advocacy and Community Engagement.
NYS Council on Children and Families
The Council on Children and Families is charged with acting as a neutral body to coordinate New York’s health, education and human services system to ensure that all children and families in New York State have the opportunity to reach their potential.
NY State Parks Access pass:
https://parks.ny.gov/admission/access-pass/
The Access Pass permits residents of New York State with disabilities, free or discounted use of state parks, historic sites, and recreational facilities operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Office of Children and Family Services
The Office of Children and Family Services serves New York’s public by promoting the safety, permanency and well-being of our children, families and communities. We will achieve results by setting and enforcing policies, building partnerships, and funding and providing quality services.
Office of Mental Health
The Mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a particular focus on providing hope and recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances.
Parent to Parent USA
Parent to Parent USA supports a network of viable, sustainable, fully-functioning and effective Parent to Parent programs in all 50 states through hands-on support, training and technical assistance, and high quality tools and resources.
Supportive Decision Making:
Supported decision-making (SDM) is a recognized practice by which people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are able to make their own decisions with the support of trusted persons in their lives and retain all their legal and civil rights. As SDMNY has shown, SDM is useful and available for Decision-Makers who are as diverse as the population of New York.
Family to Family Health Care Information Center
Benefits for Children with Disabilities (Social Security Administration)
https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10026.pdf
Got Transition
Got Transition is the federally funded national resource center on health care transition It’s aim is to improve the transition from pediatric to adult health care through the use of evidence-driven strategies for health care professionals, youth, young adults and their families.
https://www.gottransition.org/
Understanding HIPPA- What Parents Need to Know about HIPPA and their Adult Child’s Health Information
United Healthcare Children’s Foundations Grants
United Healthcare Children’s Foundations grants provide financial help/assistance for families with children that have medical needs not covered or not fully covered by their commercial health insurance plan. The Foundation aims to fill the gap between what medical services/items a child needs and what their commercial health benefit plan will pay for.
https://www.uhccf.org/apply-for-a-grant/
What Are ABLE Accounts?
ABLE Accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities and their families. These accounts are set up for disability related expenses and are not counted as a resource in the determination of public benefits (SSI, SNAP, Medicaid). The following link contains information regarding eligibility and explains how these accounts work.
Parent Training and Information Center
504 basic factsheet PDF link
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/civilrights/resources/factsheets/504.pdf
A Parent’s Guide to Special Education in NYS – English & Spanish
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/parentguide.htm
Acces-VR brochure
http://www.acces.nysed.gov/common/acces/files/vr/acces-brochure.pdf
Approved Preschool Special Education Programs
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) approves preschool special education programs pursuant to section 4410 of the NYS Education Law.
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/preschool/approved-preschool-special-education-program-sites.html
Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS)
http://www.nysed.gov/career-technical-education/new-york-state-learning-standards
Career Plan – The New York State Career Plan records attainment of knowledge and skills.
It documents a history of achievement that students build from elementary school to high school. The Career Plan design has also incorporated the transition planning process that is highly desirable for all students and required for students with disabilities.
http://www.nysed.gov/career-technical-education/career-plan
Early Learning – Pre-K- Kindergarten
The Office of Early Learning provides oversight and technical support to school districts in the development, implementation and evaluation of programs and policies related to educating students in prekindergarten to third grade that are aligned with the NYS Board of Regents Early Childhood Policy.
http://www.nysed.gov/early-learning
ENGAGE NY Common Core Resources for Parents of Students with Disabilities
https://www.engageny.org/resource/common-core-resources-parents-students-disabilities
Guidance on “Long COVID” as a Disability Under the ADA, Section 504, and Section 1557
I have 2 PDFs that need to be upload to this section.=
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act 2004
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act 2004:Special Education:EMSC:NYSED
Information Related to Graduation Requirements for Students with Disabilities
Long COVID under Section 504 and the IDEA: A Resource to Support Children, Students, Educators, Schools, Service Providers, and Families
https://sites.ed.gov/idea/idea-files/long-covid-under-section-504-and-the-idea-a-resource/
New York State selected the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC™)
to replace the General Educational Development (GED®) as the primary pathway to a New York State High School Equivalency Diploma
http://www.acces.nysed.gov/what-hsetasc-test
News, Announcements and Timely Information
News, Announcements and Timely Information:Special Education:EMSC:NYSED
NYS ACCESS-VR
NYS Immunization Policy Guidance, dated August 2019
2019-08_vaccination_requirements_faq.pdf (ny.gov)
NYSED Index of Programs & Services
Index A-Z | New York State Education Department (nysed.gov)
NYSED Sample Complaint form
New York State Complaint Procedures – Sample Complaint Form: Special Education: P-12: NYSED
NYSED Special Education Publications for Parents
Publications for Parents:Special Education:EMSC:NYSED
OPWDD
The New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is responsible for coordinating services for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, provides services directly and through a network of approximately 500 nonprofit service providing agencies, with about 80 percent of services provided by the private nonprofits and 20 percent provided by state-run services.
Response to Intervention – New York State Education Department Guidance Document
Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential for Students with Severe Disabilities
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/SACCmemo.htm
Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/test-accommodations-guide-february-2018.html
Transition Requirements and Guidelines
Transition Requirements and Guidelines contain information and internet links about what is required of school districts and agencies in providing transition planning and services.
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/transition/randg.htm
Understanding the Differences Between IDEA and Section 504
http://www.ldonline.org/article/6086
US Department of ED- Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html
Work-based learning (WBL)
Is the umbrella term used to identify activities which collaboratively engage employers and schools in providing structured learning experiences for students. These experiences focus on assisting students develop broad, transferable skills for postsecondary education and the workplace.
http://www.nysed.gov/career-technical-education/work-based-learning-wbl-programs