Know Your Rights Regarding School Discipline and Special Ed: May 8
Do you have a child with an IEP or 504 Plan? Learn how to advocate for your child’s right to remain in school.
The seminar, organized by Parent Network of Western New York, will be led by Supervising Attorney Sam White, who will discuss the protections for children with disabilities during school disciplinary matters. White also works with WNY Law Center’s School Discipline Project, which you can learn about here.
RELATED NEWS: Corporal Punishment Now Banned in All New York Schools
This free, hybrid workshop can be done via Zoom or in-person.
A certificate of completion available upon request.
Details
When: Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Parent Network of WNY, 1021 Broadway St., Buffalo, N.Y., 14212
For more info call: 716-332-4170 or email info@parentnetworkwny.org
Connecting Students with Disabilities to Adult Agencies: May 10
Identifying the agencies that will be working with students and their families post-high school is a critical component of transition planning.
Join this free webinar to explore self-determination and its impact on postsecondary success. It will cover adult service agencies and the different types of programs they provide.
Organized by the Hudson Valley School-Age FACE Center and the NYSED OSE Partnership.
Details
When: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
New Group for Parents of Teens with Developmental or Physical Disabilities: May 13
Are you a parent of a special needs teenager? From navigating adolescence to managing behaviors and fostering independence, this group from Parent to Parent of NYS provides a safe space for open discussions about all things teen related.
Sorry, that’s all the info on its flier! For questions, contact Haya Doleh, hdoleh@ptopnys.org.
Details
When: Monday, May 13, 2024
Time: 7 p.m.
Transition to Rockland Community College for Students with an IEP or 504 Plan Webinar: May 15
Rockland BOCES, as part of its Transition Workshop Series, is hosting the webinar “Transition to Rockland Community College for Students with an IEP or 504 Plan.”
This workshop can help you:
- Gain an understanding of the differences between high school and college disability services, including post-secondary disability laws;
- learn how to access support services at Rockland Community College (RCC) and what the guidelines are for disability documentation;
- become aware of the student, faculty and Office of Accessibility Services rights and responsibilities at RCC;
- learn about the College Steps program at RCC, which provides customized college support for students with learning and social challenges, building a foundation for success in high school.
Details
When: Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Time: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Register here or email Mary Ellen Urinyi at murinyi@boces.org.
For additional information call 845-627-4749
The Boost Q&A with Eliza Bozenski of the Anderson Center for Autism
This year marks the centennial of the Anderson Center for Autism based in Staatsburg, N.Y., which is dedicated to supporting individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It comprises an autism-focused residential school, two early learning centers, consulting and training services, an international center hosting programs for scholars and a network of parents, siblings and caregivers who advocate for funding and legislation to enhance the lives of autistic and neurodivergent individuals.
The center had ambitious but humble beginnings. Originally called the Anderson School, it was founded in 1924 in a basement by Dr. Victor V. Anderson, who worked in human resources at Macy’s — yes, the department store. Its students were the “troubled” children, some with special needs, of wealthy parents. It would be several years before it moved into a mansion upstate overlooking the Hudson River.
Anderson Center for Autism in Staatsburg, N.Y., in an undated photo (Courtesy of the Anderson Center for Autism)
The Boost spoke with Eliza Bozenski, chief development officer at the center, about the center’s transition into a focus on autism, its plans for expansion and more. Our interview has been edited for length and clarity.
I’m trying to wrap my head around Dr. Anderson’s Macy’s job and how it relates to an interest in special needs. What’s the story there?
Victor Anderson was actually a [Harvard-trained] psychologist who had also worked at a hospital and clinics in Boston, and on the National Committee for Mental Hygiene. At Macy’s [while doing research on turnover] he became interested in why on a resume some people looked perfect for a role but were not successful in it, and why some who were a better fit did not necessarily have what was historically needed for that particular position.
Flash forward to today and a lot of those same questions come into play. Are we prioritizing some of those things we think have to be in place to be successful or looking at the person to see if they can fit in the role? Do they have to make eye contact, can they communicate a different way and still be successful?
When did the school’s focus turn to autism?
Its name changed from the Anderson School to the Anderson Center for Autism around 2004. The school has always served people with special needs and in the 1970s it opened its first home on the campus serving some students with autism, which was still a relatively new diagnosis. By the late ’90s, early 2000s, the school realized that autism was its area of expertise, and began to solely serve people with an autism diagnosis. It was a time diagnoses were on the rise, school systems were struggling, and these children weren’t thriving in a special education setting.
Has the recent surge in autism diagnoses affected the way the center approaches its work?
Because the reported growth has expanded awareness it hopefully means less stigma for families, and people who feel safer asking questions.
In terms of Anderson, our work is probably reaching a bigger audience. And we’re always adapting our services. For example, our Consulting and Training Services department is seeing broader interest. It’s not just coming from school districts asking for help in developing programs or training educators, but for things like training bus drivers and working with places like Newark Airport’s sensory room.
The center focuses on Applied Behavior Analysis [ABA], which has faced some criticism of late.
There’s an interesting dialog going on around ABA. But at Anderson we specifically serve people who are severely impacted by autism, not those who can function independently, go on to hold down jobs, drive, etc. We serve people who will always need some level of constant support. ABA has proven to be very successful for this population. Is it the right method for everyone? I don’t think anyone would say that.
Does Anderson have plans for expansion?
We started serving preschool children over the last few years. The [size of the] waitlist for early intervention programs in New York is heartbreakingly long, and we were able to open a center in Pine Plains and then in Latham. It’s a great example of the community expressing a need.
We also have a growing number of graduates who remain on campus as they await their residential programs due to the lack of appropriate vacancies. Anderson, for example, which currently has 24 group homes, is not developing additional adult residential opportunities. We’re planning to expand an existing building on campus that currently serves as residencies for our grad students and next to that will be a new state-of-the-art training facility to assist other organizations that serve adults.
We’re also starting to collaborate and partner with doctors and dentists to help them as they develop course work in their education and college programs.
Anything we didn’t cover that you’d like to mention?
I really want to think the team members who work at the center. There are almost 1,000 people and a majority of them are unsung heroes working in things like operations. They’re the people you know are there making it happen every single day but aren’t necessarily talked about in interviews.
So, a big thank you to all of them who helped us get to the centennial — the ones who worked every day through COVID, sleep on campus during bad weather to make sure the pathways are clear so the kids can get to school. They’re incredible people who deserve all the recognition in the world.
Developmental Disability News for Week Ending April 26, 2024
New York has a new coffee shop employing people with I/DD, Chicago families with students with disabilities receive one-time grant, there’s pushback on Disney’s new Disability Access Service rules, and more news for the week ending April 26, 2024.
New York
Sleepy Coffee, Too, a new java spot opens in Sleepy Hollow The cafe, which employs young adults with developmental disabilities, opens April 26. (lohud)
Disabilities Beat: Personal care in New York is about to change This podcast is with the chief policy officer at Western New York Independent Living about the coming changes to CDPAP. (WBFO)
Outside of New York
Why it’s harder to care for a disabled child in NJ: State funding is ‘broken,’ parents say The funding allowed for at-home care is “divorced from reality.” (Northjersey.com)
Chicago’s low-income families of students with disabilities eligible for new $500 grants They’ll be awarded to up to 8,000 people. (Chalkbeat)
Disability advocates raise concerns over Jillian’s Law that would change involuntary commitment in TN A bill would make it so anyone deemed unfit to stand trial would be automatically committed. (WPLN)
Why incarcerated D.C. youth keep calling for special education in federal prisons (Wamu.org)
Indianapolis Teacher Allegedly Encouraged ‘Fight Club’ Discipline Against Boy With Disability This story is a nightmare. (Disability Scoop)
Colorado selling weed-themed license plates for disability funding (CBS News)
Caregiving
Feds Finalize New Rules For Medicaid Home And Community-Based Services Under a final rule released this week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is establishing minimum payment thresholds for direct care providers. (Disability Scoop)
Autism
Percentage of students with autism on the rise The increase corresponds to the overall rise in the number of children in the U.S. being diagnosed with autism. (K12dive.com)
Elections
Justice Department Launches Updated Voting Rights and Elections Website (U.S. Dept. of Justice)
Churches Don’t Have to Be Accessible. That’s Bad News For Voters. In 2024, millions of Americans will vote at ADA-exempt religious sites. (Mother Jones)
SSI
Social Security Tweaks Rules For SSI The agency finalized a rule this month adjusting how it handles so-called “in-kind support and maintenance” in the form of a rental subsidy. (Disability Scoop)
Essays
The IEP recommended a special education classroom. We chose an inclusion school. (Chalkbeat)
Insurance
The newest employer perk: Disability coverage for your kids I’m just putting this one out here, but it’s very early days and raises questions. (Axios)
Parks
Everything to Know About Disney’s Disability Access Service (DAS) Changes — and Why They’re Dividing Fans The updates goes into effect on May 20 at Walt Disney World and June 18 at Disneyland. (People)
Come Talk About How to Make Pound Ridge Library More Accessible for People with DD: May 4
Pound Ridge Library was recently awarded a grant to help it better serve people with developmental disabilities, including those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder and Down syndrome. The plan is to introduce carefully crafted programs, new assistive technology and innovative approaches that make sure everyone feels engaged and supported.
The community conversation — in person or via Zoom — is an opportunity to discuss what would help make the library an even more accessible and accommodating environment, one that fosters a sense of belonging and active participation for everyone.
Can’t join in? Take the survey here.
Details
When: Saturday, May 4, 2024
Time: 3 p.m.
Where: Pound Ridge Library, 271 Westchester Ave., Pound Ridge, N.Y., 10576
Free Employer Webinar ‘The Magic and Art of Job Development’: May 1
Through a grant from the US Department of Labor’s National Expansion of Employment Opportunities Network (NEON) project, the New York Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation invites employers to participate in a series of three free webinars, designed to inspire and inform you about employment for people with disabilities.
The 2024 webinars are: The Magic and Art of Job Development (see more about this below) on May 1; Using Technology to Enhance Employment Supports on May 29; and Individual Placement and Supports (IPS): A Best Practice Approach to Supported Employment for People with Mental Illness on July 16.
New Yorkers with disabilities continue to struggle to access sustainable and lucrative employment opportunities within their communities. This series of webinars was developed to share insights into the supports and services available to assist people with disabilities gain and succeed in meaningful employment opportunities.
All webinars will be held via Zoom. Recordings will be made available on the NY Alliance website following the live sessions. Connection information is included in the registration confirmation.
Each webinar is eligible for 1.5 Social Work CE hours.
The Magic and Art of Job Development
Details
When: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Time: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Questions, contact Kate Connally at kconnally@nyalliance.org.
Learn About OPWDD Self-Direction: May 2
This virtual webinar will teach you about the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities’ (OPWDD) Self Direction (SD) program, which in theory allows for more choice in OPWDD-funded supports and services.
Here are some examples of things people can Self Direct:
- where they live
- how they spend your days
- what they do in their spare time
- how they stay healthy and active
- relationships with family and friends
- who they hire to assist
But to be approved for SD takes several steps. The individual must be eligible for OPWDD services, be enrolled in the Home and Community Based (HCBS) Waiver, and participate in Care Management services through a Care Coordination Organization (CCO).
Details
When: Thursday, May 2, 2024
Time: 12p.m. to 1 p.m.
A Webinar to Help Parents of Children with Disabilities Cope: May 6
This free webinar from parent, author and certified coach Kris Burbank aims to help parents deal with the complications inherent in raising a child with special needs.
The flier says if “you’re tired of second-guessing yourself as a parent, doubt you can live a full and happy life given all the challenges you face and struggle to prioritize your own needs” this workshop might be for you.
Burbank notes that as the mother of a 27-year-old son with disabilities she knows how it feels to struggle with these difficult feelings and is committed to making it a little less hard for other parents, no matter their child’s age. The hope is that you’ll benefit from looking at things from a different perspective or trying to shift some of your habits.
Details
When: Monday, May 6, 2024
Time: 7 p.m.