Today I continue my series on resources available for children with disabilities on Long Island by focusing on children with hearing loss or deafness.
First, of course, post-diagnosis, consult with your pediatrician and/or pediatric ear, nose and throat specialist for community resource information they have to help your child. Also, call Parent 2 Parent at (631) 434-619, ask for Valerie. She will match you with a telephone support parent who has a deaf or hearing impaired child. The informational and emotional support may be quite helpful for you.
Early intervention is for children up to age three. Contact Nassau County Early Intervention (EI) Program: (516) 227-8661 or Suffolk County (631) 853-3100. The NY State web page on EI is http://www.health.ny.gov/community/infants_children/early_intervention
Here is the National Association of the Deaf page on Early Intervention: http://www.nad.org/issues/early-intervention
For a somewhat controversial approach to early intervention for hearing impaired children you may want to read this: http://www.listen-up.org/dnload4/av-eric.pdf
If your child received early intervention, an Early Intervention Officer must contact your school district at least 120 days before your child begins preschool. A transition conference has to be held at least 90 days before he or she turns three years of age. An initial evaluation is performed by specialists at your school district then an individualized education plan (IEP) is created by the Committee for Pre-School Special Education (CPSE) which is usually composed of a director of special education or a district psychologist, therapists, special educators and the parents. Here is an online document that explains the process: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/preschool/eval3-4yr803.pdf
Once your child turns five years old, then he/she should be reevaluated by the school district. A CSE (Committee for Special Education) is convened to develop an IEP (Individual Education Plan) for kindergarten and beyond. Therapies, procedures and accommodations are discussed before goals are set to help your child in school. School districts must, by federal mandate, try to find a way to include your child within the district. However, if the CSE finds it necessary, they may send your child out of district to a school that has deaf interpreters and/or other services for your child. By federal mandate, they must provide transportation. These web sites have information about the special education process starting in elementary school: A Parent’s Guide to Special Education from
New York State: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/parentguide.htm
and New York State United Teachers Guide to Special Education: http://nysut.org/specialed/faq.html
Once your child reaches 21, the school district is no longer under any obligation to provide any services. Transition begins by age 14:
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/transition.
Here are other useful websites:
SCHOOLS:
The Cleary School for the Deaf: http://clearyschool.org/
Lexington School for the Deaf: http://www.lexnyc.com
Mill Neck School: http://www.millneck.org/services/education/education.html
New York State Department of Education Approved
Private Schools for the deaf: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/privateschools/deaf.htm
St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf: http://www.sfdesales.org
St. Joseph School for the Deaf: http://www.sjsdny.org
CAMPS:
Camp Mark 7 is a summer camp for deaf youth and
children in Old Forge, New York: http://campmark7.org/?page_id=21
Mid - Hudson-Valley camp in Esopus, New York: http://esopuscamps.com/wp/?page_id=4
The Aspen Camp: http://www.aspencamp.org/about/story
OTHER RESOURCES:
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: http://nc.agbell.org/page.aspx?pid=703
Catholic Diocese of Rockville Center which covers Long Island offers help for deaf persons: http://www.deafcathnyc.org/long_island.htm
Empire State Association of the Deaf: http://www.esad.org/
Gallaudet University Laurent Clerc National Deaf Information Center: http://www.gallaudet.edu/Clerc_Center/Information_and_Resources/Info_to_Go.html
Hands On, access to the performing and fine arts for deaf and hard of hearing community: http://www.handson.org/
Long Island Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf: http://www.lirid.org/
Long Island Speech Language Hearing Association: http://lisha.org/
National Association of the Deaf: http://www.nad.org/news/2011/8/nad-responds-new-york-times-debate-deaf-education
National Deaf Blind Organization: http://www.nationaldb.org/
National Disemmination Center for Children with Disabilities page on hearing loss: http://nichcy.org/disability/specific/hearingloss
New York State's Interagency Coordinating Council links page: http://cqc.ny.gov/advocacy/interagency-coordinating-council/links
New York State Speech Language Hearing Association: http://www.nysslha.org
