Resources For Children With Special Needs Inc

THE MISSION OF INCLUDENYC IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND PROMOTE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, BIRTH THROUGH AGE 26, WITH DISABILITIES, THEIR PARENTS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT NEW YORK CITY.

IN 2021,INCLUDENYC CONTINUED TO CREATIVELY TRANSFORM OUR PROGRAM DELIVERY MODELS IN RESPONSE TO THE ONGOING COVID HEALTH CRISIS. WE SERVED A TOTAL OF 14,097 YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, WHILE ALSO REACHING 585,294 INDIVIDUALS VIA COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH. INCLUDENYC ALSO ENGAGED WITH 396 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIESCITY, STATE, AND FEDERAL. BELOW ARE KEY 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN EACH CORE PROGRAM AREA:PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT- HELP LINE: OUR HELP LINE DIRECTLY ASSISTS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, WITH TRANSLATION SERVICES AVAILABLE IN 200+ LANGUAGES. IN 2021, WE RESPONDED TO 2,726 HELP LINE REQUESTS FROM 2,199 INDIVIDUALS SEEKING ADVICE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESSES, BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS, AND COVID-SPECIFIC ISSUES, AMONG OTHER TOPICS.- WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS: INCLUDENYC WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS INSTRUCTED PARENTS, FAMILY MEMBERS, PROFESSIONALS, AND YOUNG ADULTS ON A HOST OF DISABILITY TOPICS IN-PERSON AND REMOTELY. WE PRESENTED A TOTAL OF 545 WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS FOR 9,649 ATTENDEES. - PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS: IN 41 SESSIONS (ENGLISH AND SPANISH), 515 CAREGIVERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ISSUES, AND BUILD A NETWORK OF PEERS WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR STRUGGLES AND SUCCESSES.YOUTH AND TRANSITION SERVICES- HIGH SCHOOL LAUNCH: IN THIS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM WORKING INSIDE UNDER-RESOURCED HIGH SCHOOLS, INCLUDENYC HELPED MORE THAN 100 YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES STAY ON TRACK TO GRADUATE, UNDERSTAND THEIR LEARNING STYLES, BEGIN THINKING ABOUT POSTSECONDARY PROSPECTS, AND FOSTER SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS.- PROJECT POSSIBILITY: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE, INTENSIVE COACHING THAT ASSISTED MORE THAN 112 YOUNG ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES (AGE 16-26) IN EXPLORING POSTSECONDARY OPTIONS AND DRAFTING A PERSONALIZED ACTION PLAN FOR ACADEMIC, EMPLOYMENT, AND/OR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PURSUITS.- BRIDGES: THIS EXPERIENTIAL WORKSHOP SERIES PRESENTED 18 SESSIONS THAT DEVELOPED LIFE SKILLS ESSENTIAL FOR EMPLOYMENT, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR A TOTAL OF 239 YOUTH ATTENDEES.- COLLEGE IS POSSIBLE: OVER TWO VIRTUAL EVENINGS, 428 PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, YOUTH, AND PROFESSIONALS LEARNED ABOUT THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS AND HEARD FROM COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND STUDENT ADVOCATES WHO SPOKE OF THEIR OWN COLLEGE EXPERIENCES AND SHARED VALUABLE INSIGHTS. PARTNER AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT- INCLUDENYC FAIR: FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, OUR INCLUDENYC FAIRTHE CITYS LARGEST RESOURCE FAIR OF EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL, AND SERVICE PROGRAM PROVIDERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIESBROUGHT TOGETHER 846 VIRTUAL ATTENDEES AND 77 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.- OUTDOORS FOR AUTISM: THIS IN-PERSON EVENT ENGAGED 365 YOUTH ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AND 373 ADULTS, ALL OF WHOM ENJOYED ACTIVITIES PRESENTED BY INCLUDENYC AND TEN PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. - MULTILINGUAL COMMUNICATIONS AND RESOURCES: INCLUDENYC PRODUCED AND DISSEMINATED CULTURALLY RELEVANT, TIMELY RESOURCES ON A VAST ARRAY OF DISABILITY TOPICS, NEWS, AND EVENTSIN BOTH PRINT AND ELECTRONIC FORMATS. IN 2021, WE CREATED AND DISTRIBUTED 238,044 PRINT AND DIGITAL RESOURCES THAT HAD OVER 900,000 TOUCH POINTS WITH INDIVIDUALS VIA OUTREACH SUCH AS OUR NAVIGATOR, NAVEGADOR, MONDAY UPDATE EMAILS, AND NEW, MORE ADVANCED WEBSITE.