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Resource Directory

Applied Behavior Analysis

Families should contact their insurer to determine if this is a covered service and for recommendations for providers.

Advocacy

  • Empire Justice Center - The Empire Justice Center's mission is to protect and strengthen the legal rights of people in New York State who are disabled, poor, or disenfranchised through high quality individual and systems change advocacy.
  • Finger Lakes Parent Network  - A parent-governed organization, focused on the needs of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, developmental, or mental disorders and their families. Their mission is to support and empower families so that they can improve the quality of their lives and help their child to achieve his or her full potential within the community.
  • New Directions Youth and Family Services - A family support coordinator (FSC) works with families of children having an emotional, behavioral, or socially handicapping condition. The FSC oversees the provision of three support groups for parents and provides support, advocacy, educational resources, and information regarding special education services. This program is funded by the New York State and Niagara County Offices of Mental Health.
  • New York Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities - A resource directory assisting with finding educational consultants, psychologists, educational diagnosticians, and health care providers among others.
  • Parent to Parent New York State 
  • Starbridge, Inc. - The goal of Starbridge is to deliver consumer-driven services including information sharing, individual advocacy support, service coordination, and educational workshops to support people with disabilities and their families.
  • Families Together in New York State: Western Region Family Services Directory - A resource directory assisting families with finding services, advocacy, and information.
  • Youth Advocacy Program - A program of the Legal Aid Society of Rochester. The purpose of the Youth Advocacy Program is to provide legal representation, educational advocacy, advice, and counsel to youth and their families in education related cases. Cases can involve issues of access to school, residency, special education and long-term suspension.
  • Family Voices - Provides advocacy for families of children with disabilities.

Education and Learning

  • Back to school transition tool for Fall 2020 - For many, the transition back to school may be complicated by COVID-19. The “Student Snapshot” can be used to capture important information about a student that can be shared with the new school team. The pdfs are fillable or can be printed out. It is suggested that the Snapshot is completed with input from the student, if possible. An English and Spanish version are provided. English Version | Spanish Version
  • Daystar for Medically Fragile Children
    New York State’s only pediatric day-respite program designed specifically to meet the needs of families with children as young as six months through age five who are coping with serious medical conditions and developmental complexities.
  • Early Childhood Direction Center (Binghamton)
  • Early Childhood Direction Center (Rochester)
  • Early Childhood Direction Center (Syracuse)
  • EnCompass Resources for Learning
    A not-for-profit organization that provides innovative educational services to students who struggle to learn and to the families, schools and professionals that support them. These services are matched to each student's unique learning style in order to achieve success and enhance lifelong learning.
  • Gallaudet University
    Provides information on education and interventions for children with deafness.
  • Nazareth College Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute
    Offers physical therapy, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, art therapy, kids clubs, a language and literacy clinic, and music therapy. Services are provided by Nazareth students and low cost to families.
  • NYS Department of Education
    Has info on IEPs, accessing services, and how special education works.
  • NYS Early Intervention Program
  • NYSED School List
    Displays a comprehensive list of schools devoted to various disabilities in New York State. Can be sorted by region or alphabetically.
  • Starbridge Inc.
    Helps children and adults with learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD), and other developmental disabilities seek personal success in school, work, relationships, and independent living.
  • Wisconsin Public Instruction (WPI)
    Provides information on addressing health care needs in educational settings.

Financial Planning

General Information on Disabilities

Health

Parent and Family Support

Recreation

  • AbilitYoga
    Was started by a team of two experienced occupational therapists to provide unique adaptive yoga therapy for children with special needs, either developmental disabilities or special healthcare needs, in the metropolitan Rochester, NY, area.
  • AutismUp
    Has a series of family gatherings on trail walks around Rochester to promote the health and wellbeing of families.
  • Camp Good Days and Special Times, Inc.
    A 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, adults and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life challenges through summer camping experiences and year-round events and activities.
  • Camp Puzzle Peace
    Provides camping recreation opportunities for families.
  • Cape Ability Outrigger Ohana, Inc.
    Aims to provide the opportunity for individuals with disabilities to gain confidence and dignity through participation in paddle sports, recreation, and related educational programs.
  • CDS Monarch
    Offers person-centered recreation and leisure activities to individuals ages 5 to adulthood living at home with their families. Services are provided by partnering with community-based programs to deliver specialized programming to fit individual needs.
  • CP Rochester
    Offers recreation programming that helps to develop an individual’s skills and interests. Individuals are provided with community-based opportunities that encourage group interaction and provide instruction and personal development. Specific programs include athletic, youth, and fine arts programs.
  • Empire State Games
    Offers competition in a variety of adapted sports, plus fitness for young people with physical challenges. The program is free to athletes and spectators through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and supported by local volunteers. Open to ages from 5-21 years with many different divisions available.
  • Gliding Stars of Rochester
    Gives individuals with disabilities the chance to increase their physical abilities and self-determination through development of ice skating skills. Participants are involved in a regular program of instruction and practice within their local community. An end of season public performance is part of the program.
  • Heritage Christian Stables
    Offers an accredited therapeutic riding program for children and adults. Participants receive support from highly skilled riding instructors and physical therapists.
  • Music Education Center (MEC)
    Located in Penfield, MEC has an array of musical enrichment programs and breaks down musical tasks into basic components to make things easy for students. Their programs are ideal for students with developmental challenges.
  • Nazareth Music Therapy Clinic
  • New York State Inclusive Recreation Resource Center
    Promotes and sustains participation by people with disabilities in inclusive recreation activities and resources.
  • New York State Parks Access Pass
    Permits residents of New York State with disabilities, as defined in the application, 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.
  • Pieters Family Life Center
    A recreation center that offers educational, social, and wellness support that is inclusive to all people.
  • Purple Pony
    A therapeutic horsemanship program located near Rochester, NY. They provide equine opportunities to persons with disabilities and diverse needs.
  • Rochester Accessible Adventures
    RAA partners with the community to train recreation businesses to operate inclusively whenever their doors are open so that individuals with and without disabilities can participate together; supports adaptive sports teams; and operates as a Regional Resource Network to connect families to the resources they need.
  • Rochester Ice Cats
    Members of Special Hockey International - a division of USA Hockey. Rochester Ice Cats is an organization that specializes in providing training in the game of ice hockey for individuals with developmental disabilities.
  • Rochester Kids Out and About
    Provides details of child appropriate events in the Rochester, NY, area.
  • Rochester Museum and Science Center
    Houses exhibits and a planetarium and offers a wide range of family and child experiences.
  • Rochester Rookies
    A junior wheelchair sports program dedicated to enhancing the quality of children's lives by teaching athletic skills, fostering independence, building character and helping families realize their child's full potential through programs, advocacy and services. Featured sports include track and field, swimming, archery, and table tennis.
  • Shared Ski Adventures (SSA)
    An adaptive learn to ski program that helps people with disabilities to learn to become independent skiers. SSA is a recreational program of CP Rochester that takes place at Swain Resort in Western New York. SSA is the largest adaptive ski program in the greater Rochester area.
  • Special Olympics
    Aims to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Through their participation in Special Olympics New York athletes gain confidence and build a positive self-image.
  • SportsNet
    Provides inclusive sports and recreation opportunities for people with physical challenges. Working with area organizations, sports clubs, recreational facilities, and sports professionals, the goal of the program is to create a great sports experience for people of all abilities.
  • The EquiCenter
    Located in Honeoye Falls, NY. Offers therapeutic riding, hippotherapy (health professionals assist a client and horse), vaulting, and horsemanship sessions. The center is committed to providing a safe, appropriate, and enjoyable group atmosphere where all participants can work toward their individual goals.
  • The Family Autism Connection
    Home to Camp Puzzle Piece, the center provides traditional family experiences to families dealing with ASD and other developmental delays. They provide arts, recreation, skill-building, and social opportunities, and are skilled in working with children who have significant communication and behavioral difficulties.
  • The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
    Provides many different resources specific to physical activity, research and general information on different conditions.
  • Together Including Every Student (TIES)
    Promotes the participation of students with developmental disabilities in extracurricular and community activities by creating effective natural support provided by trained student volunteers. TIES is supported in various school districts. Visit the TIES website to find the coordinator in your district.
  • United Cerebral Palsy Association (UCP)
    Provides links to information on sports and activities that one with cerebral palsy may participate in along with the necessary additions such as equipment to make participating in these activities possible.
  • Upstate Music Therapy Center
  • Webster Central School District/SEPTA Sports
    With SEPTA, sponsors sports programs for children with special needs-ages 5 - 21. Provides a list of various sports opportunities with the appropriate contact information.
  • YMCA of Greater Rochester 
    As a community organization, the YMCA is focused on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

Safety

Transition to Adulthood

Wandering

Wearing Masks