New York Institute for Special Education

Founded: 1932

Mission: To provide quality educational programs and support to the students and families in a safe, caring environment to awaken and inspire student curiosity, lifelong learning, and fulfillment.

About the organization: First opened as the New York Institution for the Blind in 1832, the New York Institute for Special Education (NYISE) offers programs for students ages 3 to 21, including residential programs during the week.

Current programs: The Readiness Program is a full-day, center-based program for children ages 3 to 5 with delays in cognitive, speech and language, fine or gross motor skills, sensory integration, adaptive, or social-emotional development. It provides support services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and counseling in order to meet their educational goals as mandated by their individual education plans, as well as parent training and support groups to assist the families in advocating for their child’s educational needs.

The Schermerhorn Program provides legally blind students ages 5 to 21—many of whom have mild secondary disabilities—with individually designed academic and modified academic programs that emphasize independence, either as a day program or a five-day Residential Program. As an extension of NYISE’s Career Educational Curriculum, students also have the opportunity to develop job behaviors and job skills. The Van Cleve Program accepts children with learning and emotional disabilities between the ages of four years nine months and 11, who can remain in the five-day residential program up to age 13. The program provides a highly structured educational day and 5-day residential setting, including counseling services for both students and families. The Schermerhorn and Van Cleve programs also offer a Summer School with extended school year in their individual education plans.

Website: Visitors to the NYISE site can learn more about the institute’s programs and admissions procedures, take a virtual tour of the campus, or browse photo archives. They can explore student life, including the enriched curriculum, health services, the student council, and athletic schedules; browse educational resources, including the Blindness Resource Center; or support the organization.

Funding: NYISE is supported by individuals, foundations, public charities, corporations, and government agencies.