Early Childhood Direction Center (ECDC)
The Lower Hudson Early Childhood Direction Center (ECDC) provides free, neutral, confidential information and referral services for children with disabilities from birth to age 5, who reside in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties. We offer support to ...
Parents (click to expand)
The ECDC provides individualized support and resources to parents who seek educational, recreational, medical, or community-based services for their children. Free educational workshops for parents are offered on a regular basis, focused on the transition between EI and CPSE or CPSE and CSE. The step by step workshops clarify what should happen in what order, and emphasize positive parent-professional collaboration. Parent-friendly printed materials are available on the ECDC website, or directly from the ECDC office.
Professionals (click to expand)
Training and technical assistance opportunities are offered to professionals who serve young children. Many forums and educational sessions are offered on emerging early childhood special and general education topics. These include updates to NYS and federal regulations and legislation, streamlining local systems to improve timeliness of evaluations and service provision, evidence-based practice, partnerships with parents, as well as expanding access to integrated early childhood settings for all young children. The goal of the professional sessions is to improve developmental and educational results for children with special needs.
Contact the ECDC staff at 914-493-8119 or ecdc@wihd.org if you have questions about services for children with disabilities from birth to age five. Or visit our website, for more information. The ECDC at WIHD is part of a statewide network. If you are looking for resources in another region of NYS, the ECDC at WIHD can provide contact information for the ECDC which serves that region.
Special Education Parent Center
The Special Education Parent Center offers free education and information to families in the Hudson Valley Region. Services are available to parents, families, PTAs, SEPTAs, community organizations, and school districts. Our goal is to increase parents' knowledge about the process, facilitate effective communication and foster positive school partnerships. It is critical that parents understand the Committee on Special Education (CSE) process so that they can participate as collaborative members of their children's decision-making team. They need to learn what information is considered in determining eligibility for services, who participates on the Committee, and the impact of their child's specific disability on decisions made about their child's educational program and placement. When parents have the tools to engage meaningfully, then positive outcomes for students with disabilities are more possible.
Check out our website for information about upcoming events, workshops and trainings. Contact Parent Center Director, Naomi Brickel (nbrickel@wihd.org) to schedule a training for your district or organization families, or if you have questions about any aspect of the special education process.
Parent to Parent
Parent to Parent of New York State is a parent driven non-profit organization that provides information, training and support to families with children and adults with disabilities and special needs. With the help from Parent to Parent, parents can develop confidence and are better prepared to meet the needs of their children.
We offer several programs; including a support parent program, parent matching program and the referral and information program. A support parent is a parent or primary caregiver of an individual with special needs who resides in New York State and wants to help other families in situations similar to those they have faced. The parent matching program connects parents who live in NYS with a trained volunteer support parent whose child has the same disability, illness, issue or concern to provide support and share information. The information and referral, connects families with local, state, or national resources and organizations. Our goal is to provide parents with connections, tools and resources to support them in their role.
Please consider becoming a support parent. Contact Alexandra Santana (asantana@wihd.org), Regional Coordinator for the Hudson Valley at (914) 493-2635.
Self Determination
The Self Determination Task Force is a Regional Resource Center, providing training and technical assistance on self-directed, individualized support options to DDSO staff, individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, community provider agencies, and other disability professionals such as start-up and support brokers. The goal of the Task Force is to connect people with I/DD in the Lower Hudson Valley with the resources they need to exercise more control over their lives, especially in employment and housing. Click here for more information.
Medicaid Service Coordination
Westchester Institute for Human Development is offering Medicaid Service Coordination(MSC) not only to the consumers that avail themselves of the services offered within our Institute but to consumers in the community who are looking for support, advocacy and guidance from coordinators who strongly believe in the person centered planning process. We model our program around the concepts of choice, promoting individualized services and supports from the development of the Individualized Service Plan (ISP) through its implementation, maintenance and continued evolution. Our focus is to assist each person and help them to reach their goals in all aspects of their lives from friends and family to jobs and medical services. A unique point about WIHD is that many of our staff are themselves parents or family members of a person with a disability.
Following this same philosophy as MSC, with Person Centered Planning at the core, WIHD offers a Start-up and Support brokerage entity, giving consumers and their advocates the most freedom to make choices that are right for them. Incorporating the ideas of self-determination and self-advocacy the start-up/support broker will assist the individual and Circle of Support to develop a comprehensive CSS plan and budget, establish and maintain cooperative relationships, and foster open communication with all support personnel, connect with community, and recruit and hire staff that will support their goals and desires.
CSN Lunchtime Networking Meetings
The Community Support Network is offering monthly lunch/networking sessions that will allow families to meet and discuss topics relevant to them and to obtain support from the staff, professionals from the community as well as each other. Topics will vary depending on the needs/wants of the group.
Questions? Contact Nicky Turano (nturano@wihd.org) or Karen Millman (kmillman@wihd.org) or Click here for more information and specific lunch date topics.
