Shining a Light on NYC Special Education Crisis

Anyone dealing with special education laws in New York City -- parents, attorneys, teachers, schools, and hearing officers -- knows that this is a system in crisis. Too few hearing officers, extensive delays, even too few hearing rooms (all of which are located in often inconvenient downtown Brooklyn) are just a few of the issues apparent to those who are seeking legal intervention to obtain the services and setting that children with disabilities are entitled to under law, specifically, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Now, thanks to a report prepared by an outside consultant, Deusdedi Merced of Special Education Solutions, LLC, and made public by The City, the full extent of the problems with this system and how these problems impact students and families is being made clear. The report was initially commissioned in early 2018 by the New York State Department of Education and the consultant was charged with examining the policies, procedures, and practices relating to impartial hearings in New York City. According to Mr. Merced, a well-regarded attorney who has served in roles in all aspects of the special education system in New York, D.C., and elsewhere, delays in completing this report were "directly attributed to actions taken by the New York City Independent Hearing Office and/or New York City Department of Education."

When the 49 page report was issued on February 22, 2019 it was only released after a public document disclosure request by The City was granted. The news of the report with a link to its contents appeared in yesterday's edition of The City.

In addition to the discussion of the report in The City, there is another piece about the report, its findings, and the current state of special education proceedings in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

Both news reports make for a quick and concerning read. The report itself is dense with information, but some crucial findings include:

• New York State has almost as many due process complaints (the initial step to contest an issue under the IDEA) filed each year as the next six largest states combined; 90 percent of these are filed in New York City.
• Logistical issues abound:  On an average day there are 122 hearings scheduled but there are only 10 hearing rooms. Hearing rooms often lack sufficient furniture and are poorly ventilated.
• Hearing officers are poorly compensated and there are frequent recusals. There are insufficient hearing officers for the number of matters. Hearing officers are appointed without anyone checking on their availability (few do this as a full time career).
• Failure to use uncontested methods -- mediation - or to keep students in their current uncontested placements adds to the burdens on the system. 

The report urges prompt action -- by both NY City and NY State -- to keep this vital avenue for parental redress open and functioning. We hope someone is listening.

Why 3K For All?

New York City's Mayor Bill De Blasio recently made a very exciting announcement about early childhood – by around 2021, all three-year-olds in New York City will be eligible for free preschool. De Blasio rightly called this investment “one of the smartest we’ve ever made in the history of this city.” We don’t need another study reminding us that early intervention has an unbelievably high return on investment, both financially and with regard to student achievement. A few other cities in the country have already begun offering this service to families, but NYC will be the biggest district to do so.

To figure out why educating kids beginning at age three is so important, we just need to look at the amazing work done by The Carolina Abecedarian Project (ABC), a controlled study carried out in the 1970’s. Plenty of wraparound early intervention services continue to exist in a number of states, but there is very little research on the long-term effects of these services, and whether they are financially reasonable undertakings. A study published after a 30-year follow-up assessment of the children in the ABC project adds to the overwhelming evidence that success as an adult starts with high-quality care that begins at birth.

The children in the study received high-quality care all day starting at eight weeks old. Their mothers increased their earning power by receiving subsidized care, so they could invest more in their careers. The children were immersed in language and interactive play with trained educators. Parents also received tips and parenting instruction, while all the children had access to quality health care. The young children came out of the program with early literacy skills, self-control and self-regulatory skills, higher engagement with the environment, and a solid foundation for kindergarten.

After decades of follow-up, researchers believe that the financial return on investment is about 13%. That’s quite a bit higher than your typical investment in the stock market. The societal benefits top even that high number, with reduced crime, better health, lower drug use, lower blood pressure, more years of education, and larger contributions to the economy. Since the children had subsidized care, parents were able to go to work full time and experience true upward mobility. They found positive effects in maternal education, labor force participation, and parental income. However, the researchers specifically note that these effects are due to the high quality of the wraparound care provided, and that low quality childcare is likely to take a steep toll on children’s and families’ well-being.

Finding high-quality affordable childcare in New York City is, some would say, an impossible feat. We’re looking forward to seeing how the 3K For All plan unfolds over the next few years, and what effect is has on children and their families.

ThriveNYC Gears Up for Improved Mental Health Care

Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report that restated the importance of family-focused therapies for young children experiencing emotional and behavioral problems. This means that the best way to provide young children with support is to treat the whole family; parent training, family therapy, and access to social services are still the best medicine for problems in early childhood. That same report, however, also discussed the barriers that many children and families face when seeking help. 

In 2016, New York City began working to eliminate those barriers, and open the door to mental health care for all of our eight million neighbors. Here at The Yellin Center, we always look at the big picture for every child, and we know that learning is extra hard when students are also carrying the added weight of mental health challenges, which one in five New Yorkers do. We think this initiative has the potential to do some real good for our neighbors, and we’d like to tell you about these exciting plans and how you can get involved.

ThriveNYC, spearheaded by NYC’s first lady, Chirlane McCray, is a city-wide initiative to raise awareness about mental health and increase access to services around the city. This comprehensive mental health plan is based around a five-step plan. First, we have to change the culture. In other words, ThriveNYC wants to make mental health everyone’s business. One in five New Yorkers experiences a mental health problem at some point in their lives, but the topic is something that many families are uncomfortable talking about. You may have noticed the ThriveNYC ad campaign that debuted around the city last summer. It features photos of New Yorkers talking openly about their mental health concerns: “Addiction does not define me. Today I Thrive.” By opening up the conversation with our families, our teachers, our children, and our neighbors, we can make it easier to ask for help.

One of the most exciting parts of this first step is Mental Health First Aid – a free eight-hour course for any New Yorker to learn how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness. The city hopes to train 250,000 New Yorkers with this course, offered in both English and Spanish. One version of the course is specifically geared towards community members who work with young people.

The second piece of ThriveNYC demands early action. Echoing the AAP, the comprehensive plan is focused on identifying children from birth through college who are experiencing adverse life events (e.g., divorce, financial strain) or reporting feeling sad or hopeless – two predictors of mental illness later on. Identification is the first step to early intervention, and the earlier a child or family can find help, the better the outcome. To do this, ThriveNYC is hoping to put mental health clinics and consultants in schools across the boroughs.

ThriveNYC’s third step is to close the treatment gap by expanding care to under-served pockets across the city. The goal is to not just increase service availability but to also bring treatment provision up to expert-recommended standards. That means working with clinics, hospitals, and other professionals to locate residents in need and provide them with the care they deserve.

Partnering with communities is the crucial fourth step in the ThriveNYC initiative. For example, Connections to Care (C2C) will integrate mental health services into other programs that are already serving communities so that more people can find help. Most importantly, ThriveNYC believes that by teaming up with local organizations, which are trusted in their communities, they can help people feel comfortable enough to reach out and access care.

The fifth piece of the ThriveNYC program involves the way our city government collects, shares, and uses data. As an educator, your blogger has always known the importance of collecting data and using them in a way that makes sense. ThriveNYC plans to open a Mental Health Innovation Lab, which will allow the city to coordinate its data-gathering effort and analyze that data in a way that leads to providing the services that New Yorkers want and need.

Finally, ThriveNYC puts the onus on the city government to hold up its end of the bargain. Mayor DeBlasio and the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene are going to be working over the next few years to create an organized system of mental health care in our city. NYC WELL, for example, launched this past October. This is an anonymous, free, 24-hour call center that offers mental health support. They go beyond the classic emergency mental health hotline to also provide trained peer support, short-term counseling, assistance setting up appointments with a clinician, and follow-up calls to check in with callers and make sure they were able to connect with a professional in their community.

If ThriveNYC sounds as inspiring to you as it does to us, you may be interested in the following resources linked below for getting involved and potentially making a difference for a family in your community.

• Get involved in the mental health call center

• Get trained in Mental Health First Aid

• Work for ThriveNYC

And, of course, check out the website and let your family, friends, and neighbors know it’s time to start talking openly about mental health.

Fun for the Fourth!

Here in New York City, when the public schools don't let out until June 30th, the Fourth of July can tend to sneak up on folks. If you haven't made plans yet for this long holiday weekend, it's not too late to find terrific ways for your family to commemorate our nation's 240th birthday and to celebrate summer. Here are some ideas:

Founding Fathers
The New York Historical Society will kick off its "Summer of Hamilton" celebration on Monday, July 4th, with activities for the entire family. Kids will get to meet "Alexander Hamilton" and ask him about his fascinating life. Admission is free on the 4th for those 17 and under.

Alexander Hamilton

If you are feeling lucky, you can always enter the lottery for $10 tickets (limit 2 per entry) to the Broadway blockbuster Hamilton. The odds of winning are absurdly low; the producers advise that there are more than 10,000 entries for each lottery, but someone has to win...

You can also visit the National Park Service museum at Federal Hall, which sits on the site where George Washington took the oath of office as our first President, and which served as home to the first Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch offices when New York was, briefly, the capitol of our country.

And, if you can't locate the terrific 1972 film 1776 in your local broadcast listings, you can stream it from Amazon. Singing founding fathers give real insight into some of the issues facing the Continental Congress on that steamy July in Philadelphia.

Music
If your idea of celebrating includes music, there are performances at South Street Seaport, including family entertainment on the Peck Slip Stage from 1-8 pm.

Brooklyn's newly opened Amphitheater at the Coney Island Boardwalk is featuring the Beach Boys. It's the perfect music to listen to at the beach on a summer evening.

Parades and More
During the American Revolution, 9000 English troops landed on Staten Island. Islanders, being content with their lives under British rule, supported the Loyalists’ cause. One contingent of Loyalist troops was camped in New Blazing Star. It was here on August 22, 1777, that a major skirmish on Staten Island between General George Washington’s Patriots and General William Howe’s Loyalists was fought. This part of the island is now known as Travis and has been holding a Fourth of July parade since 1911.

The Bronx Zoo's Independence Day weekend celebrates the bearded bison, the official American mammal.

And, of course, there will be a fireworks display over the East River, visible from many areas of the City, beginning just after dark.

However you decide to spend the holiday, we wish you a fun, safe, celebration!

A School Grows in Brooklyn

Today we feature a guest blog by Elizabeth Frank, the Head of School at Sage Heights School, which will be opening in Brooklyn, New York in September 2016. Dr. Paul Yellin is an Advisor to Sage Heights. The school will utilize the approach of Mind, Brain, and Education to apply best practices in the classroom from research in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Education. Sage Heights is a member of the Harvard International Research School Network.

Everyone is different. We say it all the time, but is it fully embraced by our schools, by us? When taught and nurtured according to their individuality, children are more engaged with the process of learning. Educational research has confirmed what many parents and teachers experience daily; each child is infinitely varied from the next and cookie cutter solutions do not meet their needs. Recognizing our inborn differences allows for children to develop their passions and strengths, while fostering challenges and aversions.

Jillian is an advanced eight-year-old who doesn’t have to try very hard to get perfect marks at school, and tests above the average range on assessments like the ERB. She is often praised for her brightness and quickness. She is starting to avoid anything she thinks is too hard, because she fears the grown-ups might discover her secret. She believes, “If I can’t do this fast and easily, then I must be dumb,” keeping her from her own unique potential to learn and succeed.

Charlie is a seven-year-old gregarious kid who excels at school, is athletic, and very popular. However, he recently retreated into himself, refusing to participate in activities he once loved, after his beloved grandmother passed away.

Annabeth is six and loves books, words, and games. She has great difficulty staying out of trouble. Lately, she’s been left off the birthday invitation lists of her classmates.

Henry is a six-year-old, well liked, quiet boy. He loves building intricate structures with blocks and avoids anything with letters or numbers.

All four students are typical and should be treated as such. We do not learn in synchronistic ways and sometimes life gets in the way. All can excel if the adults in their lives help to cultivate their challenges and support their gifts, while emphasizing the natural differences in all of us. We want schools to see our children for whom they are and respond to them as their lives unfold.

All children are learning machines and learning begins with the brain. Neuroscience tells us brains are unique and plastic. There are no two duplicate brains in the world, now or ever. While the basic structure of our brains are the same, at the molecular level differences can be detected that affect our ability to learn, even in identical twins. If all people are different from one another, it follows that instruction should be differentiated. Differentiated doesn’t mean easier, but rather creating high challenge and low risk for each individual.

Additionally, the brain’s plasticity is occurring constantly as we encounter the world. Our brains automatically rewire neural paths with each song sung, picture painted, soccer scuffle, or negative/positive thought. Schools and parents can use this plasticity to their advantage by creating environments where they reinforce important skills and belief systems around learning. Days should be designed to develop proficiencies in reading, math and other content areas, but more importantly on effort, collaboration and problem solving strategies. This way students become ready for the challenges of adult life. Isn't that what school should be for?

Matisse at MoMA Makes a Great Trip and Project!

A new exhibit of Henri Mattise's work at  New York City's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is just the thing to inspire young artists. During the last years of his life, Mattise moved away from painting and created a series of stunning cut-outs, which are now on display. These works of art were made using only white paper, a type of paint called gouache, scissors, and pins or glue. The resulting images are similar in style to many of his paintings, but their effect is more dynamic and three-dimensional, thanks to the layered paper. 

Matisse is a particularly accessible artist for young people. He favored bright colors and simple shapes that lend themselves easily to experimentation. Exquisitely detailed pieces, like oil paintings by da Vinci or Rembrandt, are fun to look at but can be intimidating. Even very young children will enjoy looking at Mattise's colorful paintings and cut-outs, however. As you walk through the exhibit, encourage kids to describe the kinds of emotions they think Matisse may have been feeling as he created the different pieces. Ask them to pick a favorite and to explain why they like it best. Challenge them to consider how certain pieces would feel different if he'd used different colors or shapes. Ask whether they like Matisse and why they think others enjoy Matisse so much.

The exhibit began earlier this month and runs through February 8, 2015. Timed tickets are required for non-members of the MoMA. Visit the exhibit's website for detailed information.

To take the fun one step farther, invite children to make their own cut-outs. Young artists may enjoy watching a short video of Matisse working on a cut-out. Then they can try to replicate one of Matisse's pieces or invent their own. Colored construction paper could be used, but for a more authentic experience begin by painting rectangles of white paper in solid colors. Invite kids to experiment with paint application; visible brushstrokes can add exciting texture to the finished piece. Painted papers should be weighted as they dry so that they don't curl. Once they're dry, kids can cut shapes and arrange them on white paper. Some of Matisse's cut-outs are shaped like plants, animals, and people, while others are simply abstract shapes; kids should experiment with both! Once he was happy with his arrangement, Matisse used either sewing pins or dabs of glue to fasten the shapes in place. If you use glue, be sure not to anchor the shapes down too firmly. Part of the fun of cut-outs is seeing the different layers.

Memory of Oceania - Henri Matisse - created 1952-53

For more information on the technique and on Matisse himself, check out the MoMA's wonderful online resources .

Back-to-School Help

For New York City students, the excellent website InsideSchools has a list of free and low cost programs that offer supplementary instruction for students in elementary through high school, designed to allow them,  "to explore new interests, get extra support, and supplement what is being taught during the school day." As  Liz Willen, one of the InsideSchool bloggers notes, New York City Schools have still not recovered from significant budget cuts and that, coupled with increased specialization of many schools -- music, art, technology, etc. -- means that some students lack access to programs they want or need. This list is one way to access such programs or skills.

Now that school is well underway, homework is something both students and their parents need to deal with on an almost daily basis. A website from the New York City Department of Education has a list of resources to help students at all levels (and their parents) with homework and test preparation. The Brooklyn Public Library has homework helpers at many of its locations, ready to assist students in grades one through eight. Families from other areas should check with their local library; many have in-person or online assistance available.

photo: bgilliard/flickr

And don't forget some of the "tried and true" resources for homework and academic support - websites like Kahn Academy, with video instruction in almost every subject in which a student might need assistance, and Spark Notes study guides and Spark Charts instructional materials for students at all levels, including medical and law school.

NYC Private Schools to End Use of Controversial Admissions Test

We were very pleased to see the announcement in today's New York Times that most private schools in New York City will soon phase out the admissions test many of the City's elite private schools have administered since the 1960's to applicants as young as four years old.

Kevin Jarrett

The Independent Schools Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY) advised its approximately 130 members by a letter dated on September 18th that a review of admissions practices for kindergarten and first grade concluded that the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI), which is administered by the nonprofit Educational Records Bureau and is universally referred to by New York parents as the "ERB", indicated that, "high-stakes testing of young children (under 8 years old) provides only a narrow assessment of their cognitive abilities and may not be predictive of future academic success." The group went on to note that, "due to the increased prevalence of test prepping, the results of the WPPSI are tainted and their credibility is in question due to coaching."

Dr. Yellin stated that he was heartened by this announcement and commented, "Today's announcement that private schools are likely to abandon the ERB is a positive development and a change for which we have advocated for some time. The reason stated is that the results have been compromised by widespread coaching and test preparation. The truth, as many educators have expressed to us, is that the system was misguided and flawed from the start. ERB's use portions of IQ tests that were never intended for this purpose. We strongly recommend Dr. Carol Dweck's wonderful book Mindset to provide perspective on this important issue." 

Happy Birthday, TKTS!

Today marks the 40th "birthday" of the TKTS booth in New York City, a terrific resource for locals and visitors of all ages. A project of the nonprofit Theater Development Fund, the booths can be found at Times Square and in Downtown Brooklyn. A third location, at the South Street Seaport, fell victim to hurricane Sandy and is closed indefinitely.

Jim Henderson

The booth in Times Square offers day-of-performance tickets to both matinee and evening performances of Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. The Brooklyn booth offers same day tickets to evening performances and next day tickets to matinee performances, as well as tickets to Brooklyn arts events. Discounts are generally from 30-50% off face value, plus a service charge of $4 per ticket, which helps support TDF (ticket prices go directly to the theaters, which determine the number of tickets available and the discount offered). You can download the free TKTS app from the iTunes store to keep abreast of current offerings and discounts.

Whether you are coming to New York for an evaluation at The Yellin Center, or a family vacation, or just a day in town from your home in the suburbs -- or whether you live right here in the City -- the TKTS booth is a great way to make the wide range of Broadway and Off-Broadway offerings more affordable. There are lots of shows and plays that are suitable for children and a love of theater is a gift that can stay with a child for a lifetime. 

Studies Show that Yoga is Beneficial to Kids in Multiple Ways

Yoga has become one of the most popular forms of exercise in the country. You’d be hard-pressed to find a gym that doesn’t offer at least one yoga class, and here in New York City people walk around with rolled-up yoga mats slung from their shoulders as casually as they’d carry a purse or briefcase. Advocates of yoga say that it improves physical strength and flexibility while providing a sense of calm that too few of us enjoy in our fast-paced lives. But did you know that numerous studies have demonstrated that yoga can be beneficial to youngsters, too? Youth yoga programs have been shown to improve student self-esteem and self-image, behavior, and even academic performance!

Your blogger was recently interviewed for a blog post for YoGanesh, a wonderful yoga studio just blocks from The Yellin Center, about the many ways yoga can benefit kids. We noted that physical, emotional, and behavioral factors can play huge roles in academic well-being and that research shows that practicing yoga can have amazingly wide-reaching benefits when it comes to improving children’s behavior, mental/emotional health, and cognitive function. You can see the full interview and the references for current research when you visit the blog. And please take a moment to visit their website to learn more about yoga and young people. Namaste!

photo courtesy CC: Heidelknips

News: Noteworthy Special Ed Programs, Museum of Mathematics, RCSN Camp Fair, NYC Holiday Tips

The excellent website Inside Schools has identified noteworthy special education programs  in New York City Public Schools. Some of these offer preferential enrollment to students in a particular zone and others are open to all students in a district or an entire borough on a first come, first served basis. We've blogged before about Inside Schools and other resources for finding schools, and you may find that article useful as well.

A new Museum of Mathematics opens in Manhattan this Saturday, December 15th, right in our neighborhood, at 11 East 26th Street (between Fifth and Madison Avenues). And if that isn't a convenient location for you, the Math Midway program of the Museum offers traveling exhibitions in locations including Florida, California, the Pacific Northwest, and Upstate New York. The Museum is targeted towards fourth through eighth graders, but promises to have information that will also appeal to older visitors. 

Resources for Children with Special Needs, a New York City nonprofit is once again sponsoring a Camp Fair in January. This year’s event is set for Saturday, January 26, 2013. The fair features camps for children with learning, attention, and behavioral issues as well as camps for children with medical disabilities.

 

 

We know lots of families visit New York City during the holidays and we have found a list of family friendly activities in one of the iconic areas of the city -- Rockefeller Center, home to the famous Christmas tree. Besides the tree, you can take an NBC studio tour and visit the Lego store. Don't forget to dress for ice skating!

 

 

Photo: CC by SimonPix

Teachers College Opens Academic Festival to the Community

On April 21st, Teachers College will host its fourth annual Academic Festival. This year’s offerings will center around the theme “Rewiring the Learning Landscape.” Various panels will explore technology and its effect on education and the world at large. Topics will include online communities, social media and adolescence, teaching financial literacy, and virtual access to art.

Though most of the day will focus on lectures and panels more appropriate for adults, there are opportunities for kids to have fun, too. For those with young children, WeBop is sure to please both you and your little one. Come learn about this early childhood jazz education program, designed for kids ages 8 months to 5 years. Families can learn about instruments used in jazz and explore the musical genre, as well as express themselves together through dance! (Watch the video below for more about WeBop.)

Kids ages 6 and up are also welcome to enjoy a cooking demonstration and food sampling hosted by nutritionist Pam Koch.

Visit the festival webpage for detailed information about the agenda and other useful information.

Monday Miscellany

Writing Opportunity for New Jersey 5th and 6th Graders

Teachers 4 Student Success, a non-profit organization, will be hold a writing camp for 5th and 6th grade students in New Jersey this summer. The camp is designed for students who have either been diagnosed with a learning disability or who simply find writing difficult. Instruction will take place over 10 sessions from July to August, and will be based on research-tested methods for teaching expository writing. Because the program will be subsidized by a grant, the cost for the entire summer is only $20.00, though students must be willing to attend all sessions in Fort Lee, NJ or Ridgefield, NJ. Eligibility restrictions may apply. For further information, please contact Pooja Patel at pooja979@gmail.com or (201) 310-1348. Space is limited.

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A New Post-Secondary Program

Last week we had the chance to visit Giant Step Services, a two year vocational and independent living program for young adults with significant learning challenges. What brought us out to Hauppauge, in Suffolk County, New York, was the fact that this program is run by the same folks who created the Vocational Independence Program (VIP) at the New York Institute of Technology. VIP is a highly regarded post-secondary option for students whose learning difficulties would make college very difficult, but who can benefit from vocational education and life skills and social experiences. VIP students can also take courses at NYIT.

The team at Giant Step follows a similar model to VIP, but is not affiliated with a college, although students may take classes at Suffolk County Community College or elsewhere. The program is located in an apartment complex where the participants live together in two- or three-bedroom apartments. They receive significant levels of services and support to work in the community. The Giant Step program is still new, but given the background of the folks who are running it, we are hopeful that it will be an important resource for young people with significant learning challenges. For more information, contact Giant Step at (631) 631-5550.

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ARISE Coalition

New York City parents, teachers, and others who are concerned about the state of special education in the city should be aware of the ARISE Coalition (Action for Reform in Special Education), whose membership is a "Who's Who" of nonprofit organizations, educators, unions, and political leaders "seeking to connect and bring meaningful and positive reform to New York's schools. Their email alerts are a good way to keep abreast of NYC Special Education news.

Special Events For Your 2012 Calendar

It’s time to start adding events to our 2012 calendars, and we have some programs that you might want to take note of for the new year.

For the NYC child who has everything -- and a love of adventure -- an amazing holiday gift could be an overnight visit to the Museum of Natural History. Reservations for these sleep-overs for 6 - 13 year olds are limited and sell out quickly. Check out the schedule, details, and available dates by calling 212-769-5200.

Resources for Children with Special Needs will be holding its annual Camp Fair on Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, (entrance on Columbus Ave./W. 60th St.) in Manhattan. Admission is free and attendees get a copy of the extensive Camp Directory. The Fair will feature day camp programs in New York City and sleep-away camps throughout the NY, NJ, and CT area. Presenters include travel programs and remedial education programs for children with a broad range of learning and other issues.

Kids Night on Broadway takes place February 5th- 9th, 2012. This annual event offers free tickets to many Broadway and Off-Broadway shows for children from 6-18 when accompanied by a full-paying adult. The event also offers free dining for kids at participating restaurants and includes parallel events in other cities. Early curtain times make these evenings even more kid-friendly.

Subway Sleuths is a program for kids on the autism spectrum (primarily in grades 3-5, but they are flexible) that uses content about the New York City subway to practice and promote social engagement, collaboration, and problem solving. The ten session program begins in February, but there is a required 45-minute observation and orientation tomorrow, December 17th (and another one in January).

The Yellin Center will be presenting a number of special events throughout the year. For starters, Dr. Yellin will give a free presentation sponsored by CHADD of New York on January 9 in Manhattan. Stay tuned to our special events calendar for more information.