Access CNY: www.accesscny.org/
Colleen Tedeschi, Director of Education Services
1603 Court Street Syracuse, New York 13204
Phone 315-475-1782 x430, FAX 315-475-1782
Access CNY provides the community with an Early Intervention and Inclusive Preschool Programs for all children with special attention to students with disabilities. Our program, called Exploring Your World, is designed for children ages 18 months through 5 years old. Our program site is located at 1603 Court Street. Transportation services to and from our program are available if specified on a child’s IEP or IFSP. Services are provided by certified staff members consisting of general and Special Education teachers, occupational, physical and speech therapists, social workers and paraprofessionals. Support programs are also available in the areas of family support, parental training programs, pre-school evaluations, and assistive technology. Exploring Your World has half day and full day programs and is licensed as a day care center giving us limited capacity to provide child care from 8:30 to 3:30 Monday through Friday. A holistic team approach is utilized to provide a comprehensive program for children and their families. Exploring Your World blends the Creative Curriculum with the New York State Core Curriculum to meet the social, emotional and academic needs of our students.
Child Care Solutions: www.childcaresolutionscny.org
Lori Schakow, Education Director
6724 Thompson Road, Syracuse, NY 13211
Phone: 315-446-1220 FAX: 315-446-2010
Child Care Solutions is a non-profit childcare resource and referral agency that builds partnerships with childcare providers, parents and employers to promote accessible, quality childcare services in Onondaga and Cayuga County. Call us for more information about training and education opportunities, referrals to childcare and services for employers.
Children’s Therapy Network: www.childrenstherapynetwork.com/
Cami Riley, Director of Programming
171 Intrepid Lane, Syracuse, NY 13205
Phone: 315-437-4689 FAX: 315-437-4690
Children’s Therapy Network (CTN) provides education and therapy services for children with disabilities in Syracuse, Utica, and the surrounding areas and strives to provide those services in the child’s natural environment. We provide children of all ages (up to age 21) with physical, occupational, speech and language therapy programs in their homes, preschools, daycare centers, parks, swim classes and other community sites, as well as in our bright and cheerful pediatric clinic.
Connections Family-Centered Therapies: www.connectionstx.com
Meg Catanzarita, M.S., CCC-SLP
1744 W. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13204
Phone: 315-468-3414, FAX: 315-468-2089
Early Intervention and Preschool evaluations and therapy in the areas of speech and language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, audiology and special education. Services provided in home, community site or at our location.
Early Childhood Direction Center (ECDC): http://ecdc.syr.edu
Maria Gill, Project Director
370 Huntington Hall, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244
Phone: 315-443-4444 FAX: 315-443-4338
ECDC provides information, referral and support to families and professionals working with children, both typically developing and those with special education needs, ages birth through school age. We work with families to help match the needs of their child with available services, including daycare, preschool, and community agencies. We offer trainings on development, behavior, the special education system and much more (see our website for full offerings), mentor daycare, preschool, UPK, and Head Start staff to enhance their quality, answer questions and provide resources. Our services are available to all families, providers, and community agencies within the following counties: Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca, Tompkins, free of charge and confidentially.
E.John Gavras Center: www.gavrascenter.com
Danielle Ambrose, CEO/ Kenn Ward, Principal of Education Services
182 North Street, Auburn, NY 13021
Phone: 315-255-2746 FAX 315-255-2740
The E. John Gavras Center Preschool and Early Intervention Programs have been servicing children and families in the Fingerlakes area for over 45 years. Our Integrated Special Education Preschool program is dedicated to providing individualized learning opportunities for 48 children with speech, occupational and physical therapy support services on site. We have morning and afternoon programs available (8:45 -11:15 and 12:00 – 2:30). Our Toddler Group has a morning program (9:00 – 11:00, M/W/F or T/Th). We offer a comfortable learning environment with center-based activities and indoor and outdoor playground areas. The Gavras Center follows the school schedule. There is a registered nurse on staff to handle any health/medical needs. In addition, some students receive Behavioral Programming under the direction and supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Comprehensive Preschool Evaluations are provided weekly. The Gavras Center also provides UPK and 3PK full day programming through the Auburn City School District.
Karen Adams, Advocacy Supervisor
1820 LeMoyne Ave
Syracuse NY 13208
Phone: 315-478-1462 Fax: 315-478-1467Exceptional Family Resources (EFR) partners with individuals with disabilities and their families, providing services (Medicaid Service Coordination (MSC), residential habilitation, respite, etc), information and referral, advocacy and other supports to enhance lives and foster community acceptance.
Janet Ford, Clinic Coordinator and Joseph Pellegrino
621 Skytop, Suite 1200, Syracuse NY, 13244
Phone: 315-443-9637 FAX: 315- 443-4413Gebbie Speech, Language and Hearing Clinic is a training facility affiliated with the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Syracuse University. The Clinic offers a full range of evaluation and treatment services for children and families in the areas of audiology, speech, and language. Our services are conducted by graduate students under the direct supervision of speech language pathologists and audiologists, as well as through consultation with faculty and researchers in the field.
Dawn Engel, Education/Disabilities Coordinator
Sumner Head Start, 215 Bassett St., Syracuse, NY 13210
Phone: 315-470-3346 FAX: 315-214-2667Head Start is a federally funded and locally operated preschool program for children ages three and four and targets low-income families. The program provides families with information on health, social services, nutrition and child development. The program also serves disabled and non-disabled in inclusive classroom settings. Head Start actively encourages parental involvement and participation in all aspects of the program. Early Head Start provides comprehensive child development and family support services to low income families with children under three and pregnant women.
Dr. Arlene Balestra-Marko, AuD, CCC-A, Director
6575 Kirkville Rd, East Syracuse NY 13057
Phone: 315-701-5710, Fax: 315-701-5711Early intervention, preschool, school age and private pay provider. Offering comprehensive services for children with developmental delays in all areas and of all ages, with a specialization in children with hearing loss. We offer family trainings, playgroups, workshops and professional trainings, and a full service state of the art audiology clinic featuring hearing aids, assistive devices, and FM systems. Some of our professional services include speech/language pathology, motor therapies, special education, audiology, teacher of the hearing impaired, feeding therapy, service coordination.
Lori Saile, Director
3049 East Genesee St., Syracuse NY 13224
Phone: (315) 445-4010 FAX: (315) 445-4060Jowonio School offers a fully inclusive preschool for children with a wide range of special needs and their typical peers. Opened in 1969, Jowonio’s center-based program serves students 2 to 5 years. Classrooms are 2.5 hours, 4.25 hours or 5.75 hours. We also have available on a limited basis early morning and afterschool care. Jowonio has collaborative programs of three hours/5 days a week with Bellevue Heights Nursery School and Bernice Wright Nursery; we also provide EI center-based services at Bernice Wright. Our ENRICH program offers special education, OT, PT and Speech therapy on an itinerant basis to children at home and in community child care settings. Our social workers provide case management, family support, and play therapy/counseling. Jowonio also does trans-disciplinary play-based evaluations for preschool children.
Laura Zaferakis, M.S., Spec.Ed., CAS; Director of Operations & School Administration
1045 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13203
315.425.1004, Ext. 1522Employing experienced and skilled clinicians, Liberty POST provides a range of services to children within Early Intervention, Preschool Special Education, School Aged Special Education and Private Therapy. We are approved by the New York State Education Department to provide Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) services, as well as Multi-Disciplinary Evaluations and Related Services at the Preschool level. The New York State Department of Health has approved us to provide evaluations and direct therapy (OT, PT, SLP and Special Instruction) to children enrolled in the Early Intervention program. Our services are delivered in a child’s natural environment and we emphasize collaboration and teaming between therapists and the child’s family to help make the biggest impact in a child’s development. We have therapists who specialize in feeding/swallowing issues, Apraxia, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Multiple Disabilities, prematurity and related issues, and we employ a variety of methodologies in our therapy sessions.Little Lukes: www.littlelukes.com
Jackie Franklin, Program Coordinator
5820 Heritage Landing Drive, E Syracuse NY 13057
Phone: 315-701-1107 Fax: 315-701-1131
Locations in Dewitt, Baldwinsville, Pulaski, Fulton, and OswegoLittleLukes provides Early Intervention, Preschool Related Services, and Inclusive preschool and childcare classrooms. EI and Preschool Itinerant services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and special education teacher services to children at their home or chldcare setting. Inclusive preschool classrooms are available as half-day and full-day sessions, Monday through Friday, at each Little Lukes location. In-house teams of physical therapy, occuapational therapy, speech therapy, and special education teachers work with preschoolers in each center. Our childcare centers are open from 6:30 am-6:30 pm and serve children ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age, offering full-day and before and after school childcare services. Evaluations are also provided.Margaret L. Williams Developmental Evaluation Center (DEC): www.developmentalevaluationcenter.com
Carroll Grant, PhD., Director
215 Bassett St., Syracuse, NY 13210
Phone: 315-472-4404 FAX: 315-478-2337The DEC primarily provides assessments and referral services for children, birth through six years of age, who are “at risk” for or have a developmental disability. The presenting concerns include motor and sensory difficulties, mental retardation, speech/language disorders, autism and behavioral problems. The DEC provides some limited intervention services when these services are unavailable. The DEC has a special focus on children with Autism Spectrum Disorders through diagnosis, consulting and therapy services. Referrals are accepted from parents, professionals, and agencies. The DEC staff consists of physicians, psychologists, early childhood and special education specialists, speech/language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, nurse and social worker. An interdisciplinary approach is used with a team of appropriate professionals to meet individual children’s needs. The DEC accepts third party payments from private health insurance, Medicaid, Early Intervention or the Committee on Preschool Special Education. Private payment is based on sliding fee scale.
New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS): www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/childcare/default.asp
Dianne McLaughlin, Supervisor
The Atrium, Suite 350, 2 Clinton Square, Syracuse, NY 13219
Phone: 315-423-1202 Fax: 315-423-1198
Day care licensing and technical assistance for Family Day Care, group Family Day Care, Day Care Centers and School Age Child Care, covering 14 counties.
North Syracuse Early Education Program: www.nscsd.org/main.cfm
Dawn Hussein, Principal
205 South Main St., North Syracuse, NY 13212
Phone: 315-218-2200 FAX: 315-218-2285
The North Syracuse Early Education Program, operated by the North Syracuse School District, provides services for 3 and 4 year old children. It provides services for young children including inclusive preschool programs (full and half-day programs), teacher of the visually impaired, teacher of the hearing impaired, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, counseling, school nurse, parent groups and evaluations at the Main St site. Also includes regular pre-Kindergarten programs (2, 3 and 5 days a week).
Onondaga Central Preschool Program
Margie Hart, Program Director & CPSE Chair
208 Rockwell Rd Nedrow NY 13021
Phone: 315-552-5070 FAX: 315-469-7732
Onondaga Central preschool Program offer preschool classes for typical and children with disabilities. Our morning class is 2.5 hours from 8:45 to 11:15 AM for three year olds. Our afternoon class runs from 12:15 to 2:45 PM for four year old children. We offer Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy for our special needs children. We offer a dually certified teacher in Early Childhood Education and Special Education along with three teacher assistants to meet the children’s learning needs. We also are a Preschool Evaluation site.
Onondaga County Health Department Special Children Services: www.ongov.net/health and www.onhealthyfamilies.com
Susan Serrao, Director of Healthy Families Division / Betsy Primo, Coordinator for EI and CPSE
501 E. Fayette St., Suite B, Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: 315-435-3230 FAX: 315-435-2678
Early Intervention (EI) is a Federally and State mandated program that provides special education and therapy services to children from birth through 2 years of age who are found through multi-disciplinary evaluation to have a disability or developmental delay. EI CARES (Children at Risk Early Screening) works to identify children birth to age 3 who are at-risk for development delays.
The Preschool Special Education Program provides mandated services authorized by local school districts for 3 and 4 year old children with special needs in a variety of settings in the community. For more information, contact your local school district Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE).
For more information, call 435-3230.
Parkside Children’s Center/ Arc of Onondaga: www.arcon.org
Lauren Merola, Director
600 South Wilbur Ave, Syracuse, NY 13204
Phone: 315-468-1632 FAX 315-476-1582
Parkside’s inclusive, Full-Day preschool program serves children within Onondaga County, including children with disabilities and typically developing peers. Parkside operates fully integrated classrooms at 2 elementary school sites within the Syracuse City School District. Through our partnership with the SCSD, Parkside offers a Free, Full-Day UPK Program for 3 and 4-year olds living within the city of Syracuse. We also provide a 6-week Preschool Summer Program, with scholarships available for families in need of financial assistance.
Parkside at Dr. King Parkside at HW Smith
416 East Raynor Ave. 1130 Salt Springs Rd.
Syracuse, NY 13202 Syracuse, NY 13224
SPICE: http://www.elmcrest.org/for-early-education/
SPICE at Elmcrest Children’s Center
Paul Panighetti, Administrator
960 Salt Springs Rd., Syracuse, NY 13224
Phone: 315-446-3220 Fax: 315-446-3274
SPICE at Park Hill
Michelle Hendricks, Administrator
303 Roby Ave., East Syracuse, NY 13057
Phone: 315-434-3805 Fax: 315-434-3820
SPICE (Special Preschool Interventions for Children’s Education) has been serving the community for over 30 years. The SPICE program provides services free of cost to preschoolers with disabilities at two separate sites. At the main site on the Elmcrest campus, SPICE offers a 5-hour, full-day integrated program that runs from 8am to 1pm for 48 children. At the Park Hill School in East Syracuse, SPICE offers a 2.5-hour, fully-integrated program in two sessions from 9-11:30am and 12:30-3pm for 40 children. Children qualify for the program under a general category of “preschooler with a disability” through local school districts’ preschool special education departments. Children who attend the SPICE component have needs related to delays or concerns in a variety of areas, including cognition, communication, physical development, social/emotional development, and behavior. Services to address these needs are provided during the preschool day alongside typical peers, both in and out of the classroom. SPICE follows a school schedule and is open generally in accordance with the Syracuse City School District calendar. There are also onsite support staff who provide services to students who have special needs, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, a play therapist, a school psychologist intern, and family coordinators. Supporting families is an important component of the program. SPICE also offers transdisciplinary preschool evaluations.
Syracuse City School District: Early Childhood Program
Margo Nish
220 West Kennedy Street, Syracuse 13205
Phone: 315-435-4276 FAX: 315-435-6553
The Early Childhood Program provides comprehensive services for children with disabilities ages 18 months to five years. There are center-based program for toddlers as indicated on each child’s Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). Toddlers attend three half days per week in either the AM or PM session. The Preschool Program provides inclusive education in the District’s Pre-Kindergarten five half days per week in either the AM or PM session. Services are indicated on each child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). Breakfast and/or lunch are available in the Toddler and Pre-K Program. Transdisciplinary support teams are assigned to the Toddler and Pre-K classrooms consisting of a special education teacher, speech pathologist, psychologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, nurse and social worker. Parents are presented with a variety of opportunities to develop their roles as partners in the classroom and in the educational process.
Thrive By 5: www.thriveby-5.com
Shannan Buff, Program Coordinator
1951 Caleb Ave., Syracuse, NY 13206
Phone: 315-218-7444 Fax: 315-218-7466
Thrive By 5 is a group of dedicated professionals that include occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, physical therapists, social workers, special education teachers and teachers of the vision impaired. We work with each client in a holistic manner, believing that each client has the ability to learn in his/her own unique way. We continuously search for new programs to assist us in serving our families more effectively such as PROMPT, DIR/floortime, SoListen-Listening Training, Therapeutic Listening, Sensory Integrative Praxis Tests and Interventions, and Infant Massage. We are particularly proud of the expertise our staff have regarding Autism/PDD, Sensory Processing Disorders, Down’s Syndrome, CP, apraxia/oral motor impairments, and feeding/swallowing. We offer home and community based services including individual sessions, parent-child playgroups as well as multi-disciplinary and supplemental Early Intervention evaluations.