NEW YORK STATE
EARLY CHILDHOOD DIRECTION CENTERS

Direction Center Information

Q. Are special education services available to young children with disabilities ages birth to five?

A. Yes. Agencies, organizations, and some school districts provide special education services to young children with disabilities.

Q. How do children under three years of age who have disabilities receive services?

A. Children under three with disabilities may receive special services, including special education, in a variety of ways. Early Childhood Direction Centers can assist families with their options, which include services under the State's early invention services.

Q. How do three and four year old children receive special education services?

A. Three and four year old children who are suspected of having a disability may be referred to a Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) in their school district of residence. The district will arrange for an evaluation of the child at an SED approved program of the parents' choice, at no cost to the family. Following a review of the evaluation report by the CPSE, if a child is determined to have an educational disability, the Board of Education will make a recommendation for special education services. Early Childhood Direction Centers can assist families with the CPSE process.

Q. How can parents find out about programs and services available to preschool children with disabilities?

A. Early Childhood Direction Centers, coordinated by the New York State Education Department and located throughout New York State, are resources for parents. They provide information about programs and services for young children with disabilities and help parents obtain services for their children, ages birth through five.

Q. Who is eligible for Direction Center services?

A. Children ages birth through five who may have physical, mental or emotional disabilities and may be in need of services are eligible for Direction Center services.

Q. What information can be provided by the centers?

A. Professional staff provide information about:

• preschool programs
• transportation
• medical, educational, and social services
• evaluation and assessment services
• funding
• parent education programs and resources
• day care
• the State' early intervention system

Q. What services will the centers provide?

A. Services include:

• matching the needs of children with available services
• referral to agencies providing direct services
• assisting parents in obtaining services
• following up to ensure that children receive services
• coordination of services between agencies, including service
• coordination under the early intervention system for infants and toddlers with disabilities

Q. Who may use Direction Centers?

A.

• parents or guardians of children with disabilities ages birth through five
• local school districts
• hospital programs
• agencies and organizations
• Head Start and day care programs
• physicians

Q. How may the Direction Centers be contacted?

A. Write or call the Early Childhood Direction Center closest to you. Each center's location is listed on the following page.

Early Childhood Direction Center
Children's Hospital of Buffalo
936 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14209
716-878-7282 or 1-800-462-7653

Regional Early Childhood Direction Center
Box 671, 601 Elmwood Avenue
Rochester, NY 14642
716-275-2263 or 1-800-462-4344

Early Childhood Direction Center
Syracuse University
805 South Crouse Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244-2280
315-443-4444, 315-443-3851 or 1-800-962-5488

Early Childhood Direction Center
Broome-Tioga BOCES
Endicott Learning Center
23 Jackson Avenue
Endicott, NY 13760
607-786-8524, 786-8520 or 1-800-552-0150

Early Childhood Direction Center
Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES
West Main Road, P.O. Box 28
Malone, NY 12953
518-483-6523

Early Childhood Direction Center of the
Capital Region
Albany-Schenectady-Schoharie BOCES
Maywood Elementary School
1979 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12205
518-456-9071

Early Childhood Direction Center
25 Webster Street
Kingston, NY 12401
914-338-6755

Early Childhood Direction Center
St. Agnes Hospital-CRC
305 North Street
White Plains, NY 10605
914-681-4656

Early Childhood Direction Center
New York Hospital-N-507
525 East 68 Street
New York, NY 10021
212-746-6175

Early Childhood Direction Center
SHARE Center
160 Lawrence Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-437-3794

Early Childhood Direction Center
United Cerebral Palsy of Queens
82-25 164 Street
Jamaica, NY 11432
718-380-3000, Ext. 465

Early Childhood Direction Center
Variety Pre-Schooler's Workshop
47 Humphrey Drive
Syosset, NY 11791
516-364-8580

Early Childhood Direction Center
Developmental Disabilities Institute
27 North Bicycle Path
Selden, NY 11784
516-696-2040

Early Childhood Direction Center
c/o Association for the Help of Retarded Children (AHRC)
2488 Grand Concourse, Room 337
Bronx, NY 10458
718-367-3775

Early Childhood Direction Center
Staten Island University Hospital
1 Edgewater Plaza, Sixth Floor
Staten Island, NY 10305
718-226-4885

For more information, contact:

New York State Education Department
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for
Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
One Commerce Plaza, Room 1613
Albany, NY 12234
518-473-4381 or 518-486-3773-TTY