Representatives of more than 50 yeshivos based in Williamsburg, Borough Park and Far Rockaway recently participated in a workshop designed to help them identify students with learning difficulties who can, with proper intervention, benefit from the school’s regular education curriculum.  Sponsored by the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and held at PS 380 in Williamsburg, the workshop also focused on how to obtain and properly coordinate special ed services for those students who do, in fact, need them.

“Over the last seven years, under the leadership of the DOE’s director of special education initiatives, Linda Wernikoff, there have been significant improvements in the delivery of special ed services to our children,” says Mrs. Leah Steinberg, director of Agudath Israel of America’s special ed division, Project LEARN. Despite these advances, she notes, many yeshivos and parents require assistance in navigating what remains a complicated system.

It was to provide that assistance, explains Mrs. Steinberg that several months ago, the DOE decided to join with Project LEARN in initiating a series of informative special education workshops.

“At the time, Michael Gersch, assistant director of the DOE office that encompasses most of Borough Park and Flatbush, clearly stated that the DOE’s goal is to create a special education system in the private schools that is comparable to that in the public sector. With these workshops – which follow the same format as workshops designed to help public schools better access services — the Department has proven itself true to its word and greater mission.”
 
The Williamsburg workshop opened with warm remarks by Mr. Mariano Guzman, director of the DOE’s office with jurisdiction over Williamsburg, Far Rockaway and parts of Borough Park. Mr. Guzman lauded the Orthodox community’s commitment to serving its special needs population and pledged the DOE’s cooperation in providing appropriate services. The official also acknowledged the presence of  local community leaders and special ed advocates  Rabbi Moshe Dovid Niederman, Rabbi Motty Heiman and  Mrs. R. Teitelbaum. After words of greeting from Agudath Israel executive vice president for government and public affairs Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, the “working” part of the program got underway with a presentation by Ms. Louise Kanian, assistant director of the DOE’s local office.

An earlier workshop held several weeks ago in Borough Park focused on training personnel within each school to act as a “special education coordinator” who would serve as  a liaison between the DOE, the special ed service provider, the school’s regular staff and the parent body to ensure that students with special needs receive the services to which they are entitled within the larger framework of the school’s educational program.  Participants were also given tools for recognizing the “red flags” that point to problems that can be more effectively addressed early on.

A third workshop for Borough Park and Flatbush, this one dealing with methods for creating appropriate Individual Education Programs, is scheduled for September.

“It was truly heartwarming to see representatives of schools from across the Orthodox spectrum working together to help their students with special educational needs,” observes Mrs. Steinberg. The spirit of cooperation between the school representatives and the DOE officials, she adds, was heartening as well.

“As the relationship between our community and the local school districts grow and improve, we can look forward to new horizons of cooperation — which translate into new opportunities for helping our children.”