Families trying to make sense of special education in New York City have a chance to meet schools, service providers, and advocacy organizations all in one building this month, and it won’t cost a thing.
The Jack and Shirley Silver Center for Diverse Abilities (CDA) at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan will host its annual Special Education + Resource Fair on Wednesday, November 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the JCC (334 Amsterdam Avenue at West 76th Street). The free, in-person event brings together representatives from schools and resource organizations serving the city’s special needs community. Families can meet them directly, ask questions, collect information, and explore options that may support their child or family member.
You’ll find schools serving students from preschool through high school, along with resource organizations serving people with disabilities and learning differences at every stage of life. Families can connect with organizations offering:
- Educational programs and schools
- Disability resources and support
- Therapy, social, and life skills programs
- Recreation, sports, and camps
- Legal and advocacy services
- Educational consulting, assessments, and evaluations
- Transition and employment resources
- Family services and support
- Technology and enrichment opportunities
The fair is spread across the building. Check-in is in the lobby, which is also where the assistive technology and adaptive equipment tables will be. Schools will be in the third-floor basketball gym, and resource organizations will be in the L2 auditorium.
The JCC relaunched the fair in 2024 after a hiatus of several years, and it’s kept growing since, bringing schools and resource organizations from across the city together with families.
Finding the right fit can mean researching schools, programs, therapies, recreational opportunities, and advocacy services across many different systems. The fair puts many of those resources in one accessible setting, so families can ask questions, discover new possibilities, and make connections with organizations that can become part of their support network.
The fair is presented by the Center for Diverse Abilities, an inclusive community at the JCC serving people with disabilities and their families. The CDA offers social, recreational, educational, community-based, and skill-building programs for people of all ages, along with resources and support for parents, siblings, and families.
This year’s fair is generously sponsored by Riverview School, with additional support from College Living Experience (CLE).
Families looking for more guidance before the fair can attend a free panel the week before. On Thursday, November 12 from 6 to 7 p.m., Parents League of New York and the CDA will present “Demystifying the Support Processes for Applying to Special Education Schools.” Moderated by Chantal Alfalo, Parents League’s special education advisor, the in-person panel will feature education attorneys and clinical neuropsychologists discussing evaluations, educational rights, advocacy, and how to identify programs that meet a child’s needs. You can register here for the panel.
Registration for the Special Education + Resource Fair is open now, and families can sign up here.
