From The Desk of The CEO

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As the season changes, our commitment to enhancing the lives of children with developmental delays and disabilities continues to grow stronger. This spring, we invite you to join in advocacy efforts to ensure critically needed funding and support for our programs.

Our focus is on securing an 11% Rate Reimbursement Increase for Early Intervention Services, a critical need given the decades of insufficient adjustments. We are additionally advancing a 4.3% annual growth rate for 4410 and 853 schools to aid in staff retention and address inflationary pressures, ensuring our children receive the best possible education and supports.

The call for a 3.2% Cost of Living Adjustment for disability providers is needed now more than ever, as we strive to maintain the quality and sustainability of our services. Additionally, the Direct Support Wage Enhancement initiative remains at the forefront of our advocacy, emphasizing the importance of fair compensation for our dedicated staff.

To take immediate action, please visit our website's advocacy center, where you can lend your support and learn more about how you can help.

Your support, through advocacy and spreading awareness, is essential as we approach the New York State budget deadline. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our children and their families, fostering a world where every child is supported to learn and thrive. Thank you.

Sincerely, 

Stanfort J. Perry

Children’s Education Center and Barbara C. Wilson 
Preschool Students Host Mystery Readers on Reading Across America Week

Children let their imagination and creativity flow during Read Across America Week. Several schools celebrated the occasion with spirit weeks, encouraging students to come dressed as their favorite book characters and other whimsical themes. 

The students and schools engaged with the community welcoming mystery readers visit to introduce new books to students.

At Barbara C. Wilson school, parent Meghan Bernardo, of Glen Head, visited Ms. Gabbie’s class and read Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. Her son Oliver, one of Ms. Gabbie’s students, helped pick out the book and happily sat beside his mom to assist her in reading to the class. 

Post Avenue Students Celebrate St. Patick’s Day 
With a Week Full of Activities

Students in Post Avenue’s Eagles classroom are no strangers to elaborate themed activities, especially with Preschool Teacher Concepta “Connie” Neylon-Lorick and her assistants collaborative and careful planning. 

This was the case for their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, where they dedicated their entire week to highlighting the cultural holiday’s themes.

Preschool activities revolve around the idea of learning through play, meaning every activity is based on developing students’ fundamental skills.

Students worked on their fine motor skills while making several paper crafts and practiced their active listening skills when a guest speaker, who happened to be a student's grandmother, came to read a book with them. 

BCCS Expert Insights: New Zones of Regulation Curriculum Aims to Increase Student’s Confidence, Emotional Intelligence 

Occupational Therapist Rachel Beauchamp-Ferrero OTR/L shares insights on the importance of emotional regulation and how it affects classroom dynamics.

Staff Spotlight: Direct Support Professional Shauntee Dunn 
Takes Pride in Helping Students Reach Their Goals

Shauntee Dunn is not new to the disability care services field. She gained two years' experience working with another agency before starting as a Direct Support Professional with the Children’s Residential Program (CRP) in October 2021.

On a typical day, Shauntee's routine is filled with activities that carefully balance the structure and lives of adolescent children.

Shauntee begins by having the children get ready for school.

After school, she makes sure they have their snack and are ready for after-school activities. Later, she makes sure each child has their dinner, showers, and takes any medications before heading to bed. However, this routine can vary greatly based on the children’s needs. 

In 2022 she was awarded DSP of The Year and is frequently acknowledged by parents for her dedication as a professional.

Marcus Avenue Student Makes Great Progress with Dance/Movement Therapist 

Brookville Center has a robust roster of clinical coordinators/clinicians to meet the needs of students in all our schools.

Marcus Avenue Preschool, however, has an extra offering for their students—Movement Therapy, with Dance/Movement Therapist Danielle Wood. She has been a part of the Marcus Avenue team for seven years and loves getting students comfortable and in tune with their bodies with movement modalities. 

One such student is Skylar, 5, who is expected to graduate this year after two years at Marcus. When Skylar first started at Marcus, she was shy, reserved, and uncomfortable making eye contact.

Danielle noticed this and found that she loved to move and dance. She used this to connect with her.

“From the beginning, she wouldn’t even respond to her name. So when we work, I do a lot of calling across the room, to see if I can get her attention from different areas. We also work on moving, eye contact, and socialization with others,” said Danielle.

Coming Up

SAVE THE DATE!

Join us for a fun and festive evening and help our children “Reach for the Stars.”
It’s a dressy casual cocktail party that benefits the students at BCCS Brookville campus.

Wednesday May 15, 2024
6:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

LOCATION:
The Crescent Beach Club
333 Bayville Ave.
Bayville, NY 11709

Register here