INCLUDEnyc

See schedule oincludenyc's activities focus on the following three core areas, engaging caregivers and youth, as well as professionals and the wider community:1) parent and family engagement provides guidance, tools, and direct assistance caregivers need to best support and advocate for their child.2) youth and transition services offers high-impact programming for educational advancement, career exploration, and life skills development, all acting as a bridge between the adult caregiver advocacy of childhood and the self-advocacy required in adulthood.3) partner and community engagement builds a network of allies and collaborators who bolster our capacity to disseminate Resources and connect with the community.key programsparent and family engagement:a) help line provides tailored and direct assistance on wide-ranging disability topics for families, caregivers, and professionals. Individuals call Includenyc's help line with any question or issue and are connected to a family educator. Access is also available via text message, email, or web-based form. In 2022, help line responded to almost 2,500 requests from more than 2,000 individuals seeking guidance on such topics as early childhood, Special education processes, school placements, behavior supports, health services, college planning, and disability rights.b) workshops/trainings build skills on a wide spectrum of disability issues. Parents, family members, and professionals attend workshop and training sessions led by staff and guest presenters who have expertise in critical areas, including but not limited to: understanding your child's iep; exploring the early years; top five rights in Special education; advocacy skills for families; promoting positive behavior in young Children. In 2022, more than 425 sessions were held for almost 7,000 parent, professional, and youth attendees.c) early childhood initiative addresses the unique Needs and concerns of parents with Children aged 5 and under who have known or suspected disabilities. The goal of the early childhood initiative is to support the families of these young Children by increasing awareness of, and access to, critical supportive services. Core components of this work include customized workshops and trainings; help line assistance; support groups; community events; and information targeted to caregivers of infants and toddlers.d) parent support groups allow caregivers to build connections, celebrate successes, and develop a sense of community. Parent support groups are an important opportunity to address issues of anxiety and stigma, while promoting awareness of and access to disability services. More than 30 sessions were held in 2022, engaging over 400 parents.e) parent leadership and advocacy network (plan) is a corps of diverse parent leaders who receive Includenyc training that strengthens their knowledge of disability issues and ways to effectively advocate on behalf of their family and others in their community. Youth and transition servicesa) high school launch (hsl) is innovative program that works inside under-resourced high schools to help youth with disabilities stay on track to graduate, understand their learning Needs, begin thinking about postsecondary prospects, and foster self-advocacy skills for active participation in iep meetings. In 2022, 135 youth were directly serviced.b) project possibility (pp) provides intensive, individualized coaching to help young adults with disabilities (ages 16-26) explore postsecondary prospects that can lead to a job, higher education, and greater independence. Project possibility youth educators work with each youth to research education opportunities, career possibilities, and/or job training options, then draft a "person-centered" postsecondary action plan reflecting their skills, strengths, and aspirations. Over 100 youth were engaged in 2022, with more than 55% having a higher education goal and over 45% having an employment or job training goal.c) bridges is group work that provides experiential learning, and opportunities for social skill development and peer support. Workshops focus on activities such as goal setting, decision-making, time-management, and appropriate communication in personal and professional settings. Youth also build interview and networking skills, are taught basic financial literacy, and learn how to travel independently. In 2022, close to 200 youth attended the twelve workshops held by includenyc.d) career launch approaches youth employment from a different, concurrent angle by providing professional development and technical assistance for staff at vocational training, education, and community-based programs to help them more effectively serve youth with disabilities. Workshops focus on such key issues as about disability rights, employment accommodations, ableism and internalized bias, and ongoing inequities experienced by people with disabilities.e) leaders educate and advocate on disability (lead) creates youth advocates from diverse communities across the city. This new program works with project possibility participants and alumni to their build public speaking and presentation skills. These peer leaders will then serve as youth advocates at outreach events, and share their knowledge with current youth & transition services participants, helping them anticipate challenges in jobs and college. Partner and community engagementa) Includenyc fair is new york city's oldest and largest resource fair of educational, recreational, and service program providers for young people with disabilities. This annual event is open to the public and allows families to explore a wide range of organizations and government agencies that offer engagement opportunities for Children and youth. The fair, held each january, engaged over 1,000 attendees in 2022, as well as 75 programs and service providers, offering families the opportunity to meet with representatives of programs and institutions they want to learn about and/or may not have known existed.b) outdoors for autism (ofa) is an afternoon event of engagement, connection, and Resources that attracts hundreds of families with Children on the autism spectrum each spring. This day of interactive activity is particularly important for parents who may be reluctant to attend other large, public gatherings because of their child's sensory sensitivity issues. Over the years, families have enjoyed face painting, art, sports, and music performances presented by dozens of community partners. In 2022, more than 700 attendees enjoyed activities presented by Includenyc and ten partner organizations.