DDI’s Young Autism Program Celebrates Graduation with Senator Brian Foley
 
(Smithtown, N.Y.) The Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI), a leading Long Island service provider for children and adults with autism, celebrated a monumental day for 52 students alongside their family and friends.  The Young Autism Program (YAP), a comprehensive educational programming model that has the goal of graduating students with a primary diagnosis of autism to their community school district kindergarten by age six, held its annual graduation ceremony with New York State Senator Brian X. Foley (D – Blue Point).   On an annual basis, the YAP Program has 87-92% of its students entering their school district Kindergarten or first grade. 

The ceremony took place at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue, NY and was dedicated in memory of Dr. Edward Carr.  Dr. Carr’s work in Adaptive Behavioral Research has been a guiding light for both families and professionals, and his teachings have been accepted worldwide as the standard of care and support for those caring for adults and children with autism and related developmental disorders. Senator Foley offered words of encouragement and congratulations to the teachers, families and friends as they gathered to watch the students receive their diplomas, dressed in their caps and makeshift gowns.  Senator Foley recently awarded YAP a Legislative member grant in the amount of $40,000 for a culturally diverse community outreach program entitled “Project IDEAS.”

“I am extremely proud to announce this major grant which will directly help children and families suffering from autism,” said Foley, who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “I am particularly pleased that this grant will enable outreach to diverse communities and families who would otherwise be unable to benefit from the great services offered DDI. With hard work and perseverance from families and advocates who care so deeply about this issue, we will help children overcome the numerous challenges presented by autism and build stronger, healthier communities right here in Suffolk County.”

The Institute for Diversity Education in Autism Services (IDEAS) is designed to target Long Island’s Hispanic communities and provide free information regarding access to diagnosis, training and services in a parent friendly, person-to-person manner and reach members of the minority population with greater effectiveness.  Project IDEAS has allowed bilingual clinical and administrative experts in the field of autism to go out into the Long Island communities and interact with families and caregivers, daycare providers, school district personnel and the department of social services, as well as local civic and religious organizations.

“This was such a proud day for all of those involved with the YAP Program because in many cases, the students will now go to school with their brothers, sisters and neighbors,” stated Christine Ponzio, Director of the YAP Program. “The graduates, their families and the staff at DDI YAP have worked very hard to achieve this major accomplishment and look forward to the challenges and rewards the future will bring.  Senator Foley’s grant will allow us to continue our outreach to Spanish-speaking parents to better understand what is available for their child if they suspect he or she has a learning or developmental disability such as autism.”

The YAP program is among the most intensive of its kind in the United States. Autistic children are accepted into YAP prior to 48 months of age provided their school districts approve. Additionally, each child’s parents must agree to receive training in order to continue their child’s treatment at home. Once admitted, children receive six hours a day intensive behavioral therapy in school with the intervention being carried out daily at home by parents and therapists. This unique balance of 1:1 instruction and group practice continues until staff, parents and the school district agree the child is ready to enroll in kindergarten.

About DDI
DDI is a not-for-profit agency headquartered in Smithtown, NY, with more than 30 locations throughout Suffolk and Nassau Counties.  Serving nearly 1,000 children and adults with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), DDI is the largest provider of services for individuals with autism on Long Island.  It provides educational, vocational, and residential programs, as well as medical and dental services for over 1,500 children and adults with autism or other developmental disabilities.  DDI also operates family-centered preschool programs for both children with disabilities as well as typically developing students.  DDI was founded in 1961 by a group of parents to address the special educational and therapeutic needs of their children with autism or other developmental disabilities.  DDI is a member agency of the United Way.  For more information about DDI, visit www.ddiny.org.
 
Photo:  DDI YAP teacher Jennifer Zaun and New York State Senator Brian X. Foley present Ryan Skibinski with his diploma at the 2009 graduation ceremony