A publication of the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

New York State Resources

Complete update · 9/2007
Partial update · 3/18/2008

The offices listed on this state sheet are primarily state-level offices. Even if an office is not close to your home, they can usually put you in touch with resources in your community, as well as provide you with information and assistance about disability issues in your state. If you find that an address or number has changed or is incorrect, please e-mail us at nichcy@aed.org and let us know.

State Agencies and Organizations

Age of Eligibility

Each state sets eligibility ages for services to children and youth with disabilities. For current information concerning this state, please contact the office listed under Department of Education: Special Education.

United States Senators
Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)
476 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4451
(202) 228-0282 (Fax)
(202) 224-6821 (TTY)
E-mail Web Form: http://clinton.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm
Web: http://clinton.senate.gov

Honorable Charles E. Schumer (D)
313 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6542
(202) 228-3027 (Fax)
E-mail Web Form: http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/contact/webform.cfm
Web: http://schumer.senate.gov

United States Representatives
To find the contact information for your representative in the House of the U.S. Congress, visit the House’s Web site at: www.house.gov, or call: (202) 225-3121; (202) 225-1904 (TTY).

Governor
Honorable David A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
(518) 474-8390
E-mail form available on Governor’s Web site.
Web: www.state.ny.us/governor

Official State Web Site
Web: www.state.ny.us

State Department of Education: Special Education
Dr. Rebecca Cort, Deputy Commissioner
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
State Education Department
1 Commerce Plaza, Room 1606
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-2714
Web: www.vesid.nysed.gov

State Coordinator for NCLB (No Child Left Behind)
Johanna Duncan-Poitier, Senior Deputy Commissioner, P-16
Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue, 2 West Mezzanine
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-3862
E-mail: p16education@mail.nysed.gov
Web: www.nysed.gov

Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Ages Birth through 2
Bradley Hutton, M.P.H., Director
Bureau of Early Intervention
New York State Department of Health
Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower Building, Room 287
Albany, NY 12237-0660
(518) 473-7016
(800) 522-5006 ("Growing Up Healthy" 24-Hour Hotline)
(800) 577-2229 (in NYC)
E-mail: bjh08@health.state.ny.us
Web: www.health.state.ny.us

Programs for Children with Disabilities: Ages 3 through 5
Patricia Geary, Coordinator, Special Education Policy and Professional Development
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
New York State Education Department
1 Commerce Plaza, Room 1624
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 473-2878
E-mail: pgeary@mail.nysed.gov
Web: www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed

State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency
Dr. Edward Placke, Deputy Commissioner
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
New York State Education Department
1 Commerce Plaza, Room 1606
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-2714
Web: www.vesid.nysed.gov

Coordinator for Transition Services
Doris Jamison, Manager
Special Education Policy Implementation
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities
One Commerce Plaza, Room 1624
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-7566; (800) 222-5627
E-mail: djamison@mail.nysed.gov
Web: www.vesid.nysed.gov

State Mental Health Agency
Michael F. Hogan, Ph.D., Commissioner
Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12229
(518) 474-4403
E-mail: colejxw@omh.state.ny.us
Web: www.omh.state.ny.us

State Mental Health Representative for Children and Youth
David Woodlock, Deputy Commissioner
Children and Families
Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12229
(518) 473-6328
E-mail: cocodjw@omh.state.ny.us
Web: www.omh.state.ny.us

Programs for People with Developmental Disabilities
Diana Jones Ritter, Commissioner
New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
44 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12229
(518) 473-1997
E-mail: diana.ritter@omr.state.ny.us
Web: www.omr.state.ny.us

Councils on Developmental Disabilities
Anna F. Lobosco, Ph.D., Deputy Executive Director & DD Program Development Specialist IV
New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC)
155 Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 486-7505; (800) 395-3372
E-mail: alobosco@ddpc.state.ny.us
Web: www.ddpc.state.ny.us

Protection and Advocacy Agency
Marcel Chaine, Director
Division of Protection and Advocacy Program Administration
New York State Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
401 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305-2397
(518) 388-2892; (800) 624-4143
E-mail: marcel.chaine@cqcapd.state.ny.us
Web: www.cqcapd.state.ny.us

Gary O'Brien, Commissioner
New York State Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
401 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
(518) 388-2855
(800) 522-4369 (V/TTY/Spanish, in NY only)
E-mail: allyson.beletti@cqcapd.state.ny.us
Web: www.cqcapd.state.ny.us

Client Assistance Program
Lisa Rosano-Kaczkowski, CAP Director
New York State Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
401 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305-2397
(518) 388-2892; (800) 624-4143
E-mail: lisa.rosano@cqcapd.state.ny.us
Web: www.cqcapd.state.ny.us/

Programs for Children with Special Health Care Needs
Susan Slade, Director, Medical Home Unit
Children with Special Health Care Needs Program
New York State Department of Health
ESP-Corning Tower Building, Room 213
Albany, NY 12237-0618
(518) 474-2001
E-mail: sjs11@health.state.ny.us
Web: www.health.state.ny.us

State CHIP Program
(health care for low-income uninsured children)
Child Health Plus
New York State Health Department
Box 2000
Albany, NY 12220
(800) 698-4543; (877) 898-5849 (TTY)
Web: www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/chplus/index.htm

Programs for Children and Youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired, or Deaf-Blind
Brian S. Daniels, Associate Commissioner
Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped
Office of Children and Family Services
Capital View Office Park
52 Washington Street, Room 201, South Building
Rensselaer, NY 12144-2796
(518) 474-6812
E-mail: brian.daniels@dfa.state.ny.us
Web: www.dfa.state.ny.us/cbvh

Programs for Children and Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Dorothy Steele, Coordinator, Deaf Services
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
One Commerce Plaza, Room 1623
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-5652 (V); (518) 486-3773 (TTY)
(800) 222-5627 (V/TTY)
E-mail: dsteele@mail.nysed.gov
Web: www.vesid.nysed.gov/

Telecommunications Relay Services for Individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or with Speech Impairments
(800) 421-1220 (V)
(800) 662-1220 (TTY); 711 (TTY)
(877) 662-4234 (Speech to Speech)

Regional ADA Technical Assistance Center
S. Antonio (Tony) Ruiz-Quintanilla, Director & PI
DBTAC - Northeast ADA Center
Cornell University
201 ILR Extension
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-6686 (V/TTY/Spanish)
(800) 949-4232 (V/TTY//Spanish)
E-mail: northeastada@cornell.edu
Web: www.northeastada.org

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Dr. Steven Wolf, Director
Developmental Disabilities Center
St. Lukes - Roosevelt Hospital Center
1000 10th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
(212) 523-6230

Ansley Bacon, Ph.D., President/CEO
Westchester Insitute for Human Development
325 Cedarwood Hall
Valhalla, NY 10595-1689
(914) 493-8204
E-mail: ABacon@wihd.org
Web: www.wihd.org

Herbert J. Cohen, M.D., Director Emeritus
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service
Rose F. Kennedy Center
Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Yeshiva University
1410 Pelham Parkway South
Bronx, NY 10461
(718) 430-8522
E-mail: hcohen@aecom.yu.edu

Dr. Nina Schor, Acting Director
Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities
601 Elmwood Avenue
P.O. Box 671
Rochester, NY 14642
(585) 275-0355
E-mail: nina_schor@urmc.rochester.edu
Web: www.urmc.rochester.edu/strong/scdd

Technology-Related Assistance
Lisa Rosano-Kaczkowski, Project Director
New York State TRAID Project
New York State Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities
401 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
(518) 388-2892
(800) 522-4369 (V/TTY/Spanish, in NY only)
E-mail: lisa.rosano@cqcapd.state.ny.us
Web: www.cqcapd.state.ny.us

State Mediation System
Elaine Gervais, Associate in Special Education
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
1 Commerce Plaza, Room 1623
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 486-7462
E-mail: egervais@mail.nysed.gov
Web: www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn

Special Format Books for Children and Youth Ages 3-19
(Serving upstate New York)
Sharon B. Phillips, Acting Director/School and Youth Services Librarian
New York State Talking Book & Braille Library
New York State Library
Cultural Education Center, Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12230
(518) 474-5935; (800) 342-3688
E-mail: tbblkids@mail.nysed.gov (school/youth services)
E-mail: tbbl@mail.nysed.gov (adult services)
Web: www.nysl.nysed.gov/tbbl

(Serving New York City and Long Island)
Andrew Heiskell Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 206-5400; (212) 206-5425 (24 hour Voicemail)
E-mail: ahlbph@nypl.org
Web: http://talkingbooks.nypl.org

Disability-Specific Organizations

Attention Deficit Disorder
To identify an ADD group in your state or locality, contact either:

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
8181 Professional Place, Suite 150
Landover, MD 20785
(301) 306-7070
(800) 233-4050 (Voice mail to request information packet)
Web: www.chadd.org

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)
P.O. Box 543
Pottstown, PA 19464-0543
(484) 945-2101
Web: www.add.org

Autism
To identify an autism group in your state, contact:
Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 657-0881; (800) 3-AUTISM
Web: www.autism-society.org

Blind/Visual Impairments
Jaclyn Packer, Ph.D., Director of Information Center
American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
(212) 502-7600; (800) 232-5463
E-mail: afbinfo@afb.net
Web: www.afb.org

Brain Injury
Judith Avner, Executive Director
Brain Injury Association of New York State
10 Colvin Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
(518) 459-7911; (800) 228-8201 (in NY)
E-mail: info@bianys.org
Web: www.bianys.org

Cerebral Palsy
Susan Constantino, President/CEO
Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State
330 W. 34th Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10001
(212) 947-5770, ext. 201
E-mail: information@cpofnys.org
Web: www.cpofnys.org

Epilepsy
Richard Daly, Executive Director
Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island
506 Stewart Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 739-7733
E-mail: rdaly@epil.org
Web: www.efli.org

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Marc Brandt, Executive Director
NYSARC, Inc.
393 Delaware Avenue
Delmar, NY 12054
(518) 439-8311; (800) 724-2094
E-mail: brandtm@nysarc.org
Web: www.nysarc.org

Learning Disabilities
Michael Helman, President
Learning Disabilities Association of New York State
1190 Troy-Schenectady Road, Room 225
Latham, NY 12110
(518) 608-8992
E-mail: statelda@ldanys.org
Web: www.ldanys.org

Mental Health
Glenn Liebman, CEO
Mental Health Association of New York State
194 Washington Avenue, Suite 415
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 434-0439; (800) 766-6177
E-mail: info@mhanys.org
Web: www.mhanys.org

Trix Niernberger, Executive Director
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill - New York State
260 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210-1312
(518) 462-2000; (800) 950-3228
E-mail: info@naminys.org
Web: www.naminys.org

Paige Pierce, Executive Director
Families Together in New York State, Inc.
737 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12208
(518) 432-0333; (888) 326-8644 (in NY)
E-mail: info@ftnys.org
Web: www.ftnys.org

Speech, Language, and Hearing
Tricia Savoca, Executive Assistant
New York State Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Inc.
1 Northway Lane
Latham, NY 12110
(518) 786-0947
E-mail: tricia@nysslha.org
Web: www.nysslha.org

Spina Bifida
Karen Wentworth, Executive Director
Spina Bifida Association: Albany/Capital District
123 Saratoga Road
Scotia, NY 12302
(518) 399-9151
E-mail: sbaalbany@verizon.net
Web: www.SBAAlbany.org

Tourette Syndrome
Long Island Chapter
(516) 876-6947
E-mail: LongIslandTSA@aol.com
Web: www.li-tsa.org

Greater Rochester Chapter
(585) 987-5196
E-mail: tsa@touretterochester.org
Web: www.touretterochester.org

New York City Chapter
(646) 202-9683
E-mail: chapter@tsa-nyc.org
Web: www.tsa-nyc.org

Hudson Valley Chapter
(Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess and Ulster counties)
(914) 378-5025
E-mail: info@tsa-nyhv.org
Web: www.tsa-nyhv.org

Greater New York State Chapter
(includes western NYS: Canadian boder to PA border; southern mid-western NYS; Central NYS; Capitol District;
northern NYS to Quebec border. Zip codes 12017-14895)
(716) 839-4430
E-mail: conners@roadrunner.com
Web: www.tsa-gnys.org

Organizations Especially for Parents

Parent Training and Information Center (PTI)
Paul J. Shew, Executive Director
The Advocacy Center
590 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620
(585) 546-1700; (800) 650-4967 (in NY)
Web: www.advocacycenter.com

Kim Sweet, Executive Director
Advocates for Children of New York (New York City)
151 W. 30th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10001
(212) 947-9779
E-mail: info@advocatesforchildren.org
Web: www.advocatesforchildren.org
Web: www.insideschools.org

Rachel Howard, Executive Director
Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc.
116 E. 16th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10003
(212) 677-4650
E-mail: information.services@resourcesnyc.org
Web: www.resourcesnyc.org
Database on the Web: www.resourcesnycdatabase.org

Myrta Cuadra-Lash, Executive Director
Sinergia/Metropolitan Parent Center
134 W. 29th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10001
(212) 643-2840; (866) 867-9665
E-mail: information@sinergiany.org
Web: www.sinergiany.org

Community Parent Resource Center
(serving Brooklyn, NY)
Lourdes Rivera-Putz, Program Director
United We Stand of New York
91 Harrison Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11206
(718) 302-4313/4314
E-mail: uwsofny@aol.com
Web: www.taalliance.org/ptis/uws/

Partners in Policymaking
Joyce Steel, Program Coordinator
New York State Partners in Policymaking
590 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620
(585) 546-1700, ext. 234
E-mail: steel@advocacycenter.com
Web: www.advocacycenter.com

Parent-To-Parent
Janice Fitzgerald, Executive Director
Parent to Parent of NYS
P.O. Box 1296
Tupper Lake, NY 12986
(518) 359-3006; (866) 727-6970
E-mail: p2pnys@adelphia.net
Web: www.parenttoparentnys.org

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Maria DeWald, President
New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc.
One Wembley Court
Albany, NY 12205-3830
(518) 452-8808; (877) 5NYSPTA
E-mail: office@nyspta.org
Web: www.nyspta.org

Other Parent Organization
(Information about resources serving children birth to 5 and their families)
Elaine Gervais, Associate in Special Education
Early Childhood Direction Centers
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
One Commerce Plaza, Room 1623
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 486-7462
E-mail: egervais@mail.nysed.gov
Web: www.vesid.nysed.gov

(Serving Otsego, Chenango, Delaware, Broome, Tioga, and Tompkins counties)
Pam Larsen, Director
The Family Resource Network, Inc
46 Oneida Street
Oneonta, New York 13820
(607) 432-0001; (800) 305-8814
E-mail: familyrn@dmcom.net
Web: www.familyrn.org

Other Disability Organizations

Christine McMahon, Chief Operating Officer
Easter Seals New York
29 W. 36th Street, 4th Floor, Room 404
New York, NY 10018
(518) 244-6053; (800) 727-8785 (in NY)
E-mail: essofny@aol.com
Web: www.ny.easter-seals.org

Barbara Russell, Interim Executive Director
Family Empowerment Council, Inc.
225 Dolson Avenue, Suite 403
Middletown, NY 10940
(845) 343-8100
E-mail: brussell@familyempowerment.org
Web: www.familyempowerment.org

MENTOR ABI Group - New Jersey
Rehabilitative and Support Services for Persons with Acquired Brain Injury
2000 Crawford Place, Suite 700
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
(856) 235-5505
Web: http://nj.thementornetwork.com/state/index.asp

Izel Obermeyer, President
New York State Occupational Therapy Association
119 Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 462-3717
E-mail: nysota@aol.com
Web: www.nysota.org

Dr. Bebe Bernstein, Director
VSA arts of New York City
18-05 215 Street, Suite 15N
Bayside, NY 11360
(718) 225-6305 (V/TTY)
E-mail: Bbvsanyc@msn.com

Independent Living

To find out the contact information for the Statewide
Independent Living Council (SILC) in your state, contact:
Independent Living Research Utilization Project
The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research
2323 South Sheppard, Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 520-0232 (V); (713) 520-5136 (TTY)
E-mail: ilru@ilru.org
Web: www.ilru.org

To find out the contact information for centers for
independent living (CILs) in your state, contact:
National Council on Independent Living
1710 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 207-0334 (V); (202) 207-0340 (TTY)
E-mail: ncil@ncil.org
Web: www.ncil.org

This information is copyright free. Readers are encouraged to copy and share it, but please credit the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY).
NICHCY State Resources are listings of selected state-wide organizations that can refer people to organizations in their area. We update our state resources continuously; however, the addresses and telephone numbers of these selected groups are constantly changing. If you find that an address or number has changed or is incorrect, please e-mail us at nichcy@aed.org and let us know.
Publication of this document is made possible through a Cooperative Agreement between the Academy for Educational Development and the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.	NICHCY P.O. Box 1492 Washington, DC 20013 (800) 695-0285 · v/tty (202) 884-8441 · fax e-mail: nichcy@aed.org web: www.nichcy.org