Promotes excellence in early care and education services for children and families through education, advocacy, and the support of the profession.

Assists low income students in obtaining educational services to which they are legally entitled. Offers advice and representation at school related meetings, information and referral services, and training for students, parents, educators and other professionals. Services also available at Suffolk Office: 490 Wheeler Rd., Suite 165 C, Hauppauge, NY 11788.

Provides advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families regarding school-related issues, or any area where the client is in need of advocacy.

Independent Living is a member of the Statewide Systems Advocacy Network, a group of eighteen independent living centers throughout New York State which collaborates with other disability organizations to ensure that legislation affecting people with disabilities is introduced, passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Assists low income students in obtaining educational services to which they are legally entitled. Offers advice and representation at school related meetings, information and referral services, and training for students, parents, educators and other professionals. Services also offered at Nassau Office: 999 Herricks Road, New Hyde Park, NY 11040.

Provides advocacy on behalf of people with mental illnesses. Supports the humane mental health legislation, and organizes grass roots action. Advocates issues such as: ending discrimination, and eradicating the stigma of mental illness. Call for further information or check the website.

Independent Living is a member of the Statewide Systems Advocacy Network, a group of eighteen independent living centers throughout New York State which collaborates with other disability organizations to ensure that legislation affecting people with disabilities is introduced, passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

Advocates for sufficient funding and resources to allow: quality education small class sizes qualified teachers, safe and modern school buildings universal pre-Kindergarten programsfor all children of New York State.

* Provides a linkage of families and individuals who have a brain injury, which includes: Family Advocacy: Support and counseling, connecting family with funding resources, housing, transportation, and service providers. Educational Advocacy: Support and counseling for educational needs after a brain injury, helping family with IEP process, and attendance at CSE meetings. Outreach: Connection with service providers, hospitals, schools, etc. to increase awareness of BIANYS, traumatic and acquired brain injury, and increasing FACTS enrollment. Prevention: Connection with service providers, hospitals, schools, etc. to teach injury prevention and safety. Training: Connection with service providers, hospitals, schools, etc. to conducts trainings about traumatic and acquired brain injury.

Provides ongoing communication with parents of students enrolled in the center's program in order to monitor a child's progress. Assigns specially trained staff to committees on special education and parent/guardian meetings at the parent's request.

Provide information, referrals, and direct advocacy, regarding education, rights and responsibilities of school districts to parents of school-aged children.

The Education Equity Initiative documents the worsening problem of school segregation on Long Island and its consequences, especially for Black and Latino students. Through the Student Voices Campaign, Education Equity Working Group, Professional Development for Teachers, and other initiatives, it trains and organizes students, teachers, parents, administrators and other stakeholders to understand the barriers to integration in our regions and stand up for equity and inclusion in our schools and communities.

Create and disseminate essential information for parents and educators, providing help and hope. Provided national leadership in the shaping of public policy and federal legislation, to ensure that the voices of individuals with learning disabilities are heard by those in government. Building new programs and products to help ensure that children and adults with learning difficulties are recognized and responded to early enough to allow for a successful transition to their next step in education.

This program help provide the 46 school-based Family Resource Center coordinators in professional development, training, and technical assistance. The centers themselves are places for families to participate in programs, get to know other parents and children, find support and information, and access be linked to a school, community, and government resources. FRC work in the following areas: early childhood development, family and community engagement, student development, and family support.

Provides essential information to parents, professionals and individuals with learning disabilities, promotes research and programs to foster effective learning, and advocates for policies to protect and strengthen educational rights and opportunities.

A designated Funding Information Network of the Foundation Center. The Library maintains databases for researchers to ascertain possible foundation funding for non-profit organizations and individuals.. These resources are designed to assist both the veteran and the novice grant seeker in the non-profit sector. A Cooperating Collection of The Foundation Center in New York City.

Serves as a statewide voice for more than 700 boards of education. Provides current information and advice on matters affecting school boards. Cooperates with other educational and related organizations to promote excellence in education. Provides advocacy information, leadership development and custom services to public school boards.

Independent Living is a member of the Statewide Systems Advocacy Network, a group of eighteen independent living centers throughout New York State which collaborates with other disability organizations to ensure that legislation affecting people with disabilities is introduced, passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

* Provides a linkage of families and individuals who have a brain injury, which includes:

• Family Advocacy: Support and counseling, connecting family with funding resources, housing, transportation, and service providers
• Educational Advocacy: Support and counseling for educational needs after a brain injury, helping family with IEP process, and attendance at CSE meetings
• Outreach: Connection with service providers, hospitals, schools, etc. to increase awareness of BIANYS, traumatic and acquired brain injury, and increasing FACTS enrollment
• Prevention: Connection with service providers, hospitals, schools, etc. to teach injury prevention and safety
• Training: Connection with service providers, hospitals, schools, etc. to conducts training's about traumatic and acquired brain injury