In addition to our well-stocked classrooms, the Educare Center has a number of specialized labs and learning environments, including:

 

• Multisensory Room: The Multisensory room provides our students with customized sensory experiences.  This specially-designed environment allows our students to organize sensory information required for academic achievement, activities of daily living and social development.  Sensory integration enhances cognitive, perceptual, behavioral and physical abilities.

 

• Augmentative Communication Lab: In this state-of-the-art facility, our assistive technology specialist matches students and adults to a wide variety of adaptive equipment, assessing and training individual students to use specialized devices in real life situations.

 

• Speech/Language Pathology Treatment Rooms: Many of our students need a quiet space without distractions, where they can focus on increasing their ability to understand and use language, or improving their clarity of speech. In some instances, we may use sign language or electronic devices to facilitate communications.

 

• Bright Beginnings Autism Program: We offer individualized instruction in a small group setting utilizing a team approach.  The team collaborates daily to develop and monitor appropriate behavioral and academic programs incorporating alternative, evidence based methodologies which meet the needs of each child.  Individualized programs included discrete trial instruction (ABA), verbal behavior techniques and incidental teaching models with built-in reinforcement schedules.  Our program focuses on the development of functional communication, social interaction, cognition and independence in daily living by providing a combination of individualized and small group instruction.  Our experienced staff is dedicated to ensuring each child reaches his or her fullest potential.

 

Our high staff to student ratio ensures that all our children get the attention they need to achieve. Each child is evaluated on an annual basis to assess his or her progress and facilitate the development of appropriate personalized educational plans. The Center’s classroom teachers employ a variety of educational approaches, including the Creative Curriculum and Multi-Sensory Curriculum, to reach their students. Some other specific activities include:

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• Music & Movement — An opportunity for self expression and socialization through song and movement, using a variety of musical instruments.

 

• Art — Using a variety of art media, our art sessions help children explore the sensory aspects of creating and learn the pride of accomplishment.

 

• Adapted Physical Education — Weekly classes that are specifically designed to help special needs children challenge themselves and grow stronger.

 

Parents as Partners - We believe parents and teachers share responsibility for any child’s development, and an effective partnership is critical to help our students integrate what they learn into their lives at home. At the Seiff Educare Center, we try to create an experience that reflects what their typically-developing siblings might find in public school. We encourage family participation in such events as Open School Night, Fall Family Festival, Grandparents/Special Friends Day, Color Games and more. In addition to the joy of seeing their children “in action” outside the home, these events give parents the chance to experience the fun that accompanies learning at AHRC Suffolk.

 

Serving children with intellectual and other developmental disabilities requires more than great teachers and a superior facility. At the Seiff Educare Center, we offer a host of services and specialists to help ensure that all of our students’ needs are met. These include:

 

• Physical Therapy — Our PTs help children with multiple disabilities achieve their maximum physical potential through gross motor and weight-bearing activities, positioning, range of motion, therapeutic handling, relaxation, stimulation, and the acquisition of orthopedic equipment.

 

• Occupational Therapy — OTs focus on developing fine motor skills, building small muscle strength and improving perceptual motor skills to help children better manage activities of daily living.

 

• Mobility and Adaptive Equipment Consultations — To help families obtain appropriate wheelchairs and other specialized equipment, we invite their vendors of choice to participate in a consultation with parents and the child’s physical therapist.

 

• Speech/Language Therapy — Our speech pathologists help students overcome obstacles to communication and learn to better connect with the world around them.

 

• Skilled Nursing — Our three full-time registered nurses manage the often complex medical needs of our students, ranging from medication administration, seizure management, g-tube feedings and nebulizer treatments.

 

• Psychology — AHRC’s school psychologist provides psychological evaluations and parent training and *our Behavior Intervention Specialist works closely with students, their families and the treatment team on behavior management, intervention and training.

 

• Social Work — The Educare Center’s social worker is a valuable resource for our students and their families, providing information and referrals to a broad range of outside resources.

 

• Parent Support Group — This professionally-facilitated group provides a safe and empathetic forum for parents to express their concerns, share their experiences and applaud their childrens’ triumphs.

 

For more information on any education programs/treatments, contact the school directly at (631) 218-4949 or email Dana Luther at dluther@suffahrc.org or Shari Menachem at smenachem@suffahrc.org.  For career opportunities at Educare email Joe McNally, HR Recruiter, or call 631-585-0100 extension 240.