Support Services, Resources, Health Care Providers, and Advocacy Services for Children with Special Needs in Manhattan

UPDATED September 2019: Choosing doctors and activities for your children can be difficult, but when your child has special needs, it is another level of difficulty from finding special after-school programs that accommodate their needs to finding the right school or therapy program. We're here to help. We've compiled a list of resources in Manhattan that offer services specifically for children with special needs, whether your child is diagnosed with autism, a learning disorder, ADD, ADHD, developmental disabilities, or behavioral issues. In this guide, you'll find camps, doctors, dentists, various therapies, museums, schools, tutors and academic enrichment, lawyers, optometrists, and speech therapy all geared to children with special needs. These programs and services for children with special needs are located across Manhattan, including services for children with special needs in Midtown, Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Greenwich Village, Lower Manhattan, and Chelsea, as well as locations in Fresh Meadows and Woodside, Queens.

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Email [email protected]

The Law Offices of Andrew M. Cohen provide personalized, high quality special needs estate planning and special education legal services at a reasonable cost. It also conducts free workshops on several topics for agencies, schools, and parent groups.

ATLAS FOUNDATION FOR AUTISM
252 W. 29th St., 3rd Floor, New York
212-256-0846
Email [email protected]

The Atlas Foundation for Autism houses the Atlas School as well as speech, OT services, music, after-school classes, and weekend social skills groups! Atlas is different in its approach to working within modalities that address communication, emotional and social thinking, as well as behavior and self-esteem!

CAMP HUNTINGTON
56 Bruceville Road, High Falls
855-707-2267
Email [email protected]

Camp Huntington, a coed, residential summer camp for children and young adults with autism and related developmental and learning disabilities, ADD. Ability levels mild to moderate-severe. Located in High Falls in the beautiful Catskill Mountain region, the camp provides therapeutically and instructionally designed recreation programs in summer.

CHATTY CHILD SPEECH & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, P.L.L.C.
325 Broadway, Suite 403, New York
347-491-4451
Email [email protected]

Chatty Child is a personalized therapeutic center in downtown Manhattan. We provide comprehensive speech-language, occupational, and physical therapy services. We offer evaluations, individual sessions, social skills classes, and enrichment programming. We accept DOE-RSAs, EI, and Private Pay. Our therapists are experienced and passionate about creating a unique learning experience.

DANIEL’S MUSIC FOUNDATION
1595 Lexington Ave., 2nd floor, New York
212-289-8912
Email [email protected]

Music has been used as a healing force for centuries. Its beauty, power, and personal relevance have made it a wonderful instrument for the wellness of individuals with disabilities. Daniel’s Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization that empowers individuals with developmental and physical disabilities by combining recreational music programs with community and socialization.

GATEWAY SCHOOL (THE)
211 W. 61st St., 6th floor, New York
212-777-5966
Email [email protected]

The Gateway School is a kindergarten-eighth independent school that has been transforming the lives of bright students with language-based learning disabilities and attention deficits for more than 50 years. It was among the first schools to recognize that bright children who had difficulty learning simply had to be taught differently. At Gateway, expert faculty implements direct, multisensory instruction. The language, literacy, and critical thinking skills taught serve as the foundation for student success in mainstream educational settings and beyond. In a language-rich setting, students become skilled, strategic learners and confident self-advocates.

GILLEN BREWER SCHOOL
410 E. 92nd St., New York
212-831-3667
Email [email protected]

Gillen Brewer School is a family-oriented, 12-month, early childhood and elementary program for children ages 2.8-10 years with language-based and non-verbal learning disabilities. We provide an integrated, developmentally-appropriate, academic-therapeutic program that includes speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling. Our curriculum is enriched with arts, music, science, and physical fitness programs.

HARBOR HAVEN
908-964-5411
Email [email protected]

Comprehensive summer program for ages 3-15 with mild special needs. Athletics, swim, science, performing arts, cooking, photography, computers, arts, bikes, yoga, trips, and special events. Social skills, academics, speech/occupational therapy, sibling inclusion, and separate programs for ages 16-18 are unique components. Trained staff provides one-to-three ratio or better. Door-to-door air-conditioned transportation available.

HEBREW PUBLIC
555 Eighth Ave. suite 1703, New York
212-792-6234

Hebrew Public Charter School is a network of diverse-by-design schools. We are committed to serving instructional services to all students, from a wide range of racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds. Services include: occupational and physical therapy, special education itinerant services, speech and language therapy.

HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER
237 W. 72nd St., New York
212-362-0100

Huntington is the leader in kindergarten-12th tutoring and test prep. Our certified tutors provide individualized instruction in all areas including executive functioning, ADHD, Dyslexia, and learning disabilities. We help students prep for the SAT, ACT, and state exams. Huntington also testifies on student’s behalf and attends IEP/504 meetings.

IDEAL SCHOOL OF MANHATTAN (THE)
Upper West Side , New York
212-769-1699
Email [email protected]

The IDEAL School of Manhattan is New York’s only kindergarten-12th independent inclusion school, where we celebrate the tremendous social, emotional, and academic growth born in a diverse and nurturing educational community. Schedule your visit to our Upper West Side campus for an open house or a Tuesday Talk and Tour, theidealschool.org/admissions/open-houses.

OTTO SPECHT SCHOOL
260 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge
845-352-5020 x130
Email [email protected]

At the Otto Specht School, we work to discover each child's path to lifelong learning, offering a variety of educational programs designed to meet needs of students with developmental delays, social and sensory sensitivities, and learning challenges. We offer kindergarten-high school, High School Practical Life Skills, and Transitional Life Skills programs.

SAY, CONFIDENT VOICES
212-414-9696 x208, Kate Detrick
Email [email protected]

SAYs award-winning Confident Voices after-school and weekend creative arts program for kids who stutter, ages 8-18, has three sessions during the 2019-2020 season. The Songwriting Project begins Sept. 27, followed by the Short Play Project on Dec. 13 and the Mentor Project on April 17. For more information or to register visit say.org/programs/confidentvoices.