About This Program
ACLD’s Children’s Services provide a continuum of services to children from ages 3 to 21, including preschool special education services, family support respite programs, and transitioning support from school to work.
Services may be funded by local school districts, the New York State Office For People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the local Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) and Medicaid.
Get Started
Stacey Ratner, Principal, Children's Services
(631) 665-1900 Ext. 350 or ratners@acld.org
Kramer Learning Center
1428 5th Avenue
Bay Shore, New York 11706
Phone: (631) 665-1900
Fax: (631) 665-1377
The Alan & Ellen Spiegel Children’s Center
Katherine Korwal, Assistant Principal
(631) 647-9577 Ext. 232 or korwalk@acld.org
67 Greenwood Road
Bay Shore, New York 11706
Phone: (631) 647-9577
Fax: (631) 647-9585
Children’s Services for 3-5-Year-Olds
ACLD’s Preschool Education Programs at Kramer Learning Center and The Alan and Ellen Spiegel Children’s Center are designed to meet the individual needs of young children diagnosed with developmental disabilities. Quality education and therapeutic services are provided during school hours by a highly trained, dedicated staff of professionals that includes: Special Educators, Speech/Language Pathologists, Clinical Psychologist, School Psychologists, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Clinical Social Workers, Social Workers, Registered Nurse, Certified Teacher Assistants, Behavior Support Specialists and Teacher Aides. Additional supports include Music and Creative Arts Therapy programs. Preschool services offered at both sites include developmental evaluations and self-contained, center-based classrooms. An additional community-based classroom, SEIS and related service providers are located within the Bay Shore School District UPK program.
Children’s Services for 5-12-Year-Olds
School Vacation & Summer Camp Respite Programs - ACLD’s Summer Camp Respite Program offers 16 children, ages 5 to 12, a place to gather with Great South Bay YMCA-Bay Shore children and support staff during the summer months. Enrolled children participate in programs designed to foster their sense of self through engagement in activities that provide opportunities for recreational and social development.
School Vacation Camps run during the school calendar winter break and spring break in collaboration with our community partner, the Suffolk YJCC in Commack. Twelve (12) Children (ages 5-10) are integrated into a group of participants enrolled in the YJCC Butler Special Needs Program.
The program is designed to have children, to the best of their abilities, participate in structured recreational activities, including swimming, arts and crafts, dance, cooking, gym/exercise, special events and field trips.
Both of these programs are OPWDD-funded. Participants must have a documented developmental disability, reside at home with a primary caregiver, and meet OPWDD requirements.
Additional Services
Special Education Itinerant Services – 1:1 Special Education Teacher support provided within a typical community based preschool (Bay Shore UPK).
Clinical services of Counseling, Speech, Occupational or Physical therapy provided 1:1 at a typical community-based preschool (Bay Shore UPK) or at ACLD Program sites.
Psychological and other evaluations conducted in areas of a suspected delay or disability for the purpose of establishing eligibility for preschool special education or itinerant clinical services.
In-Home Respite
Individuals over the age of three may have an ACLD Respite Counselor work with them in the home. Respite Counselors are hired and trained by ACLD. This program is funded by Medicaid waiver and an OPWDD grant. Children without Medicaid are funded by the grant. Children with Medicaid must enroll in Medicaid waiver. Typically, each family receiving in-home respite services is allotted 15 respite hours each month. Individuals and families in crisis may be allowed additional hours.
Respite Voucher Program
Through an OPWDD grant, children without Medicaid may be eligible to hire their own Respite Counselor and be reimbursed up to $500 per year.
For further information, please contact ACLD’s Connect Team at (516) 336-5909 Extensions 171, 242, and 370.
New York State Education Law 2-D
NYS Education Law 2-D pertains to the unauthorized release of personally identifiable information.
The Board of Regents adopted Part 121 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education on January 13, 2020. These rules will implement Education Law Section 2-d and provide guidance to educational agencies and their third-party contractors on ways to strengthen data privacy and security to protect student data and annual professional performance review data. The regulation went through multiple sets of revisions and three rounds of public comments and will go into effect January 29, 2020. It will apply to both charter and traditional public schools. We thank the members of the Data Privacy Advisory Council, implementation planning and drafting workgroups that supported the Department’s Chief Privacy Officer, Temitope Akinyemi, through this process
Parent's Bill of Rights
ACLD's Children's Program is committed to protecting the privacy and security of each and every student’s data.
Parents Bill of Rights - click here to view
Federal Laws that Protect Students
FERPA Notification of Rights - click here to view
Data Privacy and Security Policies
Children's Services Privacy and Security - click here to view
Parent Resources
Resources that can assist parents in maintaining a reasonable level of digital privacy
Fact Sheet for Parents From NYSED
Common Sense Kids Action Common Sense is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century.
Common Sense Media Common Sense is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century.
Online Privacy and Safety Resources Online privacy and safety resources from NYSED
StaySafeOnline National Cybersecurity Alliance: Learn how to protect yourself, your family and your devices with these tips and resources.
Emergency Response Plan
Kramer Learning Center Emergency Plan - click here to view
Spiegel Children's Center Emergency Plan - click here to view
Emergency Remote Plan
Children's Services Remote Plan - click here to view
Physical Restraint Policy
Restraint Policy - click here to view
Restraint Policy - En Espaῆol - click here to view
Business Associate Agreement - Zoom Video Communications
Support Our Services
Your gift helps ACLD to continue building for the future while maintaining the quality of services it provides