Choosing a School for a Child with IDD? Start Earlier Than You Think
Few decisions weigh on parents more than finding the right school for a child with special needs or an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). When a local school can’t meet a child’s needs, families are often left to search for alternate placements largely on their own, and the programs best equipped to help tend to fill up fast.
“One of the biggest challenges is the limited availability of specialized programs,” says Amy Ross, Deputy Executive Director of Education Services at the Center for Disability Services. “Many programs that provide the appropriate level of support operate at capacity and have waitlists.” That’s why Ross tells families the same thing again and again: start the search early.
The Center for Disability Services runs NYS-accredited educational programs for children from preschool through their 22nd birthday, built for students whose needs go beyond what a traditional classroom offers. Instruction is individualized, assistive technology is built into daily learning, and a skilled nursing team is on-site for students with complex medical needs.
The MOVE program was the best fit for my son. The amount of therapies and specialized education he could receive were a huge draw for us.
— Jessica, Capital Region parent
Two programs anchor that approach. MOVE (Mobility Opportunities Via Experience) builds mobility skills into everyday school activities for students with physical disabilities. RAAVE (Responsibly Addressing Autism Via Education) offers dedicated classrooms for students on the autism spectrum, pairing specialized instruction with a focus on long-term independence.
For Jessica, a Capital Region mother, the fit showed up quickly: her son found peers, tried new mobility devices, and grew more confident and communicative. “His growth, both socially and educationally, has been evident and steady to all who know him,” she says. “He loves going to school.”
Ross points to something less measurable but just as important: continuity. Teachers at the Center often stay with the same students for years, building the kind of trust that shapes outcomes over time. And support doesn’t end at graduation — the Center helps students transition into adult day programs, residential support, and employment services, and offers Camp Spectacular and Clover Patch Camp for summers along the way.
“Every child matters,” Ross says. “Families will find a caring community where staff partners closely with parents, celebrate each child’s strengths, and stand alongside them through challenges.”
Read the full story, “Here’s What the Center for Disability Services Wants All Parents to Know,” from Times Union Story Studio.
Learn more about children’s services or start the enrollment process.