Preschool Special Education — Block Institute School provides full day services on a 12-month basis to special needs children ages three to five in class staffing ratios of 6:1:2, 8:1:2, 9:1:3, 10:1:2, 12:1:2, and within an integrated class of 15:1:2. We offer Spanish/English Bilingual Interim Alternate Placements. We are licensed and monitored by the New York State Education Department (NYSED), New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), and New York City Department of Health (NYC DOH) for Day Care. Children receive related services, as per each student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The curriculum meets New York State Learning Standards and addresses readiness and pre academic skills and emotional support through various learning strategies. We offer state of the art services for children with autism and related disorders. These services include; applied behavior analysis, discrete trial learning, augmentative communication, and sensory integration. We offer martial arts, expressive arts, and opportunities for community learning for all our children. Our adaptive Physical Education program includes PE in our gym, playground and indoor heated pool. Breakfast and lunch are offered to children who qualify for the National School Lunch Program. Parent support groups meet weekly.

School Age Special Education — Block Institute School has classes for children ages five to eight years of age who have Emotional Disturbances, Autism or Other Health Impairments in class staffing ratios of 12:1:1 and 6:1:1. Children learn from a modified full curriculum that follows New York State Learning Standards and is adapted to the functioning levels of the children. Children receive related services as mandated on their IEP. Our School Age programs provide all children access to applied behavior analysis, sensory integration, augmentative communication, swimming, martial arts, and expressive arts.

Evaluations — Block Institute School is an approved multi-disciplinary evaluation site for preschool students to determine eligibility for services through the New York City Department of Education. We offer psycho-social, educational, occupational and physical therapy evaluations in English, and bilingual Spanish/English psychological, and speech and language evaluations.

Related Services — Block Institute School offers related services in speech and language therapy (English and Spanish); occupational therapy; physical therapy, and counseling (English and Spanish) from an interdisciplinary team of licensed professionals. Therapists are trained in the most current approaches of therapy including sensory integration, therapeutic listening, applied behavior analysis, feeding, and PROMPT.

Respite Services — Block Institute Respite programs offer families a break from caring for their child with a disability during school holiday and summer vacation periods. The Respite program, funded through the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, offers children three to eight years of age an opportunity for recreation and socialization in a safe, supported environment. Our on-site School Holiday Day Respite Program runs in December, February and April. Our two-week End of Summer Day Respite program runs the last two weeks in August. Transportation is available for these programs. Children must be Home Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver eligible to attend.