Block Institute School

Block Institute provides special education programs to preschool and school age children with special needs ages three to eight years at Block Institute School. Block Institute also provides preschool integrated programs and day care services to typically developing children and children with special needs at the Block Academy.

Block Institute School serves children with a variety of developmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorders (ASD) attention deficit disorders and emotional disturbances. We also serve children with neuro-motor disorders including Cerebral Palsy global developmental delays cognitive delays traumatic brain injury and medically fragile.

Block Institute School offers an array of sensory and motor activities including a sensory integration room and modern physical therapy space. We also offer hearing screenings a feeding therapy program and full psychological testing on site. Adaptive Physical education and Aquatics are offered daily and children receive instruction in martial arts drama and expressive arts and fine arts. We offer a state of the art Applied Behavior Analysis program for children with autism and significant emotional and behavioral disorders. We have an indoor heated pool that is staffed by a certified swim instructor and life guard. Children also enjoy our beautiful outdoor playground and tending to our School garden.

Block Institute School is approved by the NYC Department of Education as a multidisciplinary evaluation site that provides psychological and speech and language evaluations in English and Spanish and evaluations of occupational therapy physical therapy and educational needs. Special Education Itinerant Teacher (SEIT) services can be provided at the School at home in daycare or in a childs preschool setting.

Our staff consists of dedicated experienced and certified Special Education/Early Childhood Teachers Speech Therapists Occupational Therapists Physical Therapists Psychologists and a Therapeutic Feeding Team. Our medical staff includes a full-time Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse and a consulting Developmental Pediatrician. Our bi-lingual staff members speak Spanish Russian Italian and Chinese. All school programs at the Block Institute School run on a 12-month calendar which includes a six-week summer program. We participate in the National School Lunch program and provide breakfast and lunch daily to those children who qualify. Our Food Service Department adheres to our agencys nutritional guidelines and wellness policy and works closely with the school nurse to accommodate students with dietary restrictions due to allergies and other medical concerns.

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.

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Child Ages:

2 years - 6 years

Licenses & Accreditations:

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene