PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sacha Amry, Director of Camping and Recreation Services at AHRC New York City, on School Bus Transportation for After-School Programs
3:30:38
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3 min
Sacha Amry, representing AHRC New York City, testified about challenges with school bus transportation for special needs students in after-school programs. She highlighted the significant reduction in after-school program attendance due to the Office of Pupil Transportation's inability to provide transportation home for students with disabilities.
- Before the pandemic, AHRC NYC had 9 after-school programs in District 75 schools, serving over 180 special needs students. Now, most have closed due to transportation issues.
- The lack of transportation disproportionately affects students with autism and other intellectual disabilities who cannot use alternative transportation methods.
- Amry emphasized the importance of these programs for students' skill development and providing respite for parents and caregivers.
Sacha Amry
3:30:38
Oh, thank you.
3:30:39
Good afternoon, chairs, Joseph and Juan, and members of the committee.
3:30:42
Thank you for the opportunity for me to testify today.
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My name is Satya Amari.
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I'm the director of all of camping and recreation services at AHRC, New York City.
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Overseeing over 40 year recreation and socialization programs across New York City, which includes the after school programs.
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I'm here today to speak about our agency's challenges with the office of for people transportation and for the families in district 75 schools.
3:31:06
Were enrolled in after school programs with our agency and who no longer received these necessary services due to the nobility of OPT to provide transport home for the special needs students at the end of the after school programs.
3:31:20
This issue also impacts A53 Schools, Including At AHRC, New York City's Elementary Schools in Brooklyn, The Blue Feather Elementary, the Middle High School, and in Sam Island at our James P.
3:31:32
Murphy School.
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The students in 853 schools have never had after school transportation provided by true OPT, which has severely limited their ability to offer much needed ex attending learning opportunities to their students.
3:31:46
Prior to the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, when OPT was providing transportation, AHRC, New York City had 9 after school programs located in district 75 schools.
3:31:59
In Harlem, at the top 20 schools in in district a, PS 751, in district 2, in Manhattan, PS 3 semitry in Brooklyn, in district 36, in Brooklyn, OTC, district District 47, PS 37 in Staten Island in district 51, the hungerford School in district 50, in Staten Island, PS 176 in the Bronx in district 12, PS 255 in Queen in district 22, and PSA 11 k in Brooklyn, in district 48.
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All but 3 of these programs are not closed, impacting over a 180 special needs students.
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In the few programs that remain open, attendance limited to those who can travel home, on their own or who live close enough to the schools for a caregiver to pick up.
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M751 is a good example of this issue.
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The program we made open last school year, but there were only 4 students enrolled compared as compared to to the 25 students enrolled when OPT was providing busing.
3:33:01
These programs offered a safe and familiar environment for student with autism and other intellectual disabilities who are not able to take alternative transportations that OPT has provided.
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These students benefited from the structure routine and drive unpredictability.
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Having an upper school program right in their school made all the difference in the quality of their extended learning time.
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They had the opportunity to get to get enhanced support from well trained school staff with extra time spent on trying new activities, building life skills, exploring creative arts, engaging in physical activity, and making new friends.
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These programs help to boost children's confidence and skills.
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And just as importantly, with their children safely in an after school program, their parents and caregivers were provided with respite from the enormous responsibility of caring for a child with special needs.
3:33:49
It made it it made it possible for working parents to finish their work day or maybe take care of a few errands on their way home from work, knowing that their child was safe and joined their after school time.
3:34:01
We respectfully asked the city council to address this inequity which has significantly impacted all families.
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But especially these children in district 75 and 853 schools who need extra support and who cannot safely travel and public transportation or take other alternative waste home from after school programs.
3:34:19
Thank you.
3:34:19
Thank
