PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Esther Weiss, Member of the Public, on Special Education Services
5:50:29
ยท
3 min
Esther Weiss, a mother, grandmother, and educator, testified about the importance of early intervention and appropriate support for children with special education needs. She expressed concern about recent DOE policies affecting services for children in private schools.
- Highlighted the impact of eliminating due process for children in private schools and enforcing PNI deadlines
- Described difficulties parents faced in obtaining authorization forms for approved services
- Appealed to the committee to improve crucial services and ensure children receive entitled support
Esther Weiss
5:50:29
Hi.
5:50:29
My name is Esther Weiss.
5:50:32
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak before you, honorable members and the chair of this committee.
5:50:40
I feel privileged and humbled to speak on this in this important chamber where such dedicated civic leaders spend enormous time and effort to improve the lives of citizens of this great city city and to ensure quality for all.
5:50:59
Equality.
5:51:00
I'm here to speak to you as a mother, grandmother, and educator who has raised, taught, and interacted with 100 of children.
5:51:13
I've watched many children develop into successful students and healthy young adults, while others were struggling and grappling with challenges.
5:51:25
Most often, with appropriate intervention, these children's lives were positively altered to enhance their education, behavior, and emotional health.
5:51:39
Very often, it changed their trajectory in life.
5:51:44
We all know the saying, an ounce of prevention is more worth than a pound of cure.
5:51:51
An ounce of prevention in youth by supporting the child while they're growing spares them lots of pain later in life.
5:52:02
With the appropriate support, a child's destiny is positively influenced.
5:52:10
Sadly, this year, I witnessed firsthand how parents were unable to provide the crucial assistance to their very own children.
5:52:24
This was a result of new policies enforced by the DOE, namely eliminating due process for children in private schools and strongly enforcing the PNI deadline.
5:52:39
This affected the DOE's issuance of authorization forms that parents need to retain providers to receive services that they were approved for.
5:52:51
This year was havoc for children in schools that require special ed services.
5:52:57
The DOE directed us back many years in terms of advancement that was made in providing services to these children.
5:53:07
This can potentially have, God forbid, negative impact on many children for decades or even for life.
5:53:17
I appeal to you and so do thousands of others who couldn't or wouldn't speak out publicly, but they cry in the secret of of their home or school to engage the DOE, to improve the crucial services
Lucas Healy
5:53:35
Thank you for your testimony.
5:53:37
Time has expired.
Esther Weiss
5:53:38
Please listen to the outcry from these desperate parents and children.
5:53:42
Please help our children keep us up in school.
5:53:45
Please help our children thrive.
5:53:48
Please help our children succeed in life.
5:53:51
I appreciate your care, which is evident by the time and effort you spend on this.
5:53:56
I hope you will provide the oversight to ensure that all children receive the services that they require and are entitled to.
5:54:00
Thank you.