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Q&A
After-school programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities
1:22:28
ยท
91 sec
Council Member Linda Lee inquires about after-school programs for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Deputy Commissioner Susan Haskell explains DYCD's approach to serving these students within their existing programs.
- DYCD's after-school programs serve young people with varying abilities and needs
- There is no separate regulatory structure or contract structure for students with disabilities
- Out-of-school time programs are designed to accommodate students with different skills and needs
- Staffing challenges have been experienced across the board, especially post-COVID
- DYCD does not work closely with the state OPWDD on these programs
- Programs follow the same regulatory structure for school-aged child care
Nevita Bailey
1:22:28
to the students with disabilities in the after school portfolio?
1:22:31
I'm sorry?
1:22:32
Deputy Commissioner Haskell speak to the students with disabilities in
Linda Lee
1:22:35
the school perfect.
1:22:35
Because that's my other hat is mental health disabilities and addiction chair, so I
Susan Haskell
1:22:38
just Right, right, excellent.
1:22:40
We, in all our after school programs and other programs, we have a range of young people with varying abilities and different needs including intellectual and developmental disabilities.
1:22:54
We don't have separate regulatory structure or infrastructure or contract structure even for those programs, But one of the things that is unique about out of school time, whether it's Beacon or Cornerstone or Compass, is that young people in an after school environment can really come with the skills that they have and be served as part of like a project based community in terms of like the activities they sign up for.
1:23:20
Staffing has been a challenge across the board coming out of COVID.
1:23:23
We're really seeing get to a better place with that, but I think the structure of after school is uniquely equipped to suit young people of different needs.
Linda Lee
1:23:34
And do you also have to follow under, I'm assuming you work with the state OPWDD as well on that, or is it totally separate?
Susan Haskell
1:23:42
We don't work closely with the state OPWD on that.
1:23:49
Have the same regulatory structure for school aged child care programs, and a young person needs to be able to be served within that regulatory structure to participate in our after school programs.