Advocates for Children of New York reposted this
Wow! What a month! After tabling at Brooklyn Pride, hosting a webinar, and throwing a fabulous Pride party at the office, my colleagues at Advocates for Children of New York and I closed Pride month right by tabling at Harlem Pride over the weekend. It was a privilege to spend time with these lovely humans sharing AFC’s resources for families of LGBTQ+ students. Education is everything 🏳️🌈🌈
Today we celebrate the 34th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law. #ADA34 At Advocates for Children of New York, we rely on the ADA to make schools more accessible and welcoming to students with disabilities, but we still have a long way to go to fulfill the promise of the ADA. For example, the persistence of physical barriers in *two-thirds* of NYC Department of Education schools means that New Yorkers with disabilities are still routinely excluded from buildings that are central to their communities. Are you considering a school but want to know more about the building's physical accessibility? MySchools.nyc directory has Building Accessibility Profiles for all NYC schools, with detailed information about pathways, entrances, ramps, corridors, classrooms, restrooms, and more ▶ https://lnkd.in/eNNpZkZq
Some very thoughtful words about learning alongside Advocates for Children of New York's attorneys from Fordham University School of Law student Alexa Jean-Baptiste, one of our wonderful summer law interns.
Every July, we celebrate #DisabilityPrideMonth -- an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, experiences and struggles of the disability community, and to share tips and resources for New Yorkers with disabilities Our library of free know-your-rights guides, tip sheets, and other resources can help New Yorkers with disabilities and their families navigate NYC Department of Education schools, understand your school-related rights, and advocate successfully for yourself and your child, like our "Guide to Special Education," a key primer to help you understand your rights ▶ https://lnkd.in/eRERjeUn 💡 Tip: the summer is a great time to get your child’s documents in order and prepare to meet with the school team in the Fall. Our online library has resources like an IEP Worksheet that can help you organize your thoughts, figure out what to prioritize, and plan for next year’s goals and services. ▶ https://lnkd.in/eg8vYqRK
Tomorrow marks the 42nd anniversary of Plyler v. Doe, a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that made it unconstitutional to exclude undocumented children from public school. Plyler continues to be vitally relevant today, even in our own city: no student should be – or legally can be – turned away because of their immigration status. Learn more in our Guide to the Legal Rights of Immigrant Families in NYC Schools: https://lnkd.in/eEHHNfuv
Earlier this month at New York City Council's budget hearing, NYC Department of Education testified that up to 400 schools could lose a nurse when federal stimulus funds run out in June—impacting tens of thousands of students—as continued funding for this initiative was left out of Mayor Adams' budget.
We were thrilled to celebrate our 2024 Spring Benefit last week at Tribeca Rooftop + Tribeca 360° with more than 500 clients, donors, partners, and friends, as we honored Gregory J. Fleming, President and CEO of Rockefeller Capital Management, who received the Jill Chaifetz Award, and our Education Champion, Irais D. Magdaleno, whose rousing speech brought the audience to their feet. Special thanks to our generous sponsors; our emcee, Andrew Ross Sorkin; and our event co-chairs for helping us celebrate AFC’s mission to protect every child’s right to learn. See more photos from the event ▶ https://lnkd.in/erjN3D3Y
