ACDS is dedicated to providing lifetime resources of exceptional quality, innovation and inclusion for individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. As Long Island’s leading service provider for individuals with disabilities, ACDS provides a continuum of year-round programs and services that meet the needs of families and children throughout their lifetimes.

PARENT/PEER OUTREACH PROGRAM Designed to reach out to parents who have received a prenatal or post natal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Program provides resources and New Baby Packets on Down syndrome to families, hospital social workers and neonatal nurses. Trained parent/peer counselors make hospital and/or home visitation with an ACDS social worker who has expertise in assisting and supporting families of children with Down syndrome. Parents receive social work intervention through the initial adjustment period following prenatal or postnatal diagnosis and have the opportunity to connect with other families through parent outreach and support groups.

COMMUNITY AND FAMILY SERVICES Considered the "front line" of ACDS, The Family Services Department assists parents in the development of an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) that offers a full complement of center-based classroom and home-based services. The Family Services Department provides individual and group counseling, early intervention service coordination, advocacy, social histories for CPSE, community education, parent training, crisis intervention, respite, home and hospital visitations, peer mentoring and special events. Summer sibling support groups are also available. Counseling and support groups are offered to grandparents, siblings, etc. Bilingual services are provided.

EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM Is dedicated to providing children with early intervention services, from birth to age 3. Infants and toddlers who demonstrate cognitive deficits, speech and language delays and/or physical disabilities receive multidisciplinary evaluations, hands on guidance and instruction from licensed special education teachers, speech and language pathologists and physical and occupational therapists. EI services are offered in a home-based setting and/or center-based classroom setting in accordance with the family's Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

ABA Applied Behavior Analysis homebased program for children on the Autistic spectrum. Children who have been diagnosed on the spectrum have an opportunity to receive ABA individual therapy at home. Together, with our Linx social developmental group, ACDS offers these children an educational opportunity which combines individual therapy with group socialization.

SEIT SERVICES Due to the high volume of children with autism, ACDS provides SEIT services for children on the autistic spectrum three to five years of age. Parent training is also available for this population.

PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM Provides preschool special education or integrated programs and related services for children, age 3 to 5. The program is offered in a center-based classroom setting, five days a week (half and full day schedules). Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of skills in the following areas: preacademics aligned with New York State Preschool Standards, language and communication, socialization, adaptive and gross and fine motor development. Children receive a distinctive readiness program reflected in an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) that provides solid preparation for entry into kindergarten and transition into district public school settings.Curriculum also includes music, movement and exercise, adaptive physical education, health and safety, nature study and field trips. Transportation services are provided.

HOSPITAL AFFILIATE Affiliation with Long Island Jewish - North Shore University Hospital System enables families to access on-site services of developmental pediatricians, pediatric cardiologists and gastroenterologists. A resident physician with a fellowship in developmental disabilities rotates through ACDS programs.

POWER PLAY SENSORY MOTOR GYM The Power Play Sensory Motor gym is designed to provide therapeutic intervention to infants and preschoolers who have sensory integrative (SI) dysfunction or sensory processing disorders. Therapeutic intervention is based on theories and principles of sensory integration – the ability to synthesize, organize and process incoming sensory information received from the body and from the environment (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste, movement and body position in space) to produce purposeful, goal directed responses. Occupational therapists will provide individualized therapeutic intervention to children who demonstrate problems with sensory processing skills. The facility includes equipment and apparatus designed to provide supervised, therapist directed exploration and experiences of movement and motor skills that are designed to promote children’s development and improvement with sensory integrative dysfunction. Improved sensory integration enables children to participate more fully and appropriately in activities at home, in school and in the community.

CLINIC SERVICES Multidisciplinary evaluations are conducted for infants and children from birth through 5 years with Down syndrome or other developmental disabilities, as well as for children demonstrating language/communication, social, cognitive or motor delays. Psychological evaluations conducted by a licensed clinical psychologist are also available. Evaluations are administered in a center-based or home-based setting. The clinical services include Occupational therapy, Physical therapy, Speech therapy, Psychology, Social Work/Counseling, Nutrition, Audiological evaluations and nursing. ACDS also has a state-of-the-art Sensory Motor Gym, where Occupational therapists offer services for children with Sensory Processing Disorders. All of these services are provided in accordance with the child’s IFSP or IEP.

KIDS CONNECTION NURSERY/DAY CARE A New York State licensed DSS approved day care program provides an enriched Early Childhood Program for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. The program operates from 7 am-5pm to accommodate parent’s work schedules. Kids Connection offers New York State certified & degreed teachers, a low teacher student ratio, an outdoor playground and an indoor gym that offers an array of activities. Curriculum includes enriched academics, Mommy and Me Classes, music classes, movement classes, sensory activities, sign language, computer instruction, art education, socialization skills and attending skills. The agency offers a health care plan, a registered on site nurse and MAT trained (administration of medicine) individuals. The infant program provides infants ages 6 weeks-16 months a schedule of the day which includes floor playtime, socialization and exploration of the environment through gross motor activities. The Toddler program for children ages 16 months to 2.9 years provides encouragement in attending skills, socialization skills and self help skills, circle time with various cognitive topics, language development, computer instruction, music and movement and nap time. The integrated program provides integrated nursery school classes that offer pre-academic training to children ages 3-5. Led by two certified teachers, children receive instruction in the Letter People and Handwriting without Tears to prepare them for elementary school as well as music and movement, computer instruction and fine and gross motor activities.

SPECIALIZED CONSULTANT PROGRAM When a child graduates from our preschool program and enters an integrated, collaborative or self contained educational program within their home school district, a parent and/or school district can request a consultant from ACDS to come into the school on an ongoing basis throughout the school year to assist in the child's academic, behavioral and social development. The ACDS consultant works with school staff and related service providers on formulating IEPs, refining or modifying curriculum and instructional delivery aligned to the student's learning style, developing Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans, and constructing strategies to promote social integration. ACDS consultants also provide professional development training conferences to school district personnel.

5PLUS Recreation Programs – ACDS offers a variety of recreation activities for children 5 and older, teenagers and adults with various developmental disabilities including Down syndrome and Autism. Programs include Saturday Recreation, Vacation Day Camp, Dance classes, Bicycle Riding and After School Recreation, Teen Young Adult Program, Canoeing, Friday Night Drop In, Sports Training Club, Tween Socialization Group, Adult Education Classes, and ICE (integrated community experiences) program for teenagers. These programs provide participants with special needs the opportunity to practice their socialization skills and enjoy recreation activities in a safe, supervised setting. Programs are offered after traditional public school hours and on weekends.

SUMMER ADVENTURE – ACDS offers participants ages 16 and older the opportunity to be a part of a 6 day overnight respite program on a magnificent 200 acre estate in Garrison, NY. Summer Adventure allows participants to develop independence, enjoy recreational activities and practice their daily living skills by staying in a dorm setting with their peers. Daily activities include lifeguard supervised swimming in an indoor pool, arts and crafts, music, movement and physical education activities, exploring the estate, game time, movies, cooking activities and a special evening activity each night.

The stylish KARAOKE CAFE for People with Developmental Disabilities is a place for teenagers and adults to kick back, enjoy friends, participate in karaoke and light eats in a trendy surrounding reminiscent of "Central Perk". From cool neon lights to relaxing 50's style décor to performing favorite songs on stage.

MEDICAID SERVICE COORDINATION At age eighteen many people with a disability become eligible for SSI and Medicaid with out regard to parental assets. It is necessary for young adults aging out of school and into Adult Services to have Medicaid.
An important part of Adult Services is Medicaid Service Coordination. The MSC
(Medicaid Service Coordinator) provides the consumer with outreach and referrals for services including residential, recreational/social and counseling. Medicaid Service Coordinators help consumers learn how to make choices and identify their own goals for personal growth. ACDS’ Medicaid Service Coordinators work in partnership with individuals and their families to develop, implement and maintain the individual’s life plan know as an ISP (Individualized Service Plan). Medicaid Service Coordinators help consumers explore avenues to achieve their goals by connecting them with the necessary support systems.

INDIVIDUALIZED RESIDENTIAL SERVICES (IRA) Provides residential services for adults with Developmental disabilities, age 21 and over, at IRA Group Homes, located in Wantagh, Merrick, Freeport and in Seaford NY. The agency facilitates an independent life style for adult residents, providing a level of supervision to help them to progress towards independence in their daily life that includes; domestic skills, social interaction, travel, community orientation, employment, personal finances, leisure time activities and the ability to make choices. The Houses are staffed 24/7 with trained staff and are each supervised by a manager. RNs provide medical oversight, supervision and training to all staff in the areas of medication administration and other health issues. The agency also employs a full-time Applied Behavior Specialist (ABS) to work with the residents on individual issues as well as issues associated with group home living.