Each state sets eligibility ages for services to children and youth with disabilities. For current information concerning this state, please contact the office listed under Department of Education: Special Education.

State Department of Education: Special Education 
Dr. Rebecca Cort, Interim Deputy Commissioner
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
State Education Department
1 Commerce Plaza, Room 1606
Albany, NY 12234 
(518) 474-2714
Web: www.nysed.gov

State Coordinator for NCLB (No Child Left Behind)
James A. Kadamus, Deputy Commissioner 
Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education
New York State Department of Education
Education Building Annex
89 Washington Avenue, Room 875
Albany, NY 12234
E-mail: nysed@mail.gov
Web: www.nysed.gov 

Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Ages Birth through 2 
Barbara McTague, Acting Director
Early Intervention Program
New York State Department of Health
Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower Building, Room 287
Albany, NY 12237-0618 
(518) 473-7016
(800) 522-5006 ("Growing Up Healthy" 24-Hour Hotline)
(800) 577-2229 (in NYC)
E-mail: blm01@health.state.ny.us
Web: www.health.state.ny.us

Programs for Children with Disabilities: Ages 3 through 5 
Erlinda Rejino, Manager
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
State Education Department
1 Commerce Plaza, Room 1624
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 473-6108
E-mail: erejino@mail.nysed.gov
Web: www.vesid.nysed.gov

State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency 
Lawrence Gloeckler, Deputy Commissioner 
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
State Education Department 
1 Commerce Plaza, Room 1606
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-2714
Web: www.nysed.gov

Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities 
Coordinator for Transition Services 
Doris Jamison, Manager 
Planning and Research
One Commerce Plaza, Room 1609 
Albany, NY 12234 
518-474-7566; (800) 222-5627
E-mail: djamison@mail.nysed.gov 
Web: www.vesid.nysed.gov

State Mental Health Agency 
Sharon Carpinello, Acting Commissioner 
Office of Mental Health 
44 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12229 
(518) 474-4403 
E-mail: colejxw@omh.state.ny.us
Web: www.omh.state.ny.us

State Mental Health Representative for Children and Youth
Michael Zuber, Ph.D., Associate Commissioner
Bureau of Children and Families
Office of Mental Health 
44 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12229 
(518) 473-6902
E-mail: cocompz@omh.state.ny.us

State Mental Retardation Program 
Thomas Maul, Commissioner
New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
44 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12229 
(518) 473-1997
Web: www.omr.state.ny.us

State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council 
Sheila Carey, Executive Director 
New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council 
155 Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor
Albany, NY 12210 
(518) 486-7505; (800) 395-3372
E-mail: scarey@ddpc.state.ny.us
Web: www.ddpc.state.ny.us

Protection and Advocacy Agency 
Marcel Chaine, Director Advocacy Services Bureau
New York State Commission on Quality of Care 
401 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305-2397
(518) 388-2892; (800) 624-4143
E-mail: marcelc@cqc.state.ny.us
Web: www.cqc.state.ny.us

Richard Warrender, State Advocate
New York State Office of Advocate for Persons with Disabilities
1 Empire State Plaza, Suite 1001
Albany, NY 12223-1150
(518) 474-5567 (V); (518) 473-4231 (TTY)
(800) 522-4369 (V/TTY/Spanish, in NY only)
E-mail: oapwdinfo@advoc4disabled.state.ny.us
Web: www.oapwd.org

Client Assistance Program 
Michael Peluso, CAP Director 
New York State Commission on Quality of Care 
401 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305-2397
(518) 388-2892; (800) 624-4143 
E-mail: michaelp@cqc.state.ny.us
Web: www.cqc.state.ny.us 

Programs for Children with Special Health Care Needs
Susan Slade, Program Director 
Children with Special Health Care Needs
New York State Department of Health
ESP-Corning Tower Building, Room 208 
Albany, NY 12237-0618
(518) 474-2001
E-mail: sjs11@health.state.ny.us
Web: www.health.state.ny.us

State CHIP Program
(health care for low-income uninsured children)
Child Health Plus 
New York State Health Department
Box 2000 
Albany, NY 12220
(800) 698-4543; (877) 898-5849 (TTY)
Web: www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/chplus/index.htm

Programs for Children and Youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired, or Deaf-Blind 
Thomas Robertson, Associate Commissioner 
Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped
Office of Children and Family Services
Capital View Office Park
52 Washington Street, Room 201
Rensselaer, NY 12144-2796
(518) 473-1801
Web: www.dfa.state.ny.us/cbvh

Programs for Children and Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing 
Dorothy Steele, Coordinator, Deaf Services
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
One Commerce Plaza, Room 1601
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-5652 (V/TTY)
(800) 222-5627 (V/TTY)
E-mail: dsteele@mail.nysed.gov
Web: www.vesid.nysed.gov/

Telecommunications Relay Services for Individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or with Speech Impairments
(800) 421-1220 (V)
(800) 662-1220 (TTY); 711 (TTY)
(877) 662-4234 (Speech to Speech)

Regional ADA & IT Technical Assistance Center 
Andrea Haenlin-Mott, Director
Northeast ADA & IT Center
Cornell University
331 Ives Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-6686 (V/TTY/Spanish); (800) 949-4232 (V/TTY/Spanish)
E-mail: northeastada@cornell.edu
Web: www.ilr.cornell.edu/ped/northeastada

University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
Dr. Steven Wolf, Director 
Developmental Disabilities Center
St. Lukes - Roosevelt Hospital Center 
1000 10th Avenue 
New York, NY 10019 
(212) 523-6230 

Ansley Bacon, Executive Director 
Westchester Insitute for Human Development/UCE
Cedarwood Hall
Valhalla, NY 10595-1689
(914) 493-8204 
E-mail: Ansley_Bacon@NYMC.edu
Web: www.nymc.edu/wihd

Herbert J. Cohen, M.D., Director 
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service
Rose F. Kennedy Center
Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Yeshiva University 
1410 Pelham Parkway South
Bronx, NY 10461 
(718) 430-8522
E-mail: hcohen@aecom.yu.edu

Dr. Philip Davidson, Director 
Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities
University of Rochester Medical Center
601 Elmwood Avenue
P.O. Box 671 
Rochester, NY 14642 
(585) 275-2986
E-mail: phil_davidson@urmc.rochester.edu
Web: www.urmc.rochester.edu/strong/scdd

Technology-Related Assistance
Lisa Rosano-Kaczkowski, Project Director
New York State TRAID Project
New York State Office of Advocate for Persons with Disabilities
One Empire State Plaza, Suite 1001
Albany, NY 12223-1150
(518) 474-2825 (V); (518) 473-4231 (TTY);
(800) 522-4369 (V/TTY/Spanish, in NY only)
E-mail: traid@oapwd.org
Web: www.oapwd.org

State Mediation System
Elaine Gervais, Associate in Special Education
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
One Commerce Plaza, Room 1619
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 486-7462
E-mail: egervais@mail.nysed.gov
Web: www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn

Special Format Books for Children and Youth Ages 3-19
(Serving upstate New York)
Jane Somers, Director
Sharon B. Phillips, School and Youth Services Librarian
New York State Talking Book and Braille Library
New York State Library
Cultural Education Center, Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12230
(518) 474-5935; (800) 342-3688
E-mail: tbblkids@mail.nysed.gov (school/youth services)
E-mail: tbbl@mail.nysed.gov (adult services)
Web: www.nysl.nysed.gov/talk.htm

(Serving New York City and Long Island) 
Robert McBrien, Head Librarian
Andrew Heiskell Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
New York Public Library
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 206-5400; (212) 206-5425
E-mail: ahlbph@nypl.org
Web: http://talkingbooks.nypl.org

Disability-Specific Organizations

Attention Deficit Disorder
To identify an ADD group in your state or locality, contact either:

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
8181 Professional Place, Suite 201
Landover, MD 20785
(301) 306-7070
(800) 233-4050 (Voice mail to request information packet)
Web: www.chadd.org

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) 
P.O. Box 543
Pottstown, PA 19464
(484) 945-2101
Web: www.add.org

Autism
To identify an autism group in your state, contact:
Autism Society of America
7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 300
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 657-0881; (800) 3-AUTISM
Web: www.autism-society.org

Blind/Visual Impairments
Regina Genwright, Director of Information Center
American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
(212) 502-7600; (212) 502-7662 (TTY)
E-mail: afbinfo@afb.org
Web: www.afb.org

Brain Injury
Judith Avner, Executive Director
Brain Injury Association of New York State
10 Colvin Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
(518) 459-7911; (800) 228-8201 (in NY)
E-mail: info@bianys.org
Web: www.bianys.org

Cerebral Palsy
Michael Parker, Ph.D., Executive Director 
Cerebral Palsy Associations of New York State
330 W. 34th Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 947-5770, ext. 201
E-mail: nysucpa@aol.com
Web: www.cerebralpalsynys.org

Epilepsy 
Richard Daly, Executive Director 
Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island
506 Stewart Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 739-7733
E-mail: rdaly@epil.org
Web: www.efli.org

George H. Smith, Executive Director
Epilepsy Society of New York City
305 7th Avenue, 12th Floor, Suite 202
New York, NY 10001
(212) 633-2930
E-mail: main@epilepsynyc.org
Web: www.efnyc.org

Learning Disabilities 
Michael Helman, President
Learning Disabilities Association of New York State
1202 Troy-Schenectady Road, Building 1
Latham, NY 12110
(518) 608-8992
E-mail: statelda@ldanys.org
Web: www.ldanys.org

Mental Health 
Joseph A. Glazer, President/CEO
Mental Health Association of New York State 
194 Washington Avenue, Suite 415
Albany, NY 12210-2317 
(518) 434-0439; (800) 766-6177 
E-mail: info@mhanys.org
Web: www.mhanys.org 

Michael Silverberg, President 
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of New York State 
260 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210-1312
(518) 462-2000; (800) 950-3228
E-mail: info@naminys.org
Web: www.naminys.org

Paige Macdonald, Executive Director
Families Together in New York State, Inc.
15 Elk Street
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 432-0333; (888) 326-8644 (in NY)
E-mail: info@ftnys.org
Web: www.ftnys.org

Mental Retardation 
Marc Brandt, Executive Director
NYSARC, Inc. 
393 Delaware Avenue
Delmar, NY 12054
(518) 439-8311; (800) 724-2094 
E-mail: brandtm@nysarc.org
Web: www.nysarc.org

Speech and Hearing
Tricia Shaw, Executive Assistant
New York State Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Inc.
1 Northway Lane
Latham, NY 12110
(518) 786-0947
E-mail: info@nysslha.org
Web: www.nysslha.org

Spina Bifida 
Vanessa and Kevin Chamberlain, Co-Presidents
Spina Bifida Association: Albany/Capital District
109 Spring Road
Scotia, NY 12302
(518) 399-9151
E-mail: SBAALBANY102@aol.com

Organizations Especially for Parents and Caregivers

Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) 
Paul Shew, Executive Director
The Advocacy Center
590 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620
(585) 546-1700; (800) 650-4967 (in NY)
E-mail: info@advocacycenter.com
Web: www.advocacycenter.com

Jill Chaifetz, Executive Director
Advocates for Children of New York (New York City)
151 W. 30th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10001
(212) 947-9779
E-mail: info@advocatesforchildren.org
Web: www.advocatesforchildren.org

Karen Thoreson Schlesinger, Executive Director
Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc.
116 E. 16th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10003
(212) 677-4650
E-mail: info@resourcesnyc.org
Web: www.resourcesnyc.org

Donald Lash, Executive Director
Sinergia/Metropolitan Parent Center
15 W. 65th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10023
(212) 496-1300
E-mail: Sinergia@panix.com
Web: www.sinergiany.org

Community Parent Resource Center 
(Serving Green Point and Williamsburg)
Lourdes Rivera-Putz, Program Director
United We Stand of New York
202 Union Avenue, Suite L
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 302-4313/4314
E-mail: uwsofny@aol.com
Web: www.taalliance.org/ptis/uws/

Partners in Policymaking 
Joyce Steel, Program Director
The Advocacy Center
590 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620
(585) 546-1700, ext. 234
E-mail: steel@advocacycenter.com
Web: www.advocacycenter.com

Parent-To-Parent
Janice Fitzgerald, Executive Director
Parent to Parent of New York State
500 Balltown Road
Schenectady, NY 12304
(518) 381-4350; (800) 305-8817
E-mail: info@parenttoparentnys.org
Web: www.parenttoparentnys.org

Parent Teacher Association (PTA) 
Penny Leask, President
New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc.
One Wembley Square
Albany, NY 12205-3830
(518) 452-8808; (877) 5NYSPTA
E-mail: office@nypta.com
Web: www.nypta.com/

Other Parent Organization

(Information about resources serving children birth to 5 and their families)
Elaine Gervais, Associate in Special Education
Early Childhood Direction Centers
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
One Commerce Plaza, Room 1619
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 486-7462
E-mail: egervais@mail.nysed.gov
Web: www.vesid.nysed.gov

The Family Resource Network, Inc
46 Oneida Street
Oneonta, New York 13820
(607) 432-0001; (800) 305-8814
E-mail: familyrn@dmcom.net
Web: www.geocities.com/familyrn/

Other Disability Organizations

Christine McMahon, Chief Operating Officer
Easter Seals New York
230 Washington Avenue, Extension
Albany, NY 12203
(518) 456-4880; (800) 727-8785 (in NY)
E-mail: essofny@aol.com
Web: www.ny.easter-seals.org

MENTOR ABI Group - New Jersey
Rehabilitative and Support Services for Persons with Acquired Brain Injury
505 S. Lenola Road
Blason Office Plaza II, Suite 217
Moorestown, NJ 08057
(856) 235-5505
Web: http://nj.thementornetwork.com/state/index.asp

Caroline Alterio, President
New York State Occupational Therapy Association
90 S. Swan Street
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 462-3717
E-mail: nysota@nysota.org
Web: www.nysota.org

Dr. Bebe Bernstein, Director
VSA arts of New York City
18-05 215 Street, Suite 15N
Bayside, NY 11360
(718) 225-6305 (V/TTY)
E-mail: Bbvsanyc@msn.com

Joseph O'Connell, Executive Director
Family Empowerment Council, Inc.
225 Dolson Avenue, Suite 403
Middletown, NY 10940
(845) 343-8100
E-mail: joconnell@familyempowerment.org
Web: www.familyempowerment.org

Independent Living 

To find out the contact information for the Statewide 
Independent Living Council (SILC) in your state, contact:
Independent Living Research Utilization Project
The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research
2323 South Sheppard, Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77019
(713) 520-0232 (V); (713) 520-5136 (TTY)
E-mail: ilru@ilru.org
Web: www.ilru.org

To find out the contact information for centers for 
independent living (CILs) in your state, contact:
National Council on Independent Living
1916 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 209
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 525-3406; (703) 525-4153 (TTY)
E-mail: ncil@ncil.org
Web: www.ncil.org