A Flatbush elementary school will gain a new annex that will serve students with autism and other disabilities this fall.
The Department of Education said it will open District 17's first-ever inclusive early childhood education center at 1070 Flatbush Ave. as an annex to P.S. 6. The center will be for students in general education classes as well as those with autism and other disabilities, from pre-K through second grade.
"It will fulfill a local need," said Christina Foti, deputy chancellor of the New York City Public Schools Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning (DIAL). It will be a local, district-zoned site where student can get to without getting on a school bus, she said.
"And as the students with autism and other disabilities start to succeed, they will be ready for the general school building," Foti added.
The annex features the district's first AIMS classroom, a special education program for students with autism focused on acquisition, integrated services, meaningful communication and social skills.
In year one, the school will open with general education 3-K, a mixed integrated general and special education pre-K class and a kindergarten AIMS class. The program will expand over the next two years to include AIMS classes for first and second grades, creating a full 3-K through second grade continuum by the 2027-2028 school year.
There will be seven classrooms with various resources, including blinds that can cut out natural light in case a teacher wants to shield students from distractions. The annex also includes a small gym with padded walls and a skylight, a nursing office, a staff lounge and room for parental engagement sessions.
"We want parents to be part of the education experience of the child," said Early Childhood Education Deputy Chancellor Simone Hawkins. "We don't want them to think it's a place to drop their kid off. It is not the end."
Families in District 17 will soon start to receive offers about enrollment. Both Foti and Hawkins said there is high demand for classes for autistic and disabled children following the COVID-19 pandemic, when the shutdown prevented the implementation of early intervention programs.
“We strongly believe in providing students individualized support that honors their unique learning journey,” Public Schools Chancellor Aviles-Ramos said in a statement. “By investing in specialized learning environments with trained and supportive educators, we not only address immediate needs but also lay the foundation for lifelong success."
