Annual Appeal
Dear Friend,
The assignment is to make an abstract picture during a workshop. One by one, using fine and gross motor skills and sensory input, a trio of four-year-olds creates beautiful art. The first one laughs happily,… the second grins playfully,… and the third has a twinkle in her eye amid girly giggles. All take on the project with gusto, interacting and chatting with classmates along the way.
These are the Santana triplets, and they simply love preschool. Faith, Grace and Joy attend the Mill Neck Manor Early Childhood Center (ECC), where all three girls are members of the integrated program, a class for both children with special needs and their typically developing peers. The sisters, each with a variety of special needs, began the ECC journey in three different classrooms. Today, they 
are successful preschoolers who have met a series of related goals. In August, they will graduate and transition into kindergarten in their home school district.
With developmental, behavioral and learning disabilities on the rise, there is much that remains poorly understood, from cause to cure. However, there is one widely accepted fact: early and intensive intervention can have a profound impact on the quality of life for children at risk and their families. That is why I am writing to you today about the importance of early detection and intervention. I invite you to join our mission because we simply cannot do it without your financial support.
Since 1991, the ECC has helped over 700 children, supported their families and strengthened dozens of communities across Long Island. The ECC provides services to children, ages 3 and 4, with deficits in the areas of speech language/communication, cognitive, fine and gross motor development. This includes Autism spectrum disorders, a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. Related services, such as speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy, are provided according to each child’s Individual Education Plan. Social work and family support services are offered through parent support groups, parent training, parent workshops and parent council meetings.
With your gift, the spirit of a child with special needs can be one of hope and promise. Like the Santana triplets, the majority of children graduate from the ECC to kindergarten in their home school districts. Recognizing the early signs can be a challenge for parents and healthcare professionals alike. Through our comprehensive assessment center, the ECC provides assessments for local preschool children suspected of having developmental delays. Over 1,800 assessments have been conducted to date, which include psychological, speech/language, educational, audiological, occupational therapy and physical therapy evaluations.
In addition to our center-based program on the Mill Neck Manor campus, the ECC offers an integrated class at Oyster Babies in Oyster Bay and an integrated class in Locust Valley. There is no cost to a family or school district for a child with special needs to attend. The ECC is supported by New York State and the Department of Mental Health. Since the program opened, we have seen more and more children enter the program with additional disabilities. While these children are requiring more intensive services, our New York State funding doesn’t cover the cost of providing these additional services.
Please help us. Time is of the essence for a child with special needs under the age of four. Please make your tax-deductable, online contribution today to benefit the Mill Neck Manor Early Childhood Center. Faith, Grace and Joy are three of the many precious reasons why you should. Whatever you can give is appreciated – it all adds up! On behalf of the hundreds of families who look to the ECC for help – thank you.
Sincerely,
Mark R. Prowatzke, Ph.D.
Executive Director
With developmental, behavioral and learning disabilities on the rise, there is much that remains poorly understood, from cause to cure. However, there is one widely accepted fact: early and intensive intervention can have a profound impact on the quality of life for children at risk and their families. That is why I am writing to you today about the importance of early detection and intervention. I invite you to join our mission because we simply cannot do it without your financial support.
Since 1991, the ECC has helped over 700 children, supported their families and strengthened dozens of communities across Long Island. The ECC provides services to children, ages 3 and 4, with deficits in the areas of speech language/communication, cognitive, fine and gross motor development. This includes Autism spectrum disorders, a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. Related services, such as speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy, are provided according to each child’s Individual Education Plan. Social work and family support services are offered through parent support groups, parent training, parent workshops and parent council meetings.
With your gift, the spirit of a child with special needs can be one of hope and promise. Like the Santana triplets, the majority of children graduate from the ECC to kindergarten in their home school districts. Recognizing the early signs can be a challenge for parents and healthcare professionals alike. Through our comprehensive assessment center, the ECC provides assessments for local preschool children suspected of having developmental delays. Over 1,800 assessments have been conducted to date, which include psychological, speech/language, educational, audiological, occupational therapy and physical therapy evaluations.
In addition to our center-based program on the Mill Neck Manor campus, the ECC offers an integrated class at Oyster Babies in Oyster Bay and an integrated class in Locust Valley. There is no cost to a family or school district for a child with special needs to attend. The ECC is supported by New York State and the Department of Mental Health. Since the program opened, we have seen more and more children enter the program with additional disabilities. While these children are requiring more intensive services, our New York State funding doesn’t cover the cost of providing these additional services.
Please help us. Time is of the essence for a child with special needs under the age of four. Please make your tax-deductable, online contribution today to benefit the Mill Neck Manor Early Childhood Center. Faith, Grace and Joy are three of the many precious reasons why you should. Whatever you can give is appreciated – it all adds up! On behalf of the hundreds of families who look to the ECC for help – thank you.
Sincerely,
Mark R. Prowatzke, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Featured Projects
Special Events
This year's Walk4Hearing is on Sunday, October 17. Join as a walker or support a team member!
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