Related Services
Our Office of Related and Contractual Services(ORCS) identifies agency or independent providers when DOE providers are unavailable. ORCS continuously collaborates with our schools' related service designees to ensure that all students' related services are met. This includes counseling, interpreting services, occupational therapy, orientation and mobility services, physical therapy, speech-language therapy, vision and hearing educational services, and special transportation paraprofessional supports. ORCS interfaces with schools and families in order to obtain related service providers once Related Service Authorizations(RSAs) are issued. The Office of Clinical Supports and Services works collaboratively with ORCS to ensure that supervisory personnel from each discipline are aware of the placement of contracted and independent personnel.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Supports all K-12 DOE students who are (DHHS) Deaf or Hard of Hearing in the academic setting by developing and strengthening their cognitive and communication skills. Providers holding a DHH license, teach skills and strategies such as: speechreading, auditory training, compensatory language/listening skills, self-advocacy, and the use of HAT (Hearing Assistive Technology) with the support of an HES (Hearing Education Services) Educational Audiologist. Based on the student's preferred mode of communication, we offer Auditory Oral, ASL and Total Communication options in both related service sessions and specialized classrooms.
Speech/Language Therapy
Helps students develop communication skills that include understanding language and expressing their thoughts and ideas. Goals may address:
- Auditory processing (understanding and using the sounds of language)
- Phonological skills (organizing speech sounds)
- Comprehension (understanding language)
- Articulation (forming clear sounds in speech)
- Feeding and Swallowing
- Social language skills (communication with peers)
- Multiple modes of communication (using assistive technology)
NYC DOE Educational Vision Services
The New York City Department of Education’s Educational Vision Services (EVS) is the largest education program in the world serving students who are blind and visually impaired from 3 to 21 years of age. This specialized organization employs over 150 staff members who serve approximately 900 students with vision services, orientation & mobility services, evaluations and parent training. EVS instruction is guided by the Expanded Core Curriculum to support students with visual impairments to prepare for independence in school and the larger community.
Eligibility for Educational Vision Services: Best corrected visual acuity of 20/70 or less in the better eye and/or a field restriction of 60 degrees or less, or restrictions in acuity or field of vision that interfere with the learning process.
Provide EVS with a current eye report from an ophthalmologist or optometrist and must include the visual diagnosis or condition, best corrected visual acuity in both eyes at near and far and visual field information (periphery).
Students must have a Functional Vision Assessment (FVA) or Functional Vision Learning Media Assessment (FVLMA) conducted by a NY State licensed Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI). The TVI will make recommendations for services mandates and frequency.
Eligibility for Orientation & Mobility services:
Student must be eligible for vision services and have a severe visual condition that impacts on student’s ability to navigate independently in the school environment. Students must be evaluated by a certified Orientation & Mobility teacher and who will make recommendations for the service.
Eligibility for Mobility Paraprofessional:
Students must be receiving vision services and Orientation and Mobility services in order to be recommended for a mobility paraprofessional. The Orientation & Mobility teacher must make the recommendation for a mobility paraprofessional in order for that service to be entered into the IEP.
Email Gregory Santamoor, Director, Educational Vision Services at GSantamoor@schools.nyc.gov
Professional Roles in Educational Vision Services:
Teacher of the Blind/Visually Impaired (TVI) provides educational vision instruction in Braille, assistive technology, and compensatory techniques. Assist student to gain full and equal access to the student’s curricula that is IEP driven. The TVI works closely with the student’s school, teachers and related services providers to ensure the student gains the highest level of independence.
Orientation and Mobility Teacher provides instruction for students who are blind or have low vision to learn safe and purposeful travel. O&M teaching is designed to improve the student’s grasp of spatial and environmental concepts and use of information received by the senses for negotiating travel. We teach the use of low vision aids and/or the long cane to supplement visual travel skills for navigating the environment.
Orientation and Mobility Paraprofessional This position, if necessary, is recommended for a student by the student’s O&M Teacher after a thorough evaluation of his or her mobility needs. The one to one mobility paraprofessional works closely with the student to assist him or her to be safe, independent, travel in the school and to participate fully in the student’s classroom all under the direction of the classroom, mobility and vision teachers.
Parent and Families
Educational Vision Services is committed to provide the highest quality of services for students who are visually impaired and attending the NYC Department of Education schools. In the past few years our program has increased efforts in parent and family outreach to include the addition of a Community & Parent Liaison. We have tentative dates for more Student and Parent Empowerment Group events and we will be having more parent meetings by borough throughout the year. We greatly appreciate all of you who have become more involved and for sharing your emails so we are able to send you our Vision Chronicles for the past three years. We are also thrilled that we have over 400 emails from you.
Our goal is for your child to become as independent as possible and to have multiple successes while in school. Because of your increased involvement, we have gotten closer and closer to that essential goal. If there is anything else you would like to learn from us or that you would like to share, please reach out to our Parent Liaison, Ms. Jill Fraticelli at JFraticelli@schools.nyc.gov.
Below is the link to the EVS Vision Chronicles, our website and the E12S eye report form. If you are a new parent and would like to find out if your child is eligible for vision services, please be sure we have a recent copy of the E12S to review. You may contact me directly to get started with services.
From all of the staff at Educational Vision Services, we wish you an excellent 2022-23 School Year and we look forward to continuing to work with you so your child receives the best services.
Sincerely,
Gregory Santamoor
Director, Educational Vision Services
GSantamoor@schools.nyc.gov
Vision Chronicles:
https://www.smore.com/u/thevisionchronicles
EVS Website:
www.edvisionservices.org
Eye report form:
https://www.edvisionservices.org/forms/Eyereport.pdf
School Nurse Services:
The D75 nurses use the nursing process to assess, plan, implement an evaluate the health needs of the children. The medically related school Health Services can only be provided by a professional Registered Nurse in a school setting and/or bus to and from school. They ensure that all children have access to and receive ongoing medical care, including any which should occur in schools. The nurse will provide health education to promote the adoption of healthy behaviors early in life. The nurses will advocate for the health and well-being of the children. They review the medical records to ensure the student's required follow-up is done and coordinate school health services with the multidisciplinary team for the students.