Early Childhood Direction Center

Overview

The Early Childhood Direction Center (ECDC) is a free, confidential, and neutral Information and Referral, Technical Assistance, and Training Center. Parents of children from birth to age five with known or suspected special needs, as well as professionals who provide any kind of services to children, may access our services. The ECDC at WIHD serves Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties, and is part of a statewide network of 15 ECDCs in New York funded by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).

Information and Referral Services

A parent’s or professional’s concerns about a child from birth to age five may include:

• Prematurity/ Low Birth Weight
• Speech and Language Delays
• Learning Problems
• Behavior Problems
• Deaf/ Hearing Impairments
• Blind/ Visual Impairments
• Emotional Problems
• Mental Retardation
• Physical Disabilities
• Developmental Delays
• Prenatal Drug Exposure
• Health Problems
  

A parent or professional can simply call to speak to a trained counselor, who may provide information about:

• Diagnostic Evaluations
• Early Intervention
• Infant Stimulation Programs
• Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE)
• Preschool Special Education Programs
• Speech Language Therapy
• Occupational and Physical Therapy
• Respite Care & Recreational Programs
• Parent Support & Advocacy Groups
• Medical Services
• Legal & Financial Entitlements
• Mental Health Services

Technical Assistance Services

The ECDC seeks to promote opportunities for preschool children with disabilities in typical early childhood settings. The ECDC offers technical assistance and training to professionals in mainstream and therapeutic early childhood programs, including nursery schools, and day care homes and centers. These services may be provided one-on-one to a particular early childhood site, or through local and regional trainings on topics of interest.

Training Services

For Parents:

The ECDC provides free educational workshops for parents of children throughout the tri-county region. These sessions provide information that is helpful to parents in understanding the public school special education systems, and participating as active members of their child’s CPSE or Committee on Special Education (CSE). The workshops include information about how the CPSE and CSE systems work, including roles, timelines, service options, consideration of least restrictive environment (LRE), parents’ rights, legislation, regulations and policy, and community resources. Additionally, details about referral, eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) development process, annual review, consent, and committee membership are covered.

For Professionals:

The ECDC provides free educational workshops to special education professionals who work within the Early Intervention Program (EIP) and CPSE System. Topics focus on issues related to the provision of services to young children with special needs, including current regulations, best practices, and other emerging topics.

Director:	Suzanne Peretz, M.S.Ed., ECDC
Email:	SPeretz@wihd.org
Phone:	914.493.1709
Staff:	Program Staff

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