named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Community Job Skills Partnerships
Partnerships with local businesses and organizations that provide high school students with opportunities to practice job skills in real-life settings.
Individualized ABA Education Program
Provides 30 hours per week of intensive, evidence-based instruction rooted in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with a 1:1 teacher-to-student ratio, tailored to the needs of students with autism.
Peer Mentoring Program
Facilitates social interaction between NYCACS students and typically developing peers from other local public schools to promote inclusion and mutual understanding.
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Autism & Neurodiversity Education Workshops 3 activities
- Advocate for autism education through public engagementConducts workshop presentations at city, state, national, and international conferences on autism education, participates as expert panelists, and attends local Community Board meetings in New York City to influence policy and practice.
- Conduct professional development and outreach for educatorsShares best practices in autism education with teachers in New York City public schools and hosts education and autism professionals from around the world for outreach and knowledge exchange. Conducts outreach efforts to disseminate educational practices to the broader autism community.
- Offer consultation and training to schools and organizationsOffers consultation and training to other schools, organizations, and businesses in the New York City area and beyond, sharing expertise in autism education and evidence-based practices.
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Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy Services 1 activity
- Deliver intensive, individualized ABA-based instructionProvides 30 hours per week of intensive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) instruction using a 1:1 teacher-to-student ratio in most classrooms, delivering individualized, evidence-based educational services tailored to students with autism spectrum disorder.
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Social Skills Development for Neurodiverse Youth 1 activity
- Facilitate peer mentoring programs with local public schoolsOperates a peer mentoring program that connects students with peers from other local public schools through structured training and facilitated interaction sessions, supporting social skill generalization and fostering strong, lasting social connections for students with autism.
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Charter School Operations 1 activity
- Operate public charter schools for students with autismOperates two public charter schools in New York City, located in East Harlem (opened 2005) and the South Bronx (opened 2017), serving children, adolescents, and young adults with autism spectrum disorder. As the first public charter school network in New York State exclusively serving students with autism, admissions are determined by lottery with a waitlist maintained for available seats.
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Day Habilitation Services 1 activity
- Provide community-based instruction for independent livingTeaches students skills to function independently in home and community settings, including using public transit, crossing streets safely, and shopping at supermarkets, through structured community-based instruction for teens and young adults.
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Autism and Neurodiversity Family Support Services 1 activity
- Provide parent and family support and trainingProvides support and training for parents and family members of students with autism spectrum disorder to enhance their capacity to support their children’s development and transition planning.
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Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
- Provide staff professional developmentOffers ongoing professional development opportunities for staff to enhance instructional quality and support for students with autism.
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Student Career Readiness and Internship Placement 1 activity
- Run work-based learning and internship programsOperates a work internship program where students develop job skills through weekly placements in real work environments, with on-site observations used to inform staff support strategies. Also provides high school students with opportunities to practice work and life skills through partnerships with local businesses.
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Special Education Support Services 1 activity
- Support student inclusion in general education classroomsProvides opportunities for students to participate in classrooms outside their own, with staff accompanying them and collaborating with receiving teachers to support inclusion and exposure to traditional classroom settings.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Support family transition planning for adulthoodProvides a transition handbook with resources and actionable steps to support families in planning for their child's move from school to adulthood.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$8.75M
Contributions & grants$509K6%
Program service revenue$8.02M92%
Investment income$228K3%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$8.47M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$7.20M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$7.15M
Cash$6.56M
Investments$0
Liabilities$578K
Net assets$6.57M
Liquid reserves9.3 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +3.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 6
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JULIE FISHER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $350K |
| TIFFNEY JONES | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 40 | $225K |
| REBECCA BACHAN | HEAD OF SCHOOL | 40 | $176K |
| JESSICA SEEMAN | HEAD OF SCHOOL | 40 | $171K |
| KATHERINE MCAVOY | HEAD OF SCHOOL | 40 | $149K |
| JENNIFER JAYE | HEAD OF SCHOOL | 40 | $148K |
board members · 13
- ALYSIA STEINMANN — TREASURER
- ASHLEY GARRETT — VICE PRESIDENT / SECRETARY
- BENJAMIN HARTMAN — TRUSTEE
- CAROL SANTIAGO — PRESIDENT
- CHRISTINE SANDLER — TRUSTEE
- ELAINE FLORIO — TRUSTEE
- HANNAH HOCH — TRUSTEE
- ILENE LAINER — TRUSTEE
- JASON STOCK — TRUSTEE
- MARK SARETSKY — TRUSTEE
- NAEEMA LIVINGSTON — TRUSTEE
- PAUL O'NEIL — TRUSTEE
- SUSANNA KVAM NORRIS — TRUSTEE
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Autism Speaks Partner — References Autism Speaks 100 Day Kits as a resource for families navigating diagnosis and school supports.
- Central Park East 2 Partner — Shares a building with Central Park East 2 in East Harlem.
- DREAM Charter Pre-K Partner — Shares a building with DREAM Charter Pre-K in East Harlem.
- Donor Advised Funds Funder — Receives grant distributions from Donor Advised Funds to support operations.
- Julie Fisher Partner — Primary contact for board meeting logistics and information
- New York City Department of Education Government — Directs families to NYC DOE’s Specialized Programs page for information on suitable school options and CSE processes.
- New York Collaborates for Autism Network — NYC Autism Charter Schools began as a project under the former New York Center for Autism, now New York Collaborates for Autism.
- Next for Autism Partner — NYC Autism Charter School began as a project under the former New York Center for Autism, now known as Next for Autism.
- PS 212 Partner — Shares a building with PS 212 in the Bronx.
- Parent to Parent of New York State Partner — Lists Parent to Parent of New York State as a resource for caregiver support and sharing of resources.
- Several organizations Partner — Partnerships developed to enhance community-based instruction for students.
- Urban Scholars Community School Partner — Shares a building with Urban Scholars Community School in the Bronx.
- exceptional organizations Partner — Community partners host students in work internship placements.
- receiving teachers Partner — Collaborates with receiving teachers to support student inclusion in general education classrooms.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as Core Instructional Methodologymethodology: applied-behavior-analysisBy using individualized, evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), we improve communication, learning, social behavior, and reduce challenging behaviors in students with autism because ABA is scientifically validated to shape skill acquisition through systematic reinforcement.
- Community-Based Instruction for Real-World Skill Generalizationmethodology: community-based_instructionBy teaching independent living skills in real-world urban environments, we ensure students can generalize learning beyond the classroom because authentic contexts provide natural opportunities for practice and reinforcement.
- Peer Mentoring to Build Social Bridgesmethodology: peer-mentoringBy structuring peer mentor training, we improve social connections between neurotypical students and students with autism because guided interactions increase understanding and create inclusive social networks.
- Phased Inclusion Model for General Education Integrationmethodology: phased_inclusionBy gradually increasing time in general education settings based on demonstrated student success, we promote sustainable inclusion because readiness is developed incrementally and matched to individual capacity.