Community-Centered Empowerment

Organizes social events and community programs for children and young adults on the autism spectrum, as well as family-inclusive activities designed to foster friendships, social growth, and a supportive, judgment-free environment. These events are offered across various age groups and aim to build local networks for families affected by autism.

Offers a supportive community network for families of children and young adults with autism and related special needs, facilitating connections between families to promote mutual support and inclusion regardless of specific diagnosis.

Provides Day Habilitation services in Brooklyn and Queens for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, and operates a Community Habilitation (Com Hab) program to support developmentally disabled individuals in building communication, confidence, independence, self-care, and daily living skills.

Through the Birch Training Institute, provides comprehensive training and professional development to educators, clinicians, direct support professionals, and administrators, including CTLE, ASHA CEUs, and NYS-mandated trainings in child abuse identification, school violence prevention, and autism, serving both internal staff and external agencies across the Tri-State area.

Organizes annual events including a 5K race, Golf Classic, and Soirée to raise funds and awareness, engage supporters, and celebrate community accomplishments, with recent events drawing hundreds to thousands of participants and raising over $120,000.

Provides specialized therapeutic and educational services for children with developmental delays and typically developing preschoolers through early childhood programs in New York City, including the Riverdale Early Childhood Center in the Bronx, funded by NYC DECE.

Runs the Phyllis L. Sussman School for Exceptional Children in Flushing, serving children ages 5–21 with autism, developmental delays, emotional disabilities, severe speech and language impairments, and traumatic brain injuries, and operates the Birch Annex in Washington Heights for children ages 5–8 with autism.

Operates 20 residences in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens that provide 24-hour care for adolescents and adults with severe developmental disabilities, offering housing and supervision as part of lifelong support services.

Offers training for parents and families on communication, behavior management, applied behavior analysis, self-help skills, and community integration, and hosts a monthly Family Support Group for discussion, sharing, and mutual support.

Runs the New Frontier Program Initiative and offers customized employment services including internships, job training, and job placement to support individuals with autism spectrum disorder in transitioning from high school to employment and independent living.

Offers scholarships as its primary program activity.

Organizes family-centered community events such as screenings of autism-relevant media, hands-on activities, and child-focused collection-sharing opportunities, including sensory accommodations like sensory rooms to support inclusive participation.

Creates and distributes educational materials, including downloadable water safety posters and resource lists for support groups, to families, caregivers, and service providers in the Western New York area.

Sends email updates to inform the autism community in Western New York about upcoming events, workshops, and support opportunities.

Provides information and referral services to individuals with autism, their families, caregivers, and professionals across the lifespan, including support for diagnosis, treatment, education programs, and community resources in Western New York. Services are delivered via website, email, phone, and virtual platforms.

Provides up to ten sessions of individualized training and support to children with disabilities and their families to help them participate in community activities.

Offers monthly virtual support group meetings via Zoom for family caregivers of children with special needs, including a dedicated group for parents of children with ADHD or suspected learning differences, focusing on shared experiences and coping strategies.

Hosts biannual and monthly virtual workshops and webinars on topics including autism research, IEP development, supported decision-making, and water safety, often featuring experts and including Q&A sessions. One workshop on autism research was attended by over 300 people.