The New York Institute for Special Education(NYISE) supports four quality programs for children who are blind or visually disabled, emotionally and learning disabled and preschoolers who are developmentally delayed.

• The Schermerhorn Program recognizes our 176 year commitment to children who are blind and visually impaired. Many of these children, who range in age from 5 to 21 years, have a mild secondary disability and need a specialized educational environment in order to be successful in school. Students are placed in either the day or five day residential program.


• The children of the Van Cleve Program have emotional or learning difficulties. The highly structured educational day and residential component includes specialized services such as counseling for the students and their families. Our goal is to reduce the behavioral and learning deficits of students by providing academic and social skills necessary to enter less restrictive programs.


• The Readiness Program is a pre-school that helps children who are developmentally delayed from ages 3 to 5. They have disabilities that include speech impairment, mild orthopedic impairment, or a learning or emotional disability. By providing specialized instruction, intensive therapies and early intervention many are able to be mainstreamed or are placed in a least restrictive educational environment when they reach the age of five.


• As the only Summer Camp program in New York City for children that are blind or visually impaired, Camp Wanaqua is truely a unique offering of NYISE. Totally dependant on private support the camp provides children with classes, field trips, and activities that focus on the development of critical life skills. Applications are accepted each Spring. Please contact Jack Cuggy, the Camp Director at (718) 519-7000 x372 or email your request to jackcuggy@yahoo.com.