Students with Disabilities

Today, most UFT members have daily contact with students with disabilities. They attend community schools and high schools and receive instruction in classrooms alongside their non-disabled peers. For students with the most significant needs, services are provided by District 75 in programs that are co-located in community schools or in special facilities.

Students with disabilities receive services from a wide range of UFT members including general and special education teachers, paraprofessionals, school psychologists and social workers, speech teachers, guidance counselors, occupational and physical therapists, audiologists and school nurses.

Our mission is to ensure that all of our city’s children, including those with disabilities and challenges, receive the supports and services they need to achieve and have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

The UFT supports members who work with students with disabilities by:

Providing information on federal, state and NYC Department of Education laws, regulations and policies pertaining to the education of students with disabilities;
Advocating for research-based programs and services;
Assisting members and parents in enforcing state regulations and obtaining IEP-mandated supports and services for students with disabilities through the special education complaint process;
Collaborating with parents, advocates and disability groups to improve services for students with disabilities;
Visiting schools at the request of the chapter leader to discuss special education issues, answer questions and provide feedback to the building administration;
Holding citywide meetings where members can receive information regarding new policy initiatives;
Working closely with functional chapters whose members serve students with disabilities;
Informing and engaging members regarding pending legislative and regulatory changes affecting special education

The information presented in the topical sections listed in the navigation bar at left is taken directly from the current New York State Education Department and New York City Department of Education publications cited at the end of each section.

Need help?

Contact your school’s chapter leader if you have questions or concerns about special education issues in your building. Additional support is also available from your UFT district representative and from the special education liaisons in the UFT borough offices.

Questions regarding special education laws, regulations and policies may be addressed to Carmen Alvarez, UFT Vice President at Large, Special Education at calvarez@uft.org.

Special Education Complaint Form

The UFT has an online Special Education Complaint Form for members to alert the union about special education violations. Use the link above to find out more about the UFT Special Education Complaint process and to file a complaint.

File a Special Education Complaint >>

SESIS

The UFT has been trying for months to get the Department of Education to acknowledge the problems with its implementation of the Special Education Student Information System (SESIS). The union knows that members are laboring with inadequate and often antiquated equipment, painfully slow internet speeds, and limited or no training on the system.

Read an Oct. 14, 2011 email message to members from UFT Vice President Carmen Alvarez offering guidance on SESIS >>

Use our online SESIS issues form to share your concerns with us >>

Have you been directed to complete SESIS-related activities outside your regular work day?

Find out how you can file an individual grievance >>

Raise the Bar campaign

The UFT’s Raise the Bar campaign is a pro-active effort to ensure that students with disabilities get the services, support and resources they need to suceed. The campaign seeks to educate people about the rights of students with disabilities; to encourage educators and parents to file complaints if those rights are being violated; and to insist that if the services students are getting are not enabling them to meet grade-level standards, those services should be adjusted. The Raise the Bar campaign builds on the successful There is NO EXCUSE campaign, during which 3,190 complaints were filed in a sustained effort to ensure that students received the services and help to which they are entitled.

Hotline to report violations: 212-701-9499

File a Special Education Complaint >>

Other Resources

NYC DOE special education publications
Federal laws, regulations and policy guidance
State laws, regulations and policy guidance
Chancellor’s Regulations pertaining to special education
Special education reports
Parent, advocacy and disability organizations
Special education news, blogs and listserves
Research and best practices