May 23, 2020

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo

Governor of New York State

NYS State Capitol Building

Albany, NY 12224

Dear Governor Cuomo:

We are writing in request for your re-consideration to open summer educational programs for special needs students. While we understand your decision to close schools for the remainder of the academic school year ending in June, we ask you to reconsider your decision to keep all schools closed through the summer.  

My son attends school at the Center for Spectrum Services in Ulster County, while the teachers, therapists and staff have all been doing their best at trying to provide a remote learning system via Zoom it has not been successful for my child as well as countless others. The specific needs of these children is too significant for remote learning due to their intensive behavioral and physical needs.  It is simply not feasible for the special needs community.

Apart from  the state curriculum, these children are also being deprived of  crucial services such as the medical necessity of  ABA (applied behavior analysis) , Speech therapy, Occupational therapy and Physical therapy. If the special needs schools remain closed until the return in the fall, our children will have been without essential services for a total of 24 weeks. This is devastating for both the children and their families. As we are approaching the 10th week of schools being closed, severe regression has been noted amongst our children.

As our state begins to re open, we as parents, educators, and supporters are seeking your imperative help in this matter; our children need you to advocate for them more so now than ever.  Most class sizes are under 10 students, just as other establishments begin to resume business following necessary protocol, we are confident we can do the same and make all necessary modifications. Our children's well being- academically, emotionally and socially rests upon your decision to open programs crucial to their development. 

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention, time and help in this key and urgent matter.

We are all in this together, 

Sincerely, 

Stephanie Jovine