Despite day camps, day cares and the rest of the county opening up, certain special education programs have not been given permission by the county to reopen, despite Governor Cuomo's explicit permission. On June 5th he signed an Executive Order, “Notwithstanding any prior Executive Order to the contrary, special education services and instruction required under Federal, state or local laws, rules, or regulations, may be provided in person for the summer term in school districts.”

On June 16, we were informed that live services in our childrens' special needs schools (4410 schools) are cancelled due to the Rockland Health Department refusing permission to reopen.

Excuses given by the Rockland Health Department which oversee these 4410 individual schools why they will not open, include:

"This morning on GOOD MORNING AMERICA when the Governor was asked about school in September, he stated 'he doesn’t know yet.' "

We fail to see how this statement explains why our special education cannot open now, when he has explicitly permitted it in his executive order. This is not an acceptable excuse.

"Based upon all of the information above as well as the extensive guidance document from the New York State Department of Health, which requires significant preparation and planning to ensure the health and safety of the students as well as the staff, 4410 preschool programs will remain virtual this summer."

We have seen no attempt at preparation by the Rockland Health Department. No surveys were given out to parents to get a baseline for attendance, in order to make plans. Despite schools being willing and prepared to open, they were not even given the opportunity by the Rockland Health Department. Day cares and day camps for the general needs population are opening with similar guidelines from the State and have had no problem adhering to the rules. Why are our special needs children, the most vulnerable population of all, who desperately need these services, being singled out?

The IDEA includes requirements that schools provide each disabled student an education that: is designed to meet the unique needs of that one student
is provided in accordance with the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) as defined in 1414(d)(3). results in educational benefit to the child

Remote learning is not designed to meet the unique needs of young, special needs children. Most of these children have sensory issues, attention issues and require in person gestures, cues and prompts. Many parents have stopped logging on to these remote learning sessions as there is no gain and it only adds more stress for the child to be forced to sit behind a screen. Therefore, these children are not getting any educational benefit or getting the services in accordance with their IEP. There is an option to open that the Rockland Health Department is refusing to allow. We have not seen any proof that they have planned appropriately to try to reopen. We appeal to you, to help our children, who are regressing without services since Mid March. Early childhood years are a critical period for brain development. All the more so for children with developmental disabilities, autism and physical disabilities. We demand that these children resume their live, in person services effective this summer, in accordance with Governer Cuomo's order, and in accordance with the rights of our children to these services, as specified by the IDEA. It is unethical and unfathomable that as the state and county open up this vulnerable population is being overlooked.