National Outreach Award
In October 2010, PIE was awarded the National Outreach Award from Kids Included Together, a California-based organization. The award recognizes PIE’s efforts in regard to inclusion of students with disabilities in New York City.
During the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years, PIE co-sponsored with the NYC Department of Education an Inclusion Celebration, which provided all students in the City the opportunity to express their ideas about what it means to be a part of an inclusive school community through a creative and artistic medium. Both years, the project culminated with approximately 200 students coming together to celebrate inclusion and share their artwork with one another.
PIE worked with another special education coalition within NYC to host a series of Speak Outs for parents of students with disabilities. The events provided parents a chance to share stories about their children’s educational experience and to meet other parents with similar issues and concerns.
PIE issued “Small Schools, Few Choices: How New York City’s High School Reform Effort Left Students with Disabilities Behind,” in October 2006. The report detailed how New York City’s small high school reform effort left students with disabilities behind. It also influenced significant policy changes within the Department of Education that resulted in more schools admitting students with special needs and the creation of a Frequently-Asked-Questions Guide for students transitioning to high school.
Increased access to information for parents of children with special needs entering Kindergarten – specifically advocating for and assisting in the creation of the Turning Five Transition Fairs and Orientation