Staten Island Parent - April 2024

FEATURES

12 | i n the n ews

What IVF in New York looks like

20 | tech

Social media & kids safety: an appby-app breakdown

50 | cover

Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn

SToRiES & colUmn S

6 | editor’s letter

8 | community n ews

What’s happening on Staten Island

16 | Ask the e xpert

Coping mechanisms for new moms

24 | Family Fun

Where to see cherry blossoms Th

30 | s pecial child

If you think your child is on the autism spectrum

32 | s pecial child ADHD causes, signs and symptoms

34 | s pecial child

Tips from an expert on dyslexia and early intervention

46 | Bios

Your special needs community

FA mily FU n

52 | c alendar

All the fun activities for April

54 | Family stuff April birthdays

40 | s pecial n eeds listings

on the cover

Photo: Yumi Matsuo | yumimatsuostudio.com

Hair & Makeup: Buffy Saint Marie Hernandez | buffysaintmarie.com

Cover Story: Mia Salas & Donna Duarte- Ladd

Produced by: Donna Duarte- Ladd

Shot on location at: The Soft Space by Mama Glow

Florals: Pic and Petal

pg.

pg. 20

pg. 32

pg. 52

pg. 24

In Bloom

One of my favorite times of year is when winter is winding down and the cherry trees turn a vibrant pink, nature’s beautiful way of announcing spring’s arrival. I’m from a part of Brooklyn where there’s more concrete than foliage, so when I moved to my home in Staten Island and discovered one of these beauties in full bloom, right in my own backyard, I was thrilled! If you love these stunning trees as much as I do, we’re sharing The Best Spots for Seeing Cherry Blossoms (page 24).

Every year in April, we feature resources to assist parents and guardians in their Special Needs journey. Check out our helpful Tips on Dyslexia (page 34), the next steps if you think your Child is Autistic (page 30), and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children (page 32), as well as our Special Needs Resource list (page 40).

Speaking of journeys, we are in the digital generation, and it is vital to understand what kids are doing on their phones and tablets. Our Social Media & Kids App-by-App Breakdown (page 20) is a guide that breaks down kids’ popular apps and how parents/ guardians can prompt safety features to navigate these platforms.

Black Maternal Health Week is honored from April 11–17 this month. It is also

National Minority Health Month. April’s cover mom, Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (page 50), is a strong advocate for maternal health for Black mothers who, through loss, got the “Jonah Bichotte Cowan Law” passed. Rodneyse shares about her path to politics, raising her toddler, and being thankful for her strong support system.

Jeannine

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Email Jeannine at jcintron@siparent.com

Get news, tips and humor all month long: siparent.com/signup

p u B lisher: Clifford Luster

Deputy eD itor: Jeannine Cintron

community content cre Ator: Shara Levine

eD itoriAl Director: Donna Duarte-Ladd

AssociAte p u B lisher: Erin Brof

ADvertising Director: Stacie Goldberg

ADvertising mAnAger: Janine Mulé

DigitAl eDitor: Kaitlyn Riggio

pArtnership mAnAgers: Lauren Alperin, Lauren Anchin, Joan Bergman, Mary Cassidy, Suzanne Cirigliano, Chris Cunnington, Lori Falco, Shelli Goldberg-Peck, LynnMarie Hanley, Lisa Herlihy, Nicole Miller, Nina Spiegelman, Gwen Tomaselli

mArketing & s tr Ategy Director: Rosalia Bobé

mArketing & e vents AssistAnt: Ashley Rivera

sAles & mArketing AssistAnt: Elana Cantor

mArketing AssistAnt: Tilejah Gilead

eDitoriAl AssistAnt: Alexa Lutter

Art Director: Leah Mitch

We B Developer: Sylvan Migdal

g r Aphic Designers:

Arthur Arutyunov, Connie Sulsenti

conTAc T inFoRm ATion

ADvertising : (718) 260-4554

Advertising@NewYorkFamily.com

circul Ation: (718) 260-8336

Tina@NewYorkFamily.com

ADD ress:

New York Family Media/Schneps Media

1 MetroTech Center North, Third Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201

p resi D ent: Victoria Schneps-Yunis

ceo : Joshua Schneps

coo : Clifford Luster

New York Family has been awarded the PMA Gold Award for for Overall Design and Bronze for Website General Excellence.

New

What’s Happening on S TATE n iS l A nd

electric school Buses soon to hit neW york city streets

A more sustainable future is coming our way! Under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Grant Program, 180 new electric school buses will soon hit the city streets, quadrupling the current number. The federallyfunded initiative furthers Mayor Adams plans to grow the city’s green economy and create highquality, sustainable, and equitable infrastructure in New York City.

“Sustainability touches every part of our school system, from the lessons being taught in our classes, to the waste reduction programs in our cafeterias, to solar energy supporting our schools, and now, to electric buses bringing our kids to and from school each day,” said

p. s . 55 unDer Fire AFter hunDreDs oF Books tr AsheD outsiDe school

The Department of Education is currently investigating an Eltingville elementary school after hundreds of books were found in boxes by the trash outside the school. The discarded books were found by P.S. 55 The Henry M. Boehm School in March and featured themes of LGBTQ+ and race, topics which some parents in the community argue have no place in schools.

Some of the books were found with notes attached citing the controversial reason for their removal. “Our country has no room and it’s not fair” was written on one book about immigration, and another read “Not

approved. Discusses dad being transgender. Teenage girls having a crush on another girl in class.”

“Our public schools do not shy away from books that teach students about the diverse people and communities that make up the fabric of our society. We do not condone the messages found on these books and we are conducting an investigation to understand what happened in this situation,” the DOE said.

It is not yet apparent whether the notes in the books were authored by parents or school staff.

By Alex A lutter

neW coviD rules in schools

While Covid hasn’t gone away, its hefty restrictions certainly have. As of March, New York City public schools are following new Covid guidance from the DOE.

While students and faculty were previously encouraged to isolate for five days if they tested positive for the virus, they are now advised to treat their diagnosis similar to a cold or the flu.

According to the DOE’s website, kids and staff with Covid should “stay home for at least 24 hours, or until they have no fever without taking fever-reducing medicine and other Covid symptoms are getting better.”

The site also states that if your child tests positive but has no symptoms, they do not need to stay home but instead, they “still need to take steps to prevent spreading the virus to others.”

Some of the steps suggested for preventing the spread are practicing good hygiene, wearing a mask, and keeping a distance from others.

Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. “It is essential that we make every effort to do right by our kids.”

tottenville high school & neW york coAst guArD coll AB

A post from the New York Coast Guard Facebook page recently revealed a cool collaboration with students from Tottenville High School through NYC’s Career Discovery Week, a DOE initiative to enrich students with hands-on workplace experiences.

Tottenville students were able to visit the Fort Wadsworth Coast Guard Sector, where they were familiarized with the equipment and jobs done at the New York Coast Guard. This program allows students to go behind the scenes of various workplaces and learn from the experts themselves.

The New York Coast Guard posted, “At Sector New York, we’re passionate about inspiring the next generation of leaders and introducing students to the incredible opportunities available in the maritime industry.”

Discover learning that engages beyond the classroom and promotes higher intellect, creativity, and confidence.

718.303.7803 statenislandacademy.org

The Future of IVF in New York

By BarBara russo

As many now know – in yet another shock to families and women’s rights since the reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, last month Alabama’s Supreme Court ruled that embryos are considered children, a move that put many IVF (in vitro fertilization) services on hold throughout the state. While state bills protecting IVF treatments were rushed into proposal following the ruling, what could this entire legal process mean for the future of fertility treatment, especially in New York? Here’s what New York women and families need to know.

What is IVF, what is the Alabama ruling and how did it come to be?

IVF is a type of reproductive treatment that many couples use when they are having trouble conceiving.

The Alabama ruling making headlines recently stems from a court case involving couples who had children via IVF at a fertility clinic within the state. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health gives a summary of the case.

In short, the couples’ additional embryos were being cryo-preserved but were destroyed

during an incident at the clinic. The couples initiated lawsuits, with one claim brought under the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act. Ultimately, the state’s Supreme Court said the embryos were, in fact, people.

The push to protect IVF in New York and across the country

IVF is currently protected in New York State. It is even covered by health insurance in many cases.

Joanne Rosen, JD, MA, an expert at reproductive law and co-director, Center for Law and the Public’s Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said that it is unlikely that New York would halt IVF.

In fact, following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, New York has taken several steps to protect and expand abortion access. For example, the state has enacted “shield laws” to protect healthcare providers here who perform abortions from criminal prosecutions by states that ban abortion.

“New York has also placed a constitutional amendment on the 2024 election ballot that would guarantee equal treatment with respect to reproductive healthcare and autonomy,” Rosen said. “In

light of these strong protections for abortion access and reproductive autonomy, I think it is highly unlikely that New York state, either through court decision or legislation, would treat in vitro embryos as ‘persons’ for the purposes of wrongful death or criminal homicide laws.”

But even in a protected state like New York, lawmakers are concerned about the future IVF.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New York’s junior senator, is taking precautionary action, calling for the passage of the Access to Family Building Act, legislation that would protect access to IVF and other fertility treatments.

Gillibrand called the Alabama court’s ruling “dangerous” with the potential to limit IVF across the country.

“This ruling could have extreme implications nationwide, including in New York,” the senator said. “It will make it harder for women to access infertility treatments, put doctors at risk of legal action and establish a dangerous precedent that may be used by conservative courts to issue similar rulings in other states.”

If put into law, the Access to Family Building Act would establish access to IVF

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and other fertility treatments as a federally protected right.

“Women deserve to start or grow their families without government interference, and I’m committed to making sure they can,” Gillibrand said.

Elected officials from other states agree. Democratic senators from across the country, including states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts and Florida, support the Access to Family Building Act.

Many Republicans are in agreement with Democrats on the issue, too. The Alabama bills protecting IVF clinics from prosecution and civil lawsuits advanced with bipartisan support, according to the Associated Press.

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, discussed his and his wife’s fertility issues on CNN last weekend, saying about the Alabama ruling, “This is not the position of the Republican party.”

He added that he’s hopeful the state legislature in Alabama “will resolve this issue” but will also support federal action if needed.

“This ruling ... will make it harder for women to access infertility treatments, put doctors at risk of legal action and establish a dangerous precedent that may be used by conservative courts to issue similar rulings in other states.”

What are New York women saying?

Upper East Side residents, Ashley Gildin Spitzer and her husband Jon, used IVF to conceive their ‘twiblings.’ After a daunting, multi-year process, Ashley finally became pregnant with her daughter while a surrogate gave birth four months later to her son. The couple’s daughter will be 3 in July, and their son will be 3 in November.

Spitzer said she was saddened when she heard about the Alabama ruling last month, describing it as “another thing to worry about” when it comes to women’s rights.

“This is science, and it’s helping so many families,” Spitzer said. “Fertility patients go through so much to get to IVF that they shouldn’t have to fear making decisions and the repercussions to start or grow their families.”

Kathy Shamoun, a New York-based acupuncturist, sees many patients at her practice who want to reduce their stress levels, including women who are undergoing IVF. She said she was “chilled” when she heard about the Alabama ruling.

“It’s chilling news for me because I am so staunchly an advocate of reproductive rights, and so staunchly an advocate for abortion as healthcare,” she said. “Removing abortion is endangering women’s lives.”

Shamoun also offered her thoughts on the economic side of limiting IVF in states such as Alabama.

“You better believe that IVF clinics in protected states where there are no restrictive abortion laws are welcoming with open arms the influx of money that people in Alabama can pay,” she said.

The Baby Blues, Stress or More?

Coping mechanisms for new moms, and knowing when therapy may be the next step

By Donna Duarte-LaDD

When my youngest was a little over a year old, I went for my annual medical and shared with my doctor that I was losing my hair and felt deep bouts of sadness and stress. I explained that my son was adopted, so I could not be going through postpartum.

My doctor let out a bit of a gasp. “You don’t have to give actual birth to feel these stresses,” she shared. I found out later that what I was feeling was called Adoption Depression, essentially the postpartum term for when you adopt. Time has passed since that doctor visit, and I have learned whether you call it the baby blues or postpartum depression when we are in the throes of it, many of us tend to dismiss it as part of the norm of being a new parent or having a newborn. Sure, a learning curve is involved when having a new human to care for while carrying your family, working, and balancing life. But when is it more? When do you need to talk to someone, get out with friends, or seek professional help such as therapy?

We connected with Jessica Alonso, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and therapist at Two Chairs who helps clients deal with their challenging feelings safely and practically. She thinks it’s crucial for all of us, especially new moms, to lean on our community during rough times and significant life changes.

What are some signs that the anxiety and depression a mom is feeling is more than typical stress or “baby blues”?

While it is definitely expected that one

of stress associated with becoming a parent, particularly a mother, there are particular indicators that signal that a mom is struggling with more than the adjustment of becoming a parent to a newborn. Some of the signs and symptoms that may indicate a need for additional evaluation and assistance are a mother who is experiencing intrusive and repetitive thoughts about harm coming to her baby, while also engaging in avoidance behaviors to minimize the perceived threat to their child and in order to minimize being triggered. Many women will also display a great deal of guilt and shame surrounding these intrusive thoughts and may become so preoccupied within their own fear and apprehension, that they may report finding it difficult to bond with their child. Women may exhibit a number of signs of postpartum mental health decline, such as becoming very labile, an increased sense of hyper-vigilance, poor selfcare, social isolation, not allowing others to engage with the child, and an overall decline in their baseline functioning.

How can a parent who is feeling anxiety and overwhelming stress ask family members,

ner, for understanding and support?

The fact is that being a new parent brings an indescribable amount of joy, along with a daunting amount of responsibility and exhaustion. It can be extremely difficult to think clearly when running on little to no sleep. That said, it can be beneficial for a new mom to keep a notepad around in order to jot down some bullet points of things that she may need assistance with (i.e. meal prep, house cleaning, extra support for sleep, assistance paying bills, etc…). Additionally, engaging in more frequent conversations with a partner, family, and friends can help “demystify” a new mother’s heightened levels of stress, while anchoring and normalizing her experiences, especially if she has other moms in her circle that can serve as a sounding board or point of reference.

What key signs indicate a mom’s next step is therapy?

If a new mom finds that she is experiencing difficulty with repetitive, intrusive, distressing and debilitating thoughts re: her child’s safety and often finds herself engaged in avoidance behaviors for her child’s perceived safety and/or to avoid

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being “triggered” herself, this may be a good indicator that additional support in the form of therapy may be needed or indicated. In addition, if a new mom is exhibiting a continued and progressive decline in her ability to perform her self-care, she may inadvertently be asking for additional help that may come in the form of therapy.

What role does a supportive network play when dealing with anxiety?

A supportive network plays a critical role for all individuals and especially for new parents. Having a supportive network in place serves as a safety net and allows for a new mom to feel more comfortable asking for help, voicing any worries or concerns that she may be encountering, assists in preventing feelings of isolation, and provides ideas and perspective to new parents.

What are some expert advice on coping strategies or techniques for dealing with anxiety and depression when in the throes of motherhood?

As a recent first time mom myself, I think

“The fact is that being a new parent brings an indescribable amount of joy, along with a daunting amount of responsibility and exhaustion.”

it is so important to remember that there is no such thing as a “perfect” parent nor is there a handbook provided “upon discharge” from the hospital or birthing center. It is important to remind yourself that you’re doing the best that you can and to practice self-love and grounding techniques as often as possible (this includes remembering to breathe deeply and to go outdoors for some fresh air and sunlight, as often as possible). Making time not only for yourself, but to reconnect with your spouse and/ or partner is critical too. This allows for open dialogue, emotional reconnection, and an awareness surrounding each other’s feelings, concerns, and needs. And lastly, remembering that support is available to you, should you need it and that you are most definitely not alone is a must! There are quite literally organizations world-wide dedicated to providing support to parents in the postpartum period (free of charge & 24/7), such as PSI – Postpartum Support

International. It takes a village to raise a child, so reach out to your “village members” if/when you feel the need.

About our expert:

Jessica Alonso is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and therapist at Two Chairs in Miami. She enjoys working with clients to identify their personal strengths as well as assisting them in finding relief from their distressing symptoms in a safe and solution-focused manner. Jessica’s motivation for helping clients is rooted in her strong belief that we all need help from our community during stressful periods and transitions throughout our life. She has her Perinatal Mental Health certification and practices many modalities of therapy including systems theory therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness therapy.

Social Media & Kids Safety

An app-by-app breakdown

BY MIA SALAS & DONNA DUARTE�LADD

Social media is constantly in the news, as well as the safety of kids and how they use it. Here in New York City, Mayor Adams is currently one of the leading voice on the effects of social media on young people’s mental health.

Last year, United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory stating that “More research is needed to fully understand the impact of social media; however, the current body of evidence indicates that while social media may have benefits for some children and adolescents, there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”

Yet, our kids, for the most part, will have social media in their lives even if they do not own a phone or are on an app. For us parents who allow our kids to be on certain apps know that social media opens up their children to new ideas and experiences, but it can also be scary. As parents, we want to ensure our kids are staying safe. Yet this can be tricky when we don’t know what content they’re seeing on their phones or tablets.

That’s why we put together an easy guide on kids’ safety on this age group’s favorite social media platforms. We’ll cover what controls the platforms offer to ensure content is right for a young audience.

While some platforms offer a “kids” version of the app, others have a strict 13+ age restriction. So it’s super important that you see which apps your kids download and make sure they’re entering their birthday right.

Read on to learn more about privacy, messaging, and parental controls for kids on social media.

Instagram safety measures

Privacy: In our opinion, Instagram is one of the leaders in safety initiatives in social apps. If you’re under 16, your account is set to private by default. This means anyone who wants to follow your kids will have to send them a request. Strangers won’t be able to see or comment on

their posts unless they accept the request.

Messaging : Instagram restricts people over 19 from sending private messages to teens who don’t follow them. If an adult tries to message your child (and they don’t already follow that adult), the adult will get a notification that DM’ing them isn’t allowed.

Other protections : There are several other safety measures in place for teens on Instagram. For example, the content they post won’t be shown to suspicious adults in Explore, Reels of “Accounts Suggested for You.” Adults flagged as suspicious also won’t be able to see teen accounts in follower and following lists, see who likes posts, or see comments from teens on other posts.

Tools for parents : Instagram’s Family Center is helpful for it guides parents and guardians on managing their teens’ activity on the platform. It includes tools such as setting time limits, managing who can message their teen, viewing their activity, and controlling who can see their teen’s posts. This aims to provide parents with greater supervision and management over their teen’s Instagram experience, promoting safer and more responsible usage. Several controls are available to parents to help monitor your child’s activity on Instagram. Parental Supervision lets you set time limits, schedule breaks, see their time spent on Instagram, see their followers and who they follow, shared connections, who they’ve blocked or reported, and see their privacy setting selections.

Something worth knowing : Instagram will also allow you to request your child’s photo removed from an account.

YouTube and YouTube Kids safety measures

In total transparency, we have teenagers, and there is no way that our tweens and teens want anything but YouTube, not YouTube kids. YouTube kids are for the younger set still in the sweet phase and will not go the sneaky path and search for content they know 100 percent would not be okay for the devoted adult who cares about their mental and social growth.

For instance, at home, this editor uses trust in what our teenagers search for, and so far, it is going well. However, every tween/teen experience is different. If you wish to have some management over your child’s YouTube experience, you can set up a supervised YouTube Account. You can place some firewalls; however, they are not impenetrable, and inappropriate content can find its way in.

YouTube Kids : YouTube has an entirely secure experience for kids with YouTube Kids. It’s a family-friendly version of YouTube that uses automated filters to ensure the content shown is appropriate for kids.

Tool for Parents : Parents have full access to YouTube Kids, making it easy to know what your kids are watching. You can create individual profiles for each of your kids, decide what content to make available for your kids, set a timer to limit screen time, see recent videos your kids have been watching, and more.

Something worth knowing : If content that isn’t family-friendly shows up on YouTube Kids, you always flag it for removal from the app or block the account entirely.

There’s also a built-in timer to help limit

your kid’s screen time. It can stop the app when their time is up so you don’t have to do it yourself!

TikTok safety measures

This is the tough one, as kids are obsessed with this app. While guiding younger kids on watching TikTok is more manageable, the older kids can be a different story. Many reports have deemed this particular app as dangerous.

Privacy : TikTok offers “Family Pairing,” which pairs your account with your kid’s account. This gives you access to more privacy, content, and well-being settings and helps you see what your kids are watching. You can even turn searching on and off within the app if you don’t want your kids to search for things independently.

Other protections : TikTok offers granular controls to manage what your child can do and see on the app. These include filtering comments, blocking accounts, setting screen time limits, and disabling video downloads.

You can also set a daily screen time limit so your kids don’t spend too much time scrolling.

Our kids will have social media in their lives even if they do not own a phone or are on an app.

Something Worth Knowing

: Beyond Family Pairing, you can also turn on Restricted Mode. This hides content that might not be appropriate for kids and teens.

Snapchat safety measures

Privacy : Snapchat has several controls in place to give you peace of mind that your kids are using the app appropriately. First, contact settings for teens are set to friends and contacts only by default. This means adult strangers can reach out to them. They can also only share their location with friends on Snap Map. Teens often get reminders to review and update their privacy settings and security, ensuring they don’t get hacked.

Messaging : Only friends can communicate one-on-one on Snapchat for teens. So unless they are friends on the app or they have

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their contact already in their phone, the adult wouldn’t be able to contact your child. Teens also don’t show up in search results, which is intentional so their accounts are less discoverable to adults. If at any point your kids feel uncomfortable talking to someone, they can block the account so they’re not able to reach out again.

Other protections : Snapchat actively reviews and recognizes severe harms, and they’ll disable those accounts causing them. They make it difficult for bad actors to rejoin Snapchat, therefore keeping the app a safe place. Their Global Trust & Safety Team works 24/7 so they can act quickly on inappropriate behavior.

Tools for parents : Parents can set stricter content limits beyond the ones already in place. Snapchat’s Family Center allows parents to monitor who teens are talking to on Snapchat and set Content Controls.

Something Worth Knowing : Snapchat also does its best to show age-appropriate content to teens via Stories and Spotlight. They’ve developed accurate detection tools to find and prevent harmful public accounts from showing their content to teens.

Where to See the Cherry Blossoms in New York City and beyond

By Oce Ane GOriOu And je Annine cintrOn

Cherry Blossoms are popping up throughout the city. Winter was pretty all over the place, weather wise, this year, so cherry blossom season seems to be popping up early. There are probably places where you might be able to catch some blooms right now!

Start planning your cherry blossom viewings now! We’ve rounded up some of the best spots to see the cherry blossoms.

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden

Staten Island

This is not just a park, but a place with history, architecture, agriculture, arts, gardens and so much more!

Visit the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden that was uniquely made to mirror an authentic classical outdoor Chinese garden. They have beautiful structures, trails and art to admire as well as cherry blossoms that add to the beauty of the area.

Branch Brook Park

Park Avenue and Lake Street

Newark, NJ

See these beautiful trees at the annual Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival in Newark, NJ, which runs April 6-14th this year.

Each day the festival features different family-friendly events, including cherry

blossom talks, fun runs, a bike race and more.

NJ Botanical Garden

Ringwood, N.J.

See a multitude of colorful spring trees and displays at the New Jersey State Botanical Garden at Skylands come mid April. The cherry trees are located in the Perennial Garden, but you can see a miltitude of other trees like crap apple, plus lush peonies, lilacs and more.

Central Park

Midtown Manhattan

Each year, hundreds of people come to Central Park to see the Cherry Blossoms in peak bloom. As the season is short-lived, it’s important to catch them before the delicate

petals fall to the ground.

There are two main types of cherry trees in this park. Central Park houses the Kwanzan Cherry Tree which is also known as the Japanese Cherry. They are commonly seen in Japan, Korea and China and grow to be about 25 to 30 feet. They also have hybrid Yoshino Cherry Trees which can grow 35 to 45 feet.

You’ll find that both are worth the trip to the park!

Sakura Park

Morningside Heights, Manhattan

This park is named for the 2,000 cherry trees that were delivered to parks in NYC from Japan back in 1912.

Sakura actually means “cherry blossom” in Japanese which is fitting for the many cherry trees on display at this location. The park is on a smaller scale but during the spring season, the Yoshino trees make this place a must-see!

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

With the spring season comes the bloom of multiple different flowers and trees! The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of the most important spots to visit the Cherry Blossom trees.

BBG has an array of different Cherry Blossoms such as the ‘Akebono’, ‘Rosy Cloud’, ‘Snow Goose’ and much more, that are currently blooming!

Keep an eye on the Cherrywatch on their website to see when the blooms start and when they hit peak bloom!

Washington Square Park

Lower Manhattan

Spring is the perfect time to visit this busy but memorable park.

They have beautiful Yoshino and Kwanzan cherry blossom trees that are perfect to sit under and admire the view and atmosphere that comes with the comfort of the park. Take a nice stroll under the blooming petals, or take some time for yourself on a park bench, either way, the family is sure to have a great time at this iconic park.

Union Square Park

Lower Manhattan

Union Square is yet another park that has a beautiful display of cherry blossom trees. They have several Kwanzan cherry trees and plenty of park benches for you to sit under the colorful petals and enjoy their bloom! While it does tend to get busy on the weekends, the breathtaking colors and space are totally worth it

New York Botanical Garden

Bronx Park

The New York Botanical Garden is a great location to admire cherry trees as they have more than 200 of them planted across their landscape.

Walk along the path in the Cherry Collection to enjoy these cherry trees in peak bloom. You can go online to track their cherry trees and see which ones are in peak bloom and which are approaching this state. Check out their website to see their Bloom Trackers where you can track the progress of the cherry blossom season that’s updated every day!

AUTISM

Steps to take if you think your child is on the spectrum

BY EMILY LEVY

Many parents have that ‘a-ha’ moment when they realize their child may have a more profound challenge than previously expectant. Unlike your friend’s kid at the same age, your child has trouble maintaining friendships, struggles to communicate, or demonstrates repetitive body movements. Perhaps they have difficulty relating to the world around them and seems inflexible with their thoughts and behaviors. If you notice these characteristics, don’t ignore them. While your child could be delayed, it may be wise to seek a professional opinion and check if your child may be on the autism spectrum.

Learn the Milestones

Many children with autism show developmental delays early on and don’t meet typical milestones. For instance, by 6-9 months, most babies can sit up without support, babble sounds, and respond to their name. By 9-12 months, babies typically grab objects and toys, crawl, and stand independently. Most children can walk independently between ages 1-3, climb stairs, jump, stack objects, speak in short sentences, and follow basic directions. Between ages 3-5, children can typically toss a ball overhand, get dressed independently, and draw a full person with all features. Children ages 6-12 generally have developed strong friendships with peers and are usually independent in completing their school work. If you notice delays or regression in any of these milestones and your instincts tell you something is off, your child may be at risk for autism.

Identifying Autism

If you think your child has autism, take action. The sooner you identify and address autism, the better it will be for your family. Speak to your child’s doctor; he or she may inquire as to whether all developmental milestones have been met and may recommend an autism screening. This screening typically consists of a series of yes or no questions regarding symptoms. If your doctor suspects

that your child may have autism, your child may need to have a full diagnostic evaluation by an ASD specialist. Typically, the evaluator will observe your child, ask you as the parent a series of questions, fill out questionnaires, and administer a series of tests to your child. These factors will allow the evaluator to identify whether or not your child may have autism so you can take appropriate action for a concrete diagnosis.

Your Child Receives an ASD Diagnosis — Next Step

First off, don’t panic. There are many resources and a great deal of support available for children with autism, and your child is certainly not alone! However, the earlier you intervene and seek your child’s services, the more gains you will see. Once you receive the diagnosis, which typically includes a full report, read it thoroughly and review the evaluator or doctor’s recommendations. Reach out to your child’s school to let them know about the diagnosis and inquire about creating an IEP (Individualized Education Program) to map out the services your child will receive based on their needs. These services may include special education classroom placement, speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, physical therapy, social

skills groups, etc. Also, learn what you can do at home to help your child, such as creating a set structure and routine and rewarding good behavior. The more you can work as a team with your child’s doctors, educators, and therapists, this will help provide consistent support to your child.

Many children with autism are kind, loving, high-achieving individuals who have countless gifts. With the right support, your child can succeed academically and thrive in life.

Dr. Emily Levy is the founder of EBL Coaching, a tutoring program that specializes in one-onone home and on-site instruction for students in grades preK-12 in NYC, NJ, and Westchester. She is also the author of Strategies for Study Success, a study skills workbooks series emphasizing test taking, note taking, reading comprehension, writing, and executive functioning strategies, and the Flags and Stars Orton Gillingham student workbook series. These books are currently used at schools nationwide. Dr. Levy studied at Brown University and later received her Masters Degree in Special Education and her Doctorate Degree in Education. She has spoken nationwide on research-based methods for teaching students with and without learning disabilities. Dr. Levy is currently the Director of EBL Coaching’s learning centers.

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ADHD in Children

Symptoms, causes and treatments (other than medication!)

By Jeannine Cintron

Ithink my 12-year-old daughter has ADHD, but she’s not (yet) been diagnosed. Why? Because when I finally decided to have her evaluated, after years of being on the fence about it, I was advised against “opening that can of worms" as long as none of her teachers had ever recommended it.

Can of worms? Really?

While none of her teachers ever expressly recommended an evaluation, I always heard things like “takes forever to complete classwork” and “has trouble focusing” and “gets distracted easily.”

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is described as a chronic neurological condition marked by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and sometimes impulsivity. It is one of the most common mental conditions in children. Around 6 million children ages 3 to 17 have been diagnosed in the U.S. alone, according to the CDC.

Despite the staggering statistics, I think a lot of people - even professionals, apparently - have this stereotypical view of ADHD that it's just an excuse for lazy or bad behavior, one many parents use to medicate their children into being good without even considering whether other treatments are available. That stigma leads a lot of parents (myself included) to assume medication is the only way to treat it, and that the medication will turn their kids to zombies anyway.

But if your child is showing signs of having a developmental disability like ADHD, don't be like me and wait until they are halfway through middle school before you finally decide to take action just because a teacher never told you to. No one knows your child like you do, so if you are concerned, have them evaluated and know there are options beyond medication (and also know that medication might actualy end up being the right choice for your family).

I spoke to Dr. Rebecca Jackson, a board certified cognitive specialist, Brain Wellness Expert, and author of Back on Track: A Practical Guide to Help Kids of All Ages Thrive , which delves into developmental red flags, to learn more about ADHD, why diagnosis seem to be

on the rise and what parents can do if they are concerned.

ADHD Signs & Symptoms in Children

Hyperactivity. According to Dr. Jackson, the “H” in ADHD, as in hyperactive, tends to be more noticeable in younger children. "The older your child is, the less likely you are to note the hyperactivity,” she says. “The hyperactivity component tends to be the piece that draws attention the most. It’s disruptive in the classroom, at the dinner table, on playdates. So oftentimes, the first sign or symptom that parents see is the hyperactivity impulsivity, because of all the disruptions happening.”

Inattentiveness . “What is much more easily missed is the inattentive type of ADHD,” she continues. “And that one becomes more evident the older a child gets, because with that you don’t have the loud disruptive behaviors, but you see heightened challenges with executive functions. This is going to be the child that does the homework and forgets to turn it in. And as a parent, you’re like, ‘Are you kidding me? You already did the hard work!’ You find yourself saying, ‘why didn’t you just…’ all the time. Why didn’t you just remember to bring your lunch with you in the morning? Why didn’t you just turn in your homework?”

Limited Attention Span . We all have a natural window of attention, according to Dr. Jackson, and our attention develops with age and maturity. “A two year old is only going to do a thing for two to four minutes at a time. But by the time they get to kindergarten, a child should be able to sit in the circle and participate for a longer period of time. So as a parent, if you’re not seeing your child’s natural window of attention improving over time, and if everybody else in the class is able to attend to the task long enough to complete it, but your child’s needing redirection or needing to bring it home, that is a red flag.”

Task Switching . Executive functions are our ability to achieve a goal, like turning in homework to get good grades. Individuals with ADHD have a harder time with task switching and with executive functions. “Let’s

say I’m working on a project and my phone dings to tell me I have a text message. I’m going to shift my attention to my text message,” says Dr. Jackson. “Task switching should remind me to go back and finish the project that I started. But with ADHD, it’s harder task switching when the brain is not remembering to go back and finish what it started. Lots of started things don’t get completed.”

Emotional regulation . People with ADHD tend to have difficulty managing frustrations. We all have a point where we get frustrated and upset, or we cry when we’re really angry or we lose our temper. “With ADHD there’s an immaturity in some of those networks and pathways in the brain, and so the upsets can happen more frequently,” Dr. Jackson says. “They can last longer and they can be bigger. And so if you’ve got a daughter that’s really dramatic and always getting super upset with friends, that can be a red flag. Or a boy playing on the playground who gets super upset because people aren’t following directions, that can be a red flag. And again, we all have a threshold of when we lose our temper. But if it’s happening more consistently than peers that are appropriate in their development, that’s a concern.”

Causes of ADHD

So what causes ADHD? That’s the million dollar question, Dr. Jackson says. “There are a lot of different factors that can contribute to ADHD. Both genetics and environmental factors can play a part. If a child experiences trauma, abuse

or neglect, it can interfere with development.

"But there’s also the times where I meet a parent with two kids, same household, same environment, same genetics, and one child is thriving while the other faces challenges with ADHD.”

Technology & ADHD

I asked Dr. Jackson if the overuse of technology is a factor in developing ADHD. “I’m not going to say that scrolling social media and gaming causes ADHD, but what I am going to say is that the individual with ADHD is going to be even more susceptible,” she says. “When we’re spending large chunks of time, scrolling the Internet, whether we’re watching YouTube videos or Tik Tok, videos or gaming, the type of attention we’re using is heightened attention. And when you’re in that hyper focused mode, you lose awareness of time and of what’s happening around you. It’s why when you go to bed at night and say ‘I’m just going to check my phone for a minute,’ before you know it an hour passes and you’re still scrolling.

“Hyper focus is incredibly fatiguing on the brain. It makes the brain exhausted. Let’s say you’ve got an eight year old who just spent two hours on Tik Tok or watching YouTube videos or gaming. When you ask them to stop, you’re going to get tears, pushback, negative behavior. It’s not just that they don’t want to stop. It’s that we just allowed them to completely fatigue their brain and their resources. And now we’re asking them to be able to regulate their mood and emotions.

“When you watch something that you

like, funny dog videos for example, there’s a dopamine release in the brain.that gives you a burst of energy.

“So when a parent asks why they can game for an hour but they can’t do 20 minutes of math, it’s because gaming is short bursts of attention strung together with a dopamine reward in the brain. When you’re doing math, there’s no dopamine reward in the brain. So our kids are exercising their reward-driven pathways, not sustained attention. The individual with ADHD is starting with a brain that’s already fatigued, so they’re going to fatigue even faster. And that dopamine is hitting them hard and so they’re going to gravitate towards those activities even more. As parents, we don’t want to ban things but be mindful of the balance. So say, ‘sure, you can spend 20 minutes online, but you’re going to get your homework done first. We shouldn’t have you gaming and fatiguing the brain before you do homework. And then we don’t want it in the hour before bed because it can disrupt the ability to fall asleep and the quality of sleep.”

ADHD Treatment

Speaking of quality of sleep, that’s one of the components to managing ADHD on a daily basis to support the level of function that you currently have. Dr. Jackson recommends making sure kids are getting adequate sleep and eating nutritious foods. “We know that sugar drives inflammation and so does highly processed food. Inflammation is like asking your brain to function with fog. What you eat matters,” she says

Medication

To medicate or not medicate, that is the question. There can be many side effects related to ADHD medication, and so naturally parents might be hesitant to try it on their child. Conversely, some parents might think medication is the easy cure-all their child needs to get back on track.

Anytime there’s medication, there’s a trade off, Dr. Jackson explains. “There are pros and cons, risks and benefits that it’s important for parents to understand. We talk to so many families that are getting pressure from teachers or from other adults in their life to medicate their child. But that is a decision solely between the parent and the physician, that should not be based on outside pressure from others.

“I don’t ever want a parent to feel guilty about a decision they make. But there’s this misnomer that we’re going to start medication and all of our problems are going to be solved. It’s difficult figuring out what’s the right medication

for your child, the right dosage and combination. And what works now might not work six months from now. So it’s not always the quick, easy fix that parents think it’s going to be.

“What we know from the research is that there’s an impact on growth and development. A child that has been medicated over time might not grow to their full height. We know within the first several months of taking medication, there’s not always long term change in the grades and learning outcomes. So the studies were mixed in terms of how it helps with academics and learning. A lot of kids experience decreased appetite, so we have kids that already have immaturity and brain development, and our foods that we eat fuels the growth and development of our brains. We’ve got an immature brain and a suppressed appetite, and that worries me for the future development of that brain."

Brain Balance

While medication can help, there are other treatment options that parents might not be aware of. Dr. Jackson is Chief Program Officer for a company called Brain Balance, which is a program that builds and strengthens networks and pathways in the brain through specific stimulation, exercises, and activities. “I always say we exercise the brain the way you use it in real life," she says. "At Brain Balance, we’re engaging multiple different senses while a child is doing coordinated, fast, accurate eye movements with auditory processing, visual processing, body coordination, rhythm and timing, exercising and engaging as many networks and pathways as we can simultaneously. And then we engage those pathways over and over to make them stronger, faster, more efficient.”

A child does not need an official ADHD diagnosis for this kind of non-medicated treatment, either. Nearly 10% of kids in the US right now qualify for that diagnosis, but nearly 17% of kids qualify for what is called a subthreshold diagnosis, meaning they’re falling just shy of the criteria. I think this is really important because the kids can still be struggling to keep up, to pay attention and to regulate mood and emotions. With subthreshold ADHD, there’s immaturity of the brain, but maybe not quite to the extent of full ADHD, so they don’t qualify for a label or a diagnosisand would not be prescribed medication - but that doesn’t mean that they still don’t need help and support.”

To learn more about Brain Balance, go to brainbalancecenters.com. Dr. Jackson’s book, Back on Track, is available on Amazon.

Early Intervention for Dyslexia

Helpful tips from an expert

Statistics from the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity show that dyslexia affects 20 percent of the population and accounts for 80 to 90 percent of all those with learning disabilities, making it the most common neuro-cognitive disorder.

While dyslexia is a chronic condition that’s rarely cured, early identification and intervention can help build essential skills for reading, writing and comprehension.

Early signs of dyslexia and intervention practices may vary from person to person. We sat down with Dr. Rebecca Mannis, learning specialist and founder of Ivy Prep, about signs of dyslexia that parents can look out for and what intervention may look like.

What are some early signs of dyslexia that parents can watch out for?

Toddler/preschool

• Delayed language development

• Difficulty following multistep directions

• Frustration in communicating – difficulty retrieving words or labels

• Difficulty sitting and retaining the story at circle time

• Meltdowns over communication and transitions

Preschool/primary school

• Difficulty with rhyming (ex: Dr. Seuss books) or appreciate language nuance (ex: getting the joke in Amelia Bedelia books)

• Lack of recall for reading common “sight words” they often see, such as “love” or “taxi”

• Lack of interest in reading or writing

• Contrast between strong interest in hearing stories (being read to) and interest in learning how letters fit together to make words

• Difficulty with segmenting words into sounds (c-a-t) or syllabication (clapping out the syllables in their names “Ga-bri-el”)

• Hesitation about attending school or academic performance

• Difficulty “encoding” or writing short words that can be sounded out or remembering the spelling of “Dolch List,” high

E M D A F X S O ? ? ? Y L I ?

frequency (common) words like “love” or “mother”

• Reversing letters

• Skipping words when read aloud

• Slowness at blending sounds of words or recalling what sight words “say” (lack of fluency/automaticity)

• Dysgraphia, or difficulty in the motor planning of how to hand write letters

What does early intervention for dyslexia look like?

This depends on the individual child’s learning profile and what is being done on-site (or not provided) at the school. Some

children require specialized schools for dyslexic students, where systematic, multisensory approaches are used on a daily basis and across the classes a child has each day.

Other students can thrive with customized support outside school with learning specialists who are trained to interpret test findings and develop an intervention plan that speaks to the specific child and the specific school’s curriculum.

This is where it is particularly important for parents to do their homework. Not all learning specialists have the same training or vantage point about support, and it is big business.

There are different philosophies and approaches, and sometimes what is presented as “evidence based” is actually a cookie cutter approach – or the wrong pacing and sequence for your child’s particular needs.

For example, if a student needs high repetition of information or to preview information in order to keep up with the class work, then it is important for a learning specialist to design sessions that balance the specific instruction for underdeveloped skills that are not course-related (for example, how to divide long words into syllables) while also using the child’s homework spelling list or the sight words in their science chapter to manage schoolwork and get that real-time reinforcement of reading strategies that speak to the daily experience in the classroom.

Similarly, it is critical for parents to identify professionals who can balance traditional print tools, such as workbooks and games that reinforce the skills, with adaptive technology. This is where parents can feel particularly frustrated, as neuropsychologists are not educators, and educators are not neuropsychologists.

Approximately 80 percent of my clientele and I start with a consultation where I provide a chart review to demystify the test findings to help parents “connect the dots” between their observations, test findings, and working with schools or other stakeholders.

There is a huge element of “caveat emptor,” since so much of this is not licensed and these high stakes serials can overwhelm kids and parents alike.

Even when specialists have licenses, there is wide variability in skill set, how intervention sessions are constructed, and even attitudes about which support is needed.

For example, at times language specialists or occupational therapists will feel there is more work to be done in grade 4 or 5 in shoring up underdeveloped language or fine motor skills, while other specialists may feel that the priority needs to shift toward teaching students how to communicate better in writing or use adaptive tech, dong so with an eye toward ongoing challenges in processing speed, word finding or handwriting.

How can parents and schools support a child with dyslexia?

Support for dyslexic students is equal parts, art, science, and alchemy.

It’s critical for there to be a systematic approach. Sometimes that means using very similar materials in both outside support and

“There are different philosophies and approaches, and sometimes what is presented as ‘evidence based’ is actually a cookie cutter approach – or the wrong pacing and sequence for your child’s needs.”

during the academic day or in reading intervention at school.At other times, it makes more sense to “divide and conquer.”

For example, at school, a teacher may be focusing on how to write a paragraph with a topic sentence, three supporting details, and a conclusion using a “quick outline” that is very structured, streamlined, and predictable.

In remediation, it can be very helpful for the outside specialist to use the same “quick outline” that the teacher uses in history class. And it may be important to work on writing while using the History assignment if the child is fatigued or has other after-school activities that day.

However, the outside learning specialist may also be incorporating instruction in how to use a predictive word processor, or in helping the child with expanding his vocabulary, so that he doesn’t rely on a narrow lexicon of words to communicate his point in the essay.

Similarly, it may be that at school, the teacher is working on a particular spelling curriculum, where the focus is on spelling words with particular prefix patterns.

In outside support, those words can be practiced, but it’s important to use particular methods that are aligned with the child specific type of dyslexia to ensure that appropriate visual cues or phonetic (sound-letter) patterns are reinforced.

The truth is that this takes a great deal of expertise and time in order to identify ways that support can be integrated while also being realistic about what each individual can contribute to this process.

In the absence of this, it can be very time-consuming and confusing, and also frustrating, not only for the children, but for their parents.

In my practice, I am in frequent contact

with other stakeholders, and typically serve as a case manager, who integrates that information, not only to demystify the process, but also to help parents identify signposts that they can be looking for both to monitor their children’s growth, and to determine the best investment of their resources and the child’s time, if they’re not satisfied with the child’s development.

Another element of providing services to the child and family is helping parents truly understand the different philosophies and methodologies that are available to help children with disabilities.

For example, many specialists will encourage a multisensory, phonics based approach that reinforces sound patterns for children since about 60 to 80% of children with dyslexia have difficulty with phonology, or linking letters to sounds.

However, the research on these highly structured methods and their efficacy with children with more spatial difficulties, sometimes called “NVLD,” or nonverbal.

Learning disorders are mixed. In that situation, a child may need a well developed, but more eclectic approach that helps them for example, to memorize and write sight words, words like “though” or “again,” words that cannot be sounded out phonetically.

Similarly, there are some schools that believe strongly that in the lower school grades, adaptive technology should not be used with children, while other outside specialists or schools integrate technology as a literacy tool for children with developmental dyslexia from the get-go.

Because there is such a wide wide range of approaches, and often neuropsychologists don’t know the nuts and bolts of how these programs are implemented for specific curricula, it is important for parents to understand that, just like learning to read is developmental.

In the same way, learning how to line up your ducks in a row to best serve your child at a given time is an extended learning process – and process of collaboration and empowerment – for parents, as well. No one cares about a child more than a parent, so it is critical to take care of yourself so that you can manage the long haul, along with your spouse and child.

What do accommodations typically look like for dyslexia, at home and in the classroom? What would workarounds look like in everyday life?

Accommodations can look different for children, depending on their learning profile, their school, their grade level, and the situa-

tion in which accommodations are necessary.

For a child with language-based dyslexia in the early grades, accommodations might take the form of an alternate method of assessing a child’s spelling, or having an extra set of workbooks to keep at home for use with the outside specialist. The child may be permitted to write fewer spelling sentences on his exam.

That child might need access to a computer in grade 3 to write his weekly journal so that he can focus on expressing his ideas without being encumbered by dysgraphia, or handwriting difficulty.

At grade 5 or 6, that might take the form of being able to have extended time on a test or to take a standardized test in a room over multiple days. Similarly, the child might require some adaptive technology or access to a textbook website, where the child can find PowerPoint slides to preview key terms or information that they will be studying in science class.

Upper school or college, that might take the form of having an advisor, who is attuned to their learning issues, and who can guide them in managing multiple classrooms and teachers. Similarly, children may require the accommodation of being able to substitute the format of a “computer-delivered” standardized admissions or achievement test, instead taking the test in a traditional booklet format.

That means that the child can write into a test booklet with a proctor. Copying his answers onto a Scantron or “bubble sheet,” rather than needing to visually track the paragraph on a computer monitor.

This is a critical accommodation because many standardized tests are moving toward “computer- adaptive,” or mini computer tests, which are actually constraining for students who have a more gradual learning curve, visual deficits, or a slower processing speed.

Similarly, a dyslexic child who has slow processing speed or working memory difficulty may need extra time to complete certain assignments, or may need assistance with laying out a plan for how to manage school and extracurricular activities in light of their slower processing speed or executive function difficulties.

Students in high school or college may also need approval to tape record lectures, or have access to teacher notes or classmates notes if they’re not able to process as much detail as necessary in real time during the lecture.

This is why it’s critical to identify specialists who can mystify neuropsychic, test findings and help parents and students to work with the school around accommodations,

“Children can develop ‘metacognitive awareness,’ or an understanding of themselves as learners, and why certain approaches can be particularly helpful for them.”

curriculum, and intervention.

Support from parents is important for children with dyslexia. How can parents show their emotional support for their dyslexic children?

Any time that a person‘s own development takes a course that is not “typical,” this places a stressor on the individual and the other people in their life.

Whether it’s learning how to tie your shoes, how to memorize the spelling words, or adapting to college textbooks and lectures as a gifted, “twice exceptional” dyslexic, ultimately developmental, learning problems are a lifelong process of learning, adaptation, and advocacy.

The upshot is that over time, children can develop “metacognitive awareness,” or an understanding of themselves as learners, and why certain approaches can be particularly helpful for them. Over time and significant support and practice, this helps kids learn how to be their own “change agents.” However, this is a gradual process, and developmental learning problems, especially for bright kids, in demanding learning environments, is a gradual experience.

It is important for parents to recognize this, so they can think tactically about how they can support their children while also taking care of themselves.

Whether it’s having sufficient time to work out or finding a sounding board to talk about frustrations while also being there to help your child with extra homework, parents need to plan for the immediate and for the long run.

That may be a matter of doing some careful looking at how you will fund outside support for your child for the long run, or how to give attention to siblings and their needs. This can be a difficult, disheartening, and stressful experience for even the most determined, loving, supportive and capable

of parents.

Aside from taking care of themselves and building a village of outside resources, whom they respect, parents can model for their children along the way.

For example, just as children may require more time in order to research and write a term paper if they are dyslexic, parents can model for their children how they are breaking down the process of updating their resumes or planning of family trips by working in manageable chunks.

In addition, it is important for parents to remember that their job is to be parents and not educators or interventionists. Otherwise, the task and frustration of helping kids manage learning issues for the long run can really interfere with a parent and child relationship and can be disheartening for everybody involved.

Most importantly, parents can help their children, identify factors that contributed to their own success, or what it is that children feel need to be done differently in order for them to have a better experience in a similar situation in the future.

For example, if a child is able to juggle the start of baseball season in his Little League team and preparing for the spelling bee, parents can encourage their children, self reflection, or metacognitive awareness, by asking them some open, ended questions. “What do you think made the difference when you were going to have a busy day of both Little League tryouts and reviewing all three vocabulary lists?”

This opens the door for the child to then reflect and share so that you can plan. For example, he may say, “It was very helpful that my learning specialist and I wrote the words on flashcards last week. This meant that all I needed to do was practice spelling.” Or your child may feel that it was helpful when you and he use Scrabble letters for him to practice the spelling of the words or when you had located a website that let him practice unscrambling words in an app.

It may be that your child felt better having had a quiet day before so that the reduced transitions left him feeling more rested and able to juggle Little League and the preparation for the spelling bee.

The more you help your child self reflect, the more you can help him, celebrate his success, identify what he feels and be his own change agent. It can make the difference, and he will see you as the support and sounding board who is cheering him on through this developmental journey.

A very s pecial place

49 Cedar Grove Avenue 718-987-1234 info@avspny.org avspny.org

A Very Special Place, Inc. (AVSP) was established in 1974 as a not-forprofit organization and today serves more than 1,600 people in Staten Island, Brooklyn and Manhattan. AVSP provides a comprehensive network of programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Programs include day habilitation, residential, self-direction, respite and community habilitation. With the guidance and support offered at AVSP, people of all ages find opportunities to achieve independence and self-fulfillment.

the community school 11 W Forest Avenue, Teaneck, NJ

High School: 201-862-1796 CHSoffice@communityschool. k12.nj.us 1135 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ

Lower School: 201-837-8070 office@communityschool.us communityschoolnj.org

Community School serves the bright child with learning and attentional disabilities. For 55 years the school’s primary goal has been to help children achieve a level of classroom performance that is fully commensurate with their abilities, intellects and talents. Community School welcomes students from New York and New Jersey, and is located just over the George Washington Bridge, in Teaneck, NJ.

crimson r ise

1015 Castleton Ave. crimsonrise.org info@crimsonrise.org

CrimsonRise teaches nonverbal autistic individuals, ages 5 to 60+, communication access

through the Spelling to Communicate (S2C) method. S2C teaches purposeful motor skills to point to letters on a board or keyboard. Through this method, CrimsonRise enables individuals to express their thoughts and emotions. CrimsonRise’s services include one-on-one coaching with parent training and S2C based programs and services. CrimsonRise is uniquely co-founded and guided by nonverbal autistics who gained their voice through S2C.

DJ m asters Academy 265 Main St. 929-899-0939 facebook.com/ groups/766611651761435 djfrankiejteaches@gmail.com

DJ Masters Academy was created to enrich children’s lives by cultivating a love for the art of DJing. The Company provides training in all areas of DJing to all

children, including specialized programs for those with special needs. The classes are focused on mixing, video & audio and Emcee skills, while also promoting music appreciation and socialization. The Company’s Director, Frank Jaconetti, with his team of instructors, has over 25 years of experience in the industry... creating smiles one beat at a time.

e xtended h ome c are 1200 South Ave. 347-459-8441

Extended Home Care is a Special Needs, Certified Home Health Care Agency, serving New Yorkers since 1997. They specialize in providing home care services to patients and their families with OPWDD. Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and HHA services all provided in the comfort of your home.

…that each and eve ry one of our stude nts can excel and that all dese rve the opportunity to reach their fullest pote ntial…

Empowering bright children who learn differently

The Community School

Serving students from New York and New Jersey

The Lower School Program provides basic skill remediation in a challenging academic curriculum for Grades 2–8.

The High School Program provides a complete high school experience for the bright adolescent with learning disabilities, providing basic preparation for studies at the college level or within a post-secondary program.

The Community School was founded in 1968 to se rve the bright child with learning and atte ntional disabilities

Lower School Open Houses

Saturday April 27*

Thursday, May 9

Tuesday, May 21 10:00 am

*Children are welcome to attend

HS Private Tours available

High School: 201-862-1796

1135 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666

Lower School: 201-837-8070

11 W Forest Avenue, Teaneck, NJ 07666

CommunitySchoolnj.org

Servicing ages 3 and up. Therapists are available after school and after Day Hab programs. Offering services to Residential Programs as well.

the g race Foundation 460 Brielle Ave. 718-983-3800 graceofny.org

The Grace Foundation improves the lives of individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Grace provides programs including Site Based Respite/In-Home Respite, Day Hab, Com Hab and for ages 5-30. The ultimate goal is to enable individuals with ASD to lead independent and productive lives.

illuminart productions

1000 Richmond Terrace 347 951 9650 ext. 1 illuminart.org ariel.illuminart@gmail.com

Embark on an epic journey

with Hephaestus, son of Zeus and Hera, as he uses innovation to save Mount Olympus from the mischievous goddess of discord. “The Greatest Olympian: A Mythic New Play,” written by J. Giachetti, will premiere at Staten Island Playhouse in April with a sensory-friendly show at 11 am on April 27th. Don’t miss out on this legendary adventure for lovers of fantastical tales and myths.

J cc Day c amp & m arvin’s c amp for children with s pecial n eeds

HKC Campgrounds 1131 Manor Rd. 718-475-5268

camp.sijcc.org/marvins-camp. html

lirizarry@sijcc.com

The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island’s Marvin’s Camp for Children with Special Needs offers an educational, creative, social, and safe environment

for kids, teens, and young adults with special needs. Marvin’s Camp staff are highly experienced in special education, social work, and school psychology. Marvin’s Camp maintains low camperto-staff ratios to ensure excellent care and attention for each child. Campers enjoy activities at Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds and trips to fun destinations.

k ids Dental, Dr. lisa l azzara 739 Woodrow Rd. 718-356-5437 sikidsdental.com

Kids Dental understands that every child’s dental needs are as unique as their smiles and require an individualized approach. All doctors at Kids Dental pride themselves on specialized and comprehensive care solely focused on your child’s needs, especially those with special needs. Kids Dental has kid-friendly themed

rooms for your child to relax and make the first experience a very happy one. From the moment you walk into the office, their focus is on your child.

the l aw Firm of kevin p. m ckernan

503 Mosely Ave. 718-317-5007

kmckernanlaw.com

Seeking compassionate legal counsel for your family’s future? Look no further. Kevin McKernan Law specializes in estate planning, wills, and trusts tailored to families, especially those that have special needs children and young adults. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges you face, we craft comprehensive and personalized solutions to ensure a secure and thriving future for your loved ones. Put your family’s well-being first - contact them today for expert guidance in safeguarding your family’s

Are you or someone you know in need of

Are you

•

•

•

WhatisSpellingtoCommunicate(S2C)?

Itisamethodthatteachesthepurposefulmotortopointto lettersonaletterboardorkeyboardtoenablecommunication.

Whocanuseit?

Autistic,nonspeaking(formerlycallednonverbal)people,and peoplewhohavescriptedand/orunreliablespeech.

Howolddoesyourchildneedtobe?

929-643-9101

Info@CrimsonRise.org

www.CrimsonRise.org

Weworkwithallages.5yearsoldonwardstoadultsofanyage.

financial legacy and your child’s future.

los n iños

505 8th Avenue, New York, NY Floor 12A, Room 2

Los Niños Services is an award-winning agency serving the developmental needs of children and their families. They specialize in home and community-based ABA, special instruction, speech, occupational, and physical therapies. All staff are experienced clinicians who pride themselves on being of great service to others. Serving children and families in Westchester and New York City boroughs. The programs through which they provide services are the Early Intervention Program and ABA through private insurance.

o n your m ark, i nc. 645 Forest Ave. 718-720-9233 onyourmark.org

eciraola@onyourmark.org

Since 1979, the mission of On Your Mark has been to provide innovative and comprehensive communitybased services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across their lifespan. They are committed to helping each individual experience the highest quality of life possible by providing person-centered programs that promote community and social inclusion, health and fitness, daily activity participation, independence, self-empowerment, and productivity.

person centered c are s ervices 150 Granite Ave. pccsny.org info@pccsny.org

Person Centered Care Services is a not-for-profit organization creating social change within communities by supporting people with

Person Centered Care Services is a not for profit organization creating social change within communities by supporting people with disabilities on their search for identity and acceptance.

OUR CORE VALUES: suPPort

Our responsibility as human beings is to support ourselves and one another

eQuity

To participate in community is to have active citizenship. To be a participating citizen, one must have opportunities which are equitable; which accommodate the differences all human beings have.

aCCeptance

One of the most vital components of having a quality of life is love. It’s okay to tell someone you love them; more importantly, it’s okay to show them. To accept another for who they are and what makes them human can be a most validating experience; it is self-empowering.

SERVICES OFFERED:

Day Supports • Residential Supports • Housing Rental Subsidy

Career Supports • Community Habilitation

• Respite Family Education & Training

• Self-Direction

150 Granite Ave, Staten Island, NY 10303

www.pccsny.org

disabilities on their search for identity and acceptance. Services available include Community Supports, Residential Supports, Career Supports, Day Supports, Family Education & Training, and Self-Directed Supports.

s andra m azzucco, s peechl anguage pathology 465 Belfield Ave. 917-825-9005

Providing speech and language therapy to the Staten Island community for over 40 years. Toddlers to seniors. Specializing in fluency and stuttering, language and feeding disorders. Prompt trained for Apraxia of speech and phonological and articulation disorders. ASHA certified. New York state license in Speech and Language Pathology. Department of Education RSA accepted.

staten i sland Alliance for n orth s hore children and Families

statenislandalliance.com

sialliance2022@gmail.com

The SI Alliance for North Shore Children and Families is a coalition of organizations, schools and community members focused on improving the overall wellbeing of children 0-8 years old. The SI Alliance promotes equity and addresses disparities while connecting SI North Shore families to resources located on SI. Families can access the SI Alliance Resource Hub via the website.

s unny Days consulting s ervices

1110 South Ave., Suite 405 718-556-1616

sunnydays.com

Sunny Days provides homebased evaluations and ongoing therapy for infants and toddlers (ages birth to three years) suspected of

718-370-1088

info@pccsny.org

Connect with us! @pccsny

having any developmental delays. They offer Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Special Educational services. Services are funded by the NY State Department of Health. No out of pocket expenses necessary.

thrive creative Arts therapy

4300 Hylan Blvd. thrivecreativeartstherapy.com thrivecreativeartstherapy@ gmail.com

At Thrive, they offer a range of in-person and virtual sessions to cater to the diverse needs of the Staten Island community and beyond. Their services are available to individuals of all ages, including children, adults, and couples seeking healing from anxiety disorders, depression, relationship issues, and specialized care for children with special needs. Thrive’s highly trained therapists

integrate the expressive arts into their sessions with clients to support them toward their best life.

Where little m inds g row 501 Richmond Hill Road wherelittlemindsgrow.com info@wherelittlemindsgrow. com

At Where Little Minds Grow Summer Camp, our goal is to provide the children with a fun filled learning experience. Their fully licensed Speech-Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Special Education Teachers use a multidisciplinary approach. Children ages 2-5 will be presented with the opportunity to form relationships with peers, while acquiring and maintaining early academic skills. WLMG strives to offer fun and challenging indoor and outdoor activities.

Sp E ci A l nEE d S c omm U ni T y

All parents need resources, information, and guidance. These tools help aid our children with their needs and growth. Special needs parents lean on helpful information and especially count on a community to assist them in their special needs journey. It is those insider tips, those teachers, experts, and schools we need to know about and make a difference in our child’s life.

Here are people who are part of our (and your family’s!) Special Child Community.

jacqueline Scarcella

Executive Director, A Very Special Place, Inc

Jacqueline Scarcella started at AVSP, Inc. in 1994 as a Pre-vocational Specialist. Over the years, she has served in many different roles at AVSP. Currently, Ms. Scarcella is the Executive Director with administrative responsibility over the entire agency and its various programs. She serves on the Inter-Agency Council (IAC) Board, advocating for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ms. Scarcella was also an instructor/trainer of Strategies Crisis and Prevention for over 20 years.

jamie Fialo

Executive Account Manager, Extended Home Care

For over 20 years Jamie Fialo has worked in the Home Care Industry. Previously, she worked as a DSP and ABA Therapist. After her son was diagnosed with autism it triggered her passion to work with the special needs community. In her current role, Jamie educates parents and guardians on services their children and family members are eligible to receive. Jamie is an asset to the special needs community.

cathy del priore

Executive Director, GRACE Foundation

Cathy is the Executive Director of The GRACE Foundation, where she takes great pride in supporting individuals living with autism spectrum disorder. During her eight-year tenure with GRACE, Cathy has spearheaded numerous initiatives to raise awareness and enhance the foundation’s brand. Notable achievements include breaking two Guinness Book of World Records for autism awareness and neurodiversity: orchestrating the world’s largest human puzzle piece with 2423 participants and the world’s largest infinity symbol with 1530 participants.

l akshmi rao Sankar

Executive Director and Cofounder, CrimsonRise

Lakshmi Rao Sankar is the Executive Director and cofounder of CrimsonRise, which provides nonverbal autistic individuals with a way to communicate using Spelling to Communicate (S2C). Lakshmi is a registered S2C practitioner and a leader in the movement. In addition to leading CrimsonRise she writes, mentors and presents nationally, and internationally on all aspects of Spelling to Communicate.

Ariel marcus-Hollenbeck Artistic Director, IlluminArt Productions

Ariel Marcus-Hollenbeck (she/her) is a Staten Island native and the current Artistic Director of IlluminArt Productions. This growing Staten Island-based company uses the arts as a tool to spark conversations across all ages. She is one of the five founding members of the Women’s+ Playwright Collective and is now the Festival Director. Ariel loves the spoken word, the marching arts of color guard, and bringing a sense of play into her life.

Frank jaconetti

President, DJ Masters Academy

Frankie J’s story began at an early age when he was introduced to a microphone. As he got older he took his talents to the karaoke scene. His journey took a twist when he was inspired to become a DJ, creating a captivating entertainment company. He wanted to do something more rewarding by sharing his knowledge with others. He embarked on a mission to teach the art of DJing… creating smiles one beat at a time.

Glenn wechsler

Chief Program Director of Youth & Camping Services, JCC Day Camp & Marvin’s Camp for Children with Special Needs

Glenn Wechsler is Chief Program Director of Youth & Camping Services at the Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island. He is Co-Director of JCC Day Camp, which includes Marvin’s Camp for Children with Special Needs. Glenn’s JCC Day Camp experience began as a camper, before joining the staff and working his way up from counselor to Co-Director. In his current role, Glenn oversees the camp and ensures that Marvin’s campers feel included.

dr. lisa l azzara

Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, Kids Dental

Dr. Lisa Lazzara is a board certified pediatric dentist specializing in laser lip and tongue releases. She has completed four years of college, four years of dental school, and an additional two years of a pediatric dental specialty program; which focused on comprehensive dental care for children of all ages, including those with special needs. Her personal mission is to treat your child the same way she expects someone to treat her own children.

Kevin p. mcKernan

Lawyer, Law Firm of Kevin P. McKernan

Kevin P. McKernan of McKernan Law has been practicing law for more than 20 years. Kevin is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Fordham Law School. For many years he has been in private practice with offices in New Jersey and New York. His firm, along with his Of Counsel Vanessa Bellucci Markos, represents clients in Estate Planning and Medicaid Planning, specifically Wills, Trusts, Guardianship, Estate Planning, Medicaid Planning and Special Needs Trusts. Mr. McKernan is a member of the New York, New Jersey State Bar Association and Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Municipal Court Committee

Scott mesh

Clinical Psychologist, Los Ninos

Scott Mesh, PhD is a Clinical Psychologist and CEO of Los Ninos Services, a 10x Best Company Award winner which has operated in New York City and Westchester for 25 years. He is also the Founder/Director of YoungChildLearning.com which provides free webinars and workshops for early childhood professionals.

john Bilotti

Executive Director, On Your Mark, Inc.

694 New Dorp Lane, Staten Island, NY 10306

The Harvest Café is owned and operated by A Very Special Place, Inc., whose goal is to create new opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Café is a certified training site for those who want to learn new skills in a distinctive environment.

Mr. John Bilotti has been a part of On Your Mark, Inc. since 1979 when his brother began receiving recreation services. Mr. Bilotti is one of ten children. Over the years, he ensured his brother received top-quality care by staying engaged with the agency. He became a board member in 2005, then Associate Executive Director in 2010, and finally Executive Director in 2011, which is the position he currently maintains. “Great

Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Weekend Brunch

Wednesday-Sunday, 8:00am-3:00pm Catering and Take-Out available

cris marchionne

Founder/Executive Director, Person Centered Care Services

Cris marchionne is the founder/executive director of Person Centered Care Services, Inc. Cris has a Master’s degree in Disability Studies and over 30 years of experience working with and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Cris considers herself a social justice activist and takes pride in speaking at many local and statewide events to point out the need for change and the need for a more equitable society filled with opportunities for all human beings.

Sandra mazzucco

Speech Pathologist, Sandra Mazzucco Speech Pathologist

diana jaquez

Early Intervention Ambassador, Staten Island Alliance for North Shore Children and Families

As the parent of three wonderful children, including one who received early intervention services, Diana Jaquez understands the importance of EI services and the challenges of navigating the system. She is a strong advocate for the North Shore’s families and works to connect them with resources to meet their children’s needs.

Sandra Mazzucco, M.S., CCC-SLP, has provided speech and language therapy to the Staten Island community for over 40 years. Specializing in fluency, stuttering, language, and feeding disorders, she is Prompt trained for Apraxia of speech, phonological, and articulation disorders. Certified by ASHA and licensed in New York, Sandra is dedicated to delivering tailored therapy approaches, ensuring comprehensive support for clients of all ages from toddlers to seniors.

Stephanie Kemmer

Founder, Clinical Director, Thrive Creative Arts Therapy, PLLC

Stephanie Kemmer, the visionary behind Thrive Creative Arts Therapy, is a devoted clinician committed to fostering community, meaningful connections, and inclusive spaces. With an emphasis on open communication and the strength of community, Stephanie believes in providing everyone access to their true creative self.

jenna Baratta

Speech-Language Pathologist/Clinical Director, Where Little Minds Grow

Jenna Baratta holds a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from St. John’s University. She earned her Certificate of Clinical Competence in 2008 and received high-level training in language disorders for children 3-16. She established Where Little Minds Grow in 2019. WLMG is an Integrated Special Education Center offering related Speech and Occupational Therapy services. She continues to pursue her professional goals through continued education and is committed to working alongside the SI community.

Fu n for the Whol e Fam i ly Fun the Whole Family

Are you searching for a fantastic day out with the kids, complete with Camp Fair information and a whole lot more?

The Staten Island Camp Fair & Activity Expo is where you want to be! Join us for a day filled with fun, laughter.

ARTS & CRAFTS, COTTON CANDY, PHOTO BOOTH FUN, FACE PAINTING, ACTIVITIES & MORE!

Sunday, April 7 from 12:00PM - 3:00PM

College of Staten Island Sports and Recreation Center

ASSEMBLY MEMBER Ro�ne�s� Bich��e Hermely�

on politics, maternal health for Black mothers, raising her toddler, and being thankful for a strong support system

BY DONNA DUARTE LADD & MIA SALAS

On a cozy cover shoot day at The Soft Space by Mama Glow in Brooklyn, the New York Family team and our cover mom relished in the light that danced into this gorgeous space while enjoying music, chatter, and staying out of the way of an active 17-month-old toddler running about while nibbling on his lunch.

Our focus this day was on his mother, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. Rodneyse serves as the Assemblywoman for New York State’s 42nd Assembly District. She is also the Brooklyn Democratic Chair, making her the first woman and first Black woman to hold this position. She is also the first Haitian American woman elected in NYC.

Yes, she is as impressive as she sounds. While Rodneyse diligently serves her community as their representative, she also focuses on a cause dear to her heart—advocating for Maternal Health and combatting the maternal health crisis that is adversely affecting minorities.

About eight years ago, Rodneyse experienced a pre-term pregnancy loss. Although the loss came down to many factors, the key one was that maternal healthcare, healthcare transparency, and access to providers who put both mothers and their babies first was severely lacking.

Rodneyse was high-risk and had several complications, some of which were not detected or not properly communicated, leading to her being rushed to a Manhattan hospital where she was told the only solution was to terminate her baby. “I wanted the doctors to do everything they needed to save me and my baby,” she said.

Eventually, Rodneyse delivered her child, Jonah, at another hospital, where he lived for less than two hours. “It was probably the saddest day of my life,” she explained. “That’s

when I decided to focus on maternal healthcare bills.”

And she did. Rodneyse drove the “Jonah Bichotte Cowan Law” in her son’s name, which establishes requirements for treatment when an expecting mother comes to a hospital with concerns about pre-term labor.

Now, after a healthy and safe pregnancy, Rodneyse and her husband, Edu, are parents to beautiful 18-month-old Daniel.

Rodneyse continues to advocate for maternal healthcare and more. And she does all of this while studying for a law degree!

Read on to learn about Rodneyse’s creative career journey, raising her son, childcare when legislating, a supportive husband, and more.

NYF: Before entering public service, you were a public school teacher, an engineer, and an investment banker. What made you decide to enter politics?

RBH: Joining then US Senate candidate Barack Obama’s campaign in Illinois in 2004 was my first taste of local politics. As an Obama Operative, I rallied Democrats while finishing up my MBA at Northwestern and working full-time at Lucent Technologies as an engineer. Shortly after having moved back to New York City in 2005 and having worked as an investment Banker on Wall Street at the height of the Financial Crisis, I took a turn in a different direction after being reintroduced to local politics and reigniting my desire to uplift communities.

This time, it was in my hometown of Brooklyn, helping a state senator Kevin Parker in 2008. After being laid off, I had an epiphany and decided it was my calling to serve as a voice for my community. It was the teacher in me that understood the need for building our public school system; it was the engineer in me that wanted to push STEM programs for city school students while encouraging minority and women-owned business opportunities, it was

my ability to work with numbers that helped my data analytics in assessing my run for office.

NYF: You recently took the bar exam; what is the commitment to using your legal education in your work?

RBH: My constant learning throughout my career allowed me to be a better legislator and understand and address pressing, complex issues.

Law School was a massive undertaking, but I am committed to serving vulnerable and protected classes of people in the courtroom, especially as it relates to Civil Rights, constitutional law and immigration law. I am interested in using my engineering background in construction law as well. I also want to be a better legislator in the way I write bills and debate them on the floor. And as Assembly Majority Whip, I have a responsibility to ensure bills get passed through.

After losing my son and having been mistreated by the hospital, I decided that a legal education would allow me to advocate for many in the courtroom.

NYF: Can you explain the “Jonah Bichotte Cowan Law” and the protections it provides?

RBH: It provides protection and rights for all expectant mothers in New York to have their medical concerns taken seriously and the hospital of their choice to admit, diagnose, and treat expectant mothers in emergency situations.

More specifically, it establishes requirements for treatment when an expectant mother presents at a general hospital with concerns about being in preterm labor. This law ensures that, first, mothers are informed that they are going into early labor and of the associated risks, and secondly: these hospitals must care for high-risk pregnancies.

The law is named in memory of my late

faces the same unfortunate narrative of a high-risk pregnancy and mistreatment at the hands of medical professionals, and now it’s prevented through law in New York.

NYF: You are no doubt super busy. How are you ‘juggling’ a toddler and career? What does your support system look like?

To say I’m busy is an understatement! I’m fortunate to have a great support system--my super-supportive husband (who also works) and a nanny help balance childcare when I’m in my District in Brooklyn. Up in Albany, the Assembly is full of new moms in office, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has been immensely helpful in providing childcare resources when we’re legislating.

I know that it’s incredibly tough out there for many moms who lack these resources, and are trying to hold down a job while struggling to afford help. I am always advocating to make childcare more accessible, including co-sponsoring the “universal child care act” which would make free childcare accessible for all New Yorkers

NYF: Lastly, let’s talk about your adorable 18-month-old Daniel. How’s the experience of being a mom?

son Jonah Bichotte Cowan, who passed after I was turned away from a hospital I rushed to in early labor. After discovering I was dilating at 3cm, I was notified of the worst news an expectant mother can receive - both me and my unborn baby were in an incredibly fatal and high-risk situation. Knowing the risks associated, the Doctors at one Hospital discharged and forcefully released me, citing “hospital policy.”

I was then rushed to another hospital in Brooklyn. They took me in, and their doctors were culturally competent. They understood my situation and tried their best to help. Although they were not able to save Jonah, the stark difference between their care and how I was denied treatment at a well-regarded corporate hospital highlighted the need for legislative action.

One in 10 families across the country

RBH: The experience of being a mom is unmatched. I am filled with joy and gratitude every day when I wake up to see my little boy growing healthy and very happy. I am also blessed to have avoided complications during birth and post-postpartum depression. I thank God for my health, my cherished son’s health and my husband’s.

Helpful to New York Mothers

Both Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul have recently taken significant steps to reduce maternal and infant health inequities in New York City and the State by providing critical resources to new families.

Mayor Adams announced a citywide expansion of the doula program, the expansion of a Midwifery Initiative, and the expansion of a maternal health care services program.

Gov. Hochul introduced a six-point policy plan (I proudly spoke at her announcement at Wyckoff Hospital, where my son Daniel was born and where I lost Jonah) and legislation to expand access to high-quality prenatal care, reduce costs for mothers and families, fight postpartum depression and support infants in the first months of their lives.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity, please visit newyorkfamily.com to read the story in its entirety.

Photo by Yumi Matsuo

calendar

Tot Time Tuesdays

Every Tuesday, 10 – 11:30 am (through May 28)

Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve 2351 Veterans Rd. West

FREE. Enjoy exploring nature topics during this toddler program through crafts and activities.

Little Movers: April

Showers

April 3rd, 11:15 am – 12 pm

Mariners Harbor Library 206 South Ave.

FREE. Join the library to hear stories all about rain, sing songs, and get those wiggles out as you help your active child build important early learning skills.

Grand Falloons: What a

Gas

April 6th, 4 pm – 4:45 pm

Staten Island Children’s Museum

1000 Richmond Terr.

The Grand Falloons Science Circus will present a program focused on the elements of our atmosphere, the importance of waste reduction, and actionable energy conservation methods. Through life-sized puppetry, juggling, live music, and comedy.

Solar Eclipse Glasses

Giveaway Weekend

April 6th & 7th, 3:00pm

Staten Island Museum

1000 Richmond Terrace, Bldg. A A total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday, April 8th. Visible from Texas to Maine, this remarkable cosmic event will be most clear in the NYC area around 3:15 PM.

Safely view this remarkable celestial event with a free pair of solar glasses available while supplies last.

tH in GS tO d O in April

t he Grand Falloons s cience circus performs at staten island children’s museum on a pril 6.

Discovery Hike: Urban Wildlife Mythbusters

April 7th, 11 am – 12 pm

Allison Pond Park

Prospect and Brentwood Avenues

FREE. Join the Urban Park Rangers and test your knowledge of common myths and misconceptions of New York City’s wildlife while walking the woodland trails of the park.

Staten Island Parent Camp & Summer Program Fair

April 7th, 12 – 3 pm

College Of Staten Island Sports And Recreation Center

2800 Victory Boulevard

FREE. Families in Staten Island can explore a variety of Summer Camps, Schools, Educational and Health programs, vendors, and more. The expo is a fun and educational day that brings together families of all backgrounds to learn, play, and grow together. With a variety of vendors, exhibitions, and activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Sunday MakeBreak:

Abstract Spring Painting

April 7th, 2 pm – 4 pm

Michaels Craft Store: Pergament Mall

2795 Richmond Ave

FREE. An in-store create your own Abstract Spring Painting!

Crafternoon Fun: Bird

Window Decal

April 8th, 4 pm – 5 pm

Richmondtown Library

200 Clarke Ave.

Celebrate spring and help your feathered friends! Birds can get hurt if they fly into windows, help them out by making a paper bird decal! Not only will these decals help the birds, but they will also add a touch of handmade spring beauty to your home.

STEM Tuesday: Create Your Own Guitar

April 9th, 4 pm – 5 pm

Dongan Hills Library

1617 Richmond Rd.

Calling all teens and tweens to create your own Guitar!

Spring Bingo for Kids

April 11, 4 pm – 4:45 pm

Mariners Harbor Library

206 South Ave.

FREE. Is there anything better than some friendly competition amongst friends, maybe a game of BINGO?

Friday Crafternoon

Fridays, 3:30 – 4:30 pm

Great Kills Library

56 Giffords Ln

FREE. Do you enjoy arts and crafts? Want to make something with fellow enthusiasts? Then attend Great Kills Library on Friday afternoons as you practice a variety of skills with some fun papercrafts to get your creative juices flowing.

Grace-Ful Glee Club: Through the Decades

April 13th, 4 pm

Staten Island Children’s Museum

1000 Richmond Terrace

The GRACE Foundation

GRACE-ful Glee Club is a performing arts program performed by individuals impacted by autism spectrum disorder. Their GRACE-ful Glee participants perform in the community to express their talents, creativity, and to inspire and empower the need for inclusion and diversity. Included with admission.

Kids Club: Paper Flower Bouquet Collage

April 13th, 10 am – 12 pm

Michaels Craft Store 2795 Richmond Ave

FREE. Use paper flowers to build a beautiful collage for spring.

B&N Storytime

Saturdays, 11 am

Barnes & Noble Staten Island Mall 2655 Richmond Avenue Suite 1590

FREE. Join Barnes and Noble for storytime! They will sing songs, read books, and have fun!

Design Your Own Baseball

Cap

April 16th, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Tottenville Library

7430 Amboy Road

FREE. Bring your creativity and make a one-of-a-kind baseball cap.

Teen/Tween

Making

Magnet Poetry

April 17th, 4 pm – 4:45 pm

Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library 2550 Victory Blvd.

FREE. Celebrate National Poetry

Month! Each teen participant will create their very own magnetic poetry to take home.

DIY Thursday: Bracelets

April 18th, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Dongan Hills Library 1617 Richmond Rd.

FREE. Teens and Tweens are welcome to decorate bracelets.

Earth Day: Flower Power!

April 20th, 1 pm – 3 pm

Staten Island Museum

1000 Richmond Terrace, Bldg. A Make and take crafts for green

thumbs big and small: flower crowns, seed paper, wildflower seed bombs, design your own seed packets, and more!

Button and Jewelry Making Workshop

April 20th, 4 pm – 5 pm

Dongan Hills Library

1617 Richmond Rd.

FREE. Join to create your own buttons or jewelry. You can create something to show off your own personal style! Light refreshments will also be served.

Bilingual Birdies Spanish Concert

April 21st, 4-4:45 pm

Staten Island Children’s Museum 1000 Richmond Terr.

Learn new vocabulary in Spanish and celebrate diversity in an energetic and interactive concert.

Kids Week: Earth Day

Native Planting Party

April 22nd, 1 pm – 2 pm

Blue Heron Park

Poillon Ave, Staten Island

FREE. Even when school’s out, parks are still the city’s natural classroom! Celebrate Earth Day with a hike discussing pollinators and plants. Don’t forget to take home your planted seed to start your own native plant garden.

Dance Party with DJ Baba Yako

April 22nd, 4 – 4:45 pm

Staten Island Children’s Museum

1000 Richmond Terr.

Transform your afternoon into a vibrant cultural celebration at this lively dance party featuring DJ Baba Yako, who specializes in Afrobeat music—a genre known for its infectious rhythms and rich cultural influences. Let your little ones experience the joy and unity inspired by Afrobeat, as they move and groove to the beats.

Kids Week: Freshwater Fishing

April 23rd, 1 pm – 2 pm

Allison Pond Park

Prospect and Brentwood Avenues

FREE. Want to go fishing but don’t know how or where to start? Join Urban Park Rangers for free lessons! Learn how to properly use a fishing rod or cast a net.

Kids Week: Ranger Games

April 24th, 1 pm – 2 pm

Walker Park

Bard Avenue and Delafield Place

FREE. Spend an afternoon of fun with Urban Park Rangers playing and learning new and exciting nature games.

Kids Week: All About Amphibians

April 25th, 1 pm – 2 pm

Willowbrook Park

Richmond Avenue, Victory Boulevard, Ashworth Avenue, and Forest Hill Road

FREE. Join Urban Park Rangers

as you explore the park, looking for and learning about the turtles, snakes, frogs, and salamanders that call New York City home.

Kids Week: Spring Water

Colors Crafts

April 26th, 11 am – 12 pm

De Matti Park

Tompkins Ave.

FREE. April showers bring May flowers. Join the Rangers as you celebrate the first signs of spring and create a springtime-related craft using watercolors and other provided materials.

Roots of Rhythm

April 26th, 12 pm – 2 pm

Staten Island Children’s Museum

1000 Richmond Terrace

A guest artist from S’Cool Sounds will teach visitors about a variety of exciting percussion instruments and their geographic origins! Learn to play different rhythms and interact using key musical elements.

The Greatest Olympian: A Mythic New Play

April 20, 21, 27, & 28, 2pm

Staten Island Playhouse

Empire Outlets, 55 Richmond Terrace

Embark on an epic journey with Hephaestus, the neurodiverse son of Zeus and Hera, as he uses innovation to save Mount Olympus from the mischievous goddess of discord in this legendary adventure for lovers of fantastical tales and myths.

Flip Circus

April 19th – 30th, Weekdays: 7:30 pm, Weekends: 1 pm, 4 pm, 7 pm

Staten Island Mall

2655 Richmond Ave.

A Staten Island family favorite, Flip Circus, returns with an allnew show. Featuring all-new acts, all-new excitement, and all-new fun, Flip Circus will visit Staten Island for the third consecutive year. Performers from Brazil, India, Chile, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Mexico, and the United States will dazzle Staten Island audiences with their incredible performances.

pick up a free pair of eclipse glasses at the staten island museum on a pril 6 and 7.

STATEn iSl And pAREnT ’ S

Birthday Club!

April 1

Stephanie Fetik

Alyssa owens

Mike Spaventa

caitlin corson

David corson

Journey’Ine thomas

nkosinathi Aubertin

gabriel Saldana

Laila eladawy

April 2

traore Aich

elizabeth McIsaac

gina Siclari

Liam o’Brien

Matthew Shafer

Jagger Fiorello

Kevin Mcfee

emma Jiminez

Sadye tortorello

April 3

Dean grande

Michael cahill

Jason Ruggiero

Ryan Salazar

Ande-Marie Balla

Anna Storberg

Daniel hansen

Derek Bailey

April 4

Sophia Mostovoy

chyanne Jeffrey

JZ Auriel Rivers

chyanne Jeffery

nicolina ullo

Lucas Stanly

Mukeh J. Samura

Seraphina harris

APRIL 5

Bianca Marie ulloa

Alexa Marotta

Mariano Fiallo

Abby Bocola

Jacob Bajek

Kingsley Liang

Jonathan Perfetto

Julianna Baratta

Jonah hecht

Matthew casiano

April 6

cheyenne Raven Williams

Damari Royer

Jacob Attarian

Angelo Marvelli Jr.

christiana tobe

Jasemina Marovic

Jake Ryan

Damari Royer

Anthony Ramirez

Jackson Agosto

April 7

John Butler

Zachary Weeks

Alyssa hughes

Jaiden DiLorenzo

olivia cordova

Angelo giuseppe Sorci

ethan Alson

Maya Popel

Amber Fores

April 8

hannah Sportbert

Patrick casey

Daniel casey

Leah gunther

Dante Rose

Samantha Weisberg

caleigh Mcculloch

Zain Rasheed

Dante Rose

gianna Maniscalco

Michael James

Borriello

Samantha Weisberg

April 9

Sabrina Perrotta

taylor DiPietro

Robert ellefsen

Summer Rose Donato

hailey Papa gabriella Pilzer

erik Lin

Isabella Pilzer

Damien ortiz

Reena Martinez

Luciano Ruocco

April 10

Sarah Sebastiano

Michael Klink

Michael Russo

John Arambages

Antonio Zingaropoli

Angelise Maldonado

Rihanna Marshall

Amiya Josiah

Ariarose caccese

Antonio Buoninfante

c J Klein

giacomo carlucci

April 11

christa Louisson

olivia Vallario

Antonio Zingaropoli

Stephen Yannaco

Richard Byer

Arianna obeni

Joseph calabrese

Jessenia Saldana

Madison Lui

Santino carlucci

April 12

helena ettu

gavin Avaltroni

Reese Kroski

Anandah Porter

nora cruce

Zakeia Mohammed grace haley

April 13

Jason Santana, Jr.

Stephen Dapello

Jillian Ippolito

nicolette hillery

Sophia hillery

Jimmi Love Spaulding

Adriana triano

April 14

gianna Marie Maggio

Joseph Jennerich

Frank g eosits

Julia Feliciano

Delmar hinton

Paris Kizer

Averie Bradshaw

Alberto Acevedo Jr.

Angel Ripalda

April 15

christina DeRossi

Jessica Fetik

James Basich

Ashlyn gravagna

Sebastian Scala

Daniel Zapata

Liam cragan

April 16

Vincent hetzel

giana Maria caputo

erin Murphy

Brian hemmer

Aryana Latchman

thomas Bland

nicholas Bland

Joseph Litrell

Sophia Luna

April 17

Xavier Barrow

Andrew Finazzo

christopher campbell

charles Jackson

christian Bedoya

Matthew Rooney

Antonio Londono

harper Larsen

Adrianna gise

April 18

Antonio Santoro

Stephanie Ferrandino

nicholas Mejia

John gall

Juliette Armenia

John gall

Michael Anthony

Loffredo

John gall

Matteo umanzor

Marc Maniglia

April 19

Anthony gargiulo

nicholas LaMorte

Maria Vazquez

Didier Sauersinger

Ryan callahan

Bradley Vaval

Anthony carlsen

Aiden Shehaj

Walid Attal

Ioanna Karakis

Aria Mustafa

April 20

Jason Lamantia

Alexa Winchel

christopher Brown

colleen Walsh

Angelina Walsh

Jace Ramos

Alana Samarasekera emma commissiong

Fredy Perez

Abram Faynblut

Sylas Addison caesar

April 21

nicolette D’Alessio

nicholas D. Scheuerman

Lauren Albanese

christina Muraca

Joseph tsuei

Julianna orlando

Shyanne Swain

ethan Ajibade

cameron ellis

Alexis Moody

Dean condon

April 22

gina Barberie

Antonio Jude t izio

Deanna Squarciafico

Quentin g reenLind

Jadyn Velez

gabriel Villegas

Ryan Setteducato

charles Setteducato

Lina Digiacomo

connor Barrios

Sylas caesar

April 23

caitlyn Paige

DeMuro

Robert Mauro

Amanda Singler

Vincent gargiulo

Rithika Lingala

Kyla graham

Aiden Rowe

Jack Strobel

noah Broitman

Vincent Boffaa

April 24

Breanna Mcglynn

Alyssa Demarest

Dovan Maidenberg

Madison Kravitz

Andrew Ferrera

nicholas Paciello

Joseph Intoci

Almina Modica

nicholas Morra

April 25

thomas casuccio

Maggie Deignan

Jillian Frances cannon

tommy Barnes

Vincent Pellegrino

Michael Minetello

Kimberly Russo

Juan Jorge Jr.

terrence Merveille

April 26

Andrew c . Anderson

Jr.

emilyrose Buxbaum

Rita Blake

Jessica Mills

erin hagen

theodore YanniShehata

Sadie Dillon

grace Waters

Logan Barrios

April 27

giovanna c . Perricone

please present this page. g ood only for birthday club members on this list. o ffer valid for the month. c all before to check availabilty.

Jayden Perez

Jeremy castro

Melanie Ann tapia

Matthew Lewis

Jade Marie Russo

Jess Spota

Jacob hounsell

Angelina cariddi

April 28

gabriella Mutate

Benjamin nicholas

Rondo Watson

Franklin Peguero

Javian Dominguez

Amelia g oodridge

emily Bianco

Francesca hecht

April 29

Londyn chan

Aiden Weingarten

Jonathan Weingarten

hannah Weingarten

Makayla hudgins

Londyn Jade chan

Matteo collazo

April 30

Amanda Singler

nicholas Zangrillo

eric Bucchieri

Salvatore Brunetto

osagie Benson

Marley henderson

David Bonilla

MONDAY - THURSDAY 4

Ages 4-7

Camp Runs

9:00AM - 2:30PM

7/8- 7/11

7/15 - 7/18

7/22 - 7/25

7/29 - 8/1

8/5 - 8/8

SUMMER SPORTS ACADEMY

JULY 8 - AUGUST 23 BERNIKOW JCC 1466 MANOR RD.

CORE 24 SUMMER BASKETBALL ACADEMY

SOCCER STRIKERS SUMMER ACADEMY

Summer Swimming Academy

Ages 6-14 9am-3:30pm

Ages 6-14 9am-3:30pm

Ages 5-14 8:30am-3:30pm Lunches