Education opens up opportunities for the future.
At Starbridge, we partner with families, youth, and schools to improve educational outcomes and open up possibilities.
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Early Intervention through Preschool (Birth-Age 5)
Parents of infants and toddlers with disabilities can access a variety of supports and services including assistance with diagnosis through the early intervention program administered by the New York State Department of Health.
The New York State Education Department has prepared a guide about special education supports for children from birth through 3rd grade – click to open document [pdf]
School Age Children (Age 5-26)
Students who have disabilities or suspected disabilities and are age 5-26 have access to a variety of supports, services, programs and accommodations that allow them to receive an appropriate education that will prepare them for adulthood.
At Starbridge, our staff can provide information about –
- Federal and state laws and regulations governing the delivery of special education
- How to navigate school systems and policies
- Techniques to help you communicate effectively with your child's school team
- Resources available to assist you
Starbridge staff offer workshops, webinars, and conferences year-round on a variety of education-related topics. To see what we have planned, click for our events calendar.
Please use the Contact Us form or call us at 585-224-7359 and leave a message. Our Intake Coordinator will call you back to ask for information about you or the person you are calling about (if you are phoning for someone else) and can connect you with further resources or staff.
Working with an Educational Advocate
If you are looking for information or seeking support in addressing educational needs for a student who has a disability or suspected disability, Starbridge Family Education Specialists and Advocates are here for you. We educate and empower you to advocate on behalf of your children. Our goals are to improve educational outcomes and build positive family-school relationships.
Please use the Contact Us form or call us at 585-224-7359 and leave a message. Our Intake Coordinator will call you back to ask for information about you or the person you are calling about (if you are phoning for someone else) and can connect you with further resources or staff.
Topics in Special Education
13 Disability Classifications for IEPs in NYS [pdf document]
Dyslexia [pdf document]
Understanding Sensory Processing Challenges [pdf document]
What are 504 Plans? [pdf document]
Family/Student Meeting Preparation Guide [pdf document]
Guia para prepararse para las reuniones escolares [pdf document]
Understanding and Addressing Bullying [pdf document]
Funding
Starbridge is a Parent Training & Information Center (PTIC), funded by the US Department of Education. Our PTIC provides workshops and resources for families and professionals regarding special education rights and responsibilities, and promotes meaningful involvement of families in their children’s education programs.
Starbridge's PTIC serves all of New York State, except the five boroughs of New York City and Long Island. Our Rochester-based staff serve families in the following counties: Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Wayne and Yates. To speak with one of our Family Education Specialists, please contact us at 585-546-1700 or use the Contact Us form.
For residents in Central New York – Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Madison, Onondaga, Otsego, and Tompkins Counties – please contact Kara Georgi, Family Education Specialist serving Central New York, by phone at 315-345-2555 or by email at kgeorgi@starbridgeinc.org.
We contract with Core Community Partners across the state to provide services in these regions –
- Parent Network of Western New York – serving Buffalo and Western New York
- Parent to Parent (Capital District) – serving the Capital District and the North Country
- Putnam Independent Living Services & Westchester Independent Living Center – serving the Hudson Valley region
Starbridge is a part of the New York State Parent Network, a collaboration between all federally-funded Parent Centers in the state.
To find your Parent Center in other parts of New York or the USA, go to http://www.parentcenterhub.org/find-your-center/
Starbridge is a New York State Parent Training and Information Center (PTIC), serving all of New York State except the 5 boroughs of New York City and Long Island. The contents of this website were developed in part under a grant from the US Department of Education, #H328M150079.However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government Project Officer, Carmen Sanchez.