NIS

430 Sills Road Yaphank, NY 11980
(631) 924-5583 (ph) (631)924-5687(fax)
e-mail: information@niskids.org

REAL LIFE STORIES

In 1976 I was a young, frightened mother. My husband and I had just been told that our beautiful two and a half year old daughter, Karilee, had some kind of "brain damage". Those were the two scariest words we had ever heard. All of the doctors told us that we must enroll her in some type of special program if she were to have any chance of achieving her questionable potential.


	Karilee at 2 years old

I felt an overriding urgency to find this special school. In 1976, however, this was not an easy task. The local BOCES had a program for pre-schoolers, but all children had to be toilet trained.

UPC had a program as well, but the majority of the toddlers were non-ambulatory. Karilee was neither! By sure fate, I heard about a school program operating out of a building that served as a day camp in the summer which was less than one mile from where we lived. I went for a visit and from the minute I walked through the doors, I knew instinctively that this was a place for Karilee.

The school was not officially sanctioned by New York State, as their application was under review. All the staff, under the direction of Claire Salant and Rhoda Rogoff, were volunteering their time. Food and toys were donated by people in the community, and the expenses involved in running the program, such as the utilities, etc. were paid by caring friends of staff members.

I was told that, while a spot would be available for Karilee the following September, that enrollment was full for the next 2 months. Wonderful, incredible, Rhoda sensed my despair and said- "well, maybe we could find room for one more child…." It was this kind of acceptance that was central to NIS's philosophy, and remains so -
25 years later.

In August of 1977, it was official! The New Interdisciplinary School opened its doors in Medford. While the 52 mile round trip was a concern, our two month experience of having Karilee at the school overrode our fear. Karilee was one of 14 childdren enrolled in the first class of NIS. While there, she received the very best that "special education" had to offer. Just as important, my family also received the support in understanding the nature of Karilee's disability and accepting her for the delicious little child she was. Karilee thrived under the expertise of her loving teachers and therapists, Janet, Caroline, Chris, Diane, Peter, Rick, Linda, Helen, Mort and all the rest of the staff.

When it came time for her to move on to the local public school at age five, no program existed. Once again we were left without a place. And once again, NIS saved us! Karilee was allowed to stay for an additional year while we challenged the State Education Department on their school based policies. In total, Karilee spent three full years at NIS. In hindsight they truly were the best years of her whole schooling. No program or place has equaled the expertise shown by the staff, nor possessed the vision of the founding directors, Claire & Rhoda.



	Karilee in 2002

Twenty-five years later, Karilee has grown into a beautiful, self-confident young woman. She lives at home for now with her own dreams of living independently in an apartment with minimal supervision. She has now and has always had, a job in the community

to which she takes public transportation. She is accepted and respected for who she is and the contribution that she makes to society.

There is no doubt in my mind that most of this success story is a result of her early years at NIS. They were the all important foundation years, not only for her, but for her family as well. Even as that young, frightened mother in 1976, my instincts told me that NIS was the right place. Perhaps some of you can relate to that as well. I will be forever grateful for that twist of fate that led me to NIS. Their circle of support continues to nurture thousands of children who also have the benefit of having attended NIS' program.