Since 1958, KCC has helped young children with special needs to learn, grow, and develop their unique abilities.
Our Mission
KCC provides high quality education services to more than 400 young children with developmental delays every day, in partnership with families and communities. Our child-centered, evidence-based instruction prepares each student to enter the New York City public school system in the least restrictive environment possible.
We support families with training, guidance, and advocacy, and strengthen our school community through professional development and collaborations with local human service organizations. KCC is also committed to empowering a new generation of early childhood educators through our Grow Your Own Teacher Assistant and Teacher Training Program (GYO).
SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL
Our special education preschool program is designed for children ages 3 to 5 who have been identified with significant developmental delays and disabilities. At Kennedy Children’s Center, we specialize in supporting children with complex needs, with deep expertise in autism and evidence-based approaches, including TEACCH-informed classroom models.
Our small, highly structured classrooms—serving 6, 8, or 12 children—are led by New York State certified early childhood special education teachers and supported by two teacher assistants. This model allows for individualized, intensive instruction tailored to each child that promotes meaningful engagement and progress toward IEP goals.
Instruction is aligned with the New York State Prekindergarten Foundation for the Common Core, ensuring high expectations for all children. Within this framework, we differentiate instruction to support each child’s development.
Our approach emphasizes purposeful, play-based learning that builds communication, social-emotional skills, and independence. Through structured, sensory-rich environments, children are supported in exploring their world, forming relationships, and developing essential skills for lifelong learning.
RELATED THERAPY SERVICES
KCC's team of licensed therapists provide related services to our students based on the mandates in their Individual Education Programs (IEPs). Services include Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Therapy, and Behavior Counseling.
“Before KCC, Miguel didn’t speak. With support from his teachers and therapists, he began using words and building confidence.”
Our mission extends beyond the classroom, as we seek to support children, families and staff through:
Parent Support Programming
Our Family Support Program equips parents and caregivers with the knowledge and tools to become confident, informed advocates for their children. We provide targeted training to help families understand their child’s diagnosis, navigate the IEP process, and exercise their educational rights, empowering them to make informed decisions and actively participate in their child’s education.
In addition to personalized guidance from our education experts, we connect families to a broad network of external supports to help address the full range of needs they may face. This includes referrals to resources for food and housing stability, nutrition counseling, and access to public benefits and community-based services—ensuring families have the support they need both inside and outside the classroom.
Family workshops are offered in English and Spanish on a range of relevant topics, including specialized training for parents of children with autism. Sessions are led by Kennedy Children’s Center staff as well as trusted partner organizations such as Synergia and Ramapo for Children.
GRow your own
Grow Your Own at the Kennedy Children's Center (GYO) is a community-based pipeline program that addresses the teacher shortage head-on, by empowering diverse adults to become teacher assistants, teachers, and school building leaders in early childhood special education programs. This private initiative complements the work we do in our preschool classrooms, addressing workforce gaps while strengthening the quality of instruction for children who need the most support
In 2024, GYO became the first Registered Apprenticeship Program in New York State focused on preparing early childhood special educators. GYO provides hands-on classroom experience, structured training, and financial support to help aspiring educators reach their goals. We train about 100 teacher assistants annually, and employ about 30 registered apprentices.
The program serves a dual purpose: ensuring that children with special needs have access to highly trained, certified educators, while opening a meaningful career pathway for motivated adults—many from historically underrepresented communities—who might not otherwise have access to the education profession. By investing in people, GYO strengthens both our classrooms and the communities we serve.
“My experience with Grow Your Own has been life changing. Working with KCC has taught me so much, and now I can use what I’ve learned to continue helping others in my community and family.”
Many of our programs are made possible by the generosity of our donor community. You can make a real difference in the lives of children, families, and early childhood professionals.