Success Stories
We understand how difficult it can be to navigate the New York City Department of Education. Parents can spend an enormous amount of time exploring different programs or simply trying to understand their child’s education rights. The process can be overwhelming. Our 40 years of experience means we know the system inside and out. We put our experience to work for children who would otherwise fall through the cracks.
Here are some recent success stories:
Salema is a five-year-old girl with autism. When she transitioned to kindergarten, the Department of Education eliminated the specialized services she was receiving, despite the unanimous recommendation of her service providers and evaluators that her services continue.... Read more
George received an unfair suspension that threatened his ability to graduate.... Read more
Steven received a 90-day superintendent’s suspension notice that violated his rights and would eliminate his chances of attending a top high school.... Read more
Haley needed to be placed in a classroom that would promote her physical development and to have additional physical therapy if she was ever going to learn how to walk.... Read more
Mark and his family became homeless. He worried that he would not be able to continue to attend his school, where he had strong bonds with his teachers and his friends.... Read more
Charlene, a six-year old special education student, was allowed to attend school for only two hours a day with her mother present in the classroom.... Read more
Alex was a bright, determined high school student when she became homeless. AFC helped Alex fulfill her dreams to attend college. Read more
Geoff was in danger of being incarcerated; now he is attending a highly acclaimed high school.... Read more
Mary, a student in foster care, was diagnosed with dyslexia. AFC filed and won a due process hearing to get Mary the appropriate educational services she needed.... Read more
Mike, an intelligent student with Asperger’s Syndrome, was struggling in school and was often truant.... Read more
Michelle, a 20-year-old woman from Haiti, emigrated to NYC shortly after the earthquake ravished her community. Although she spoke very little English, she had dreams of earning a high school diploma and attending college.... Read more
Joseph's adoptive mother came to AFC extremely worried about moving John from a full-day, full-year, specialized preschool program to no program at all.... Read more
Jose’s mother knew her son was not progressing at the rate he should be and that he was not receiving the appropriate education services, but she didn’t know what to do about it.... Read more
Izzie was a preschooler who needed just the right classroom setting and supports to succeed in kindergarten and set her on the path for a productive academic future
.... Read more
Ruben's high school guidance counselor told him that academic success was “unattainable”. With hard work and determination Ruben proved him wrong.... Read more
Zio is a child with an autism spectrum disorder who had attended four schools in six years, unable to find one that met his learning needs. For years his father sent him off to school knowing he was struggling to make friends and failing to make academic progress.... Read more
Khiry waited at home for four years while the Department of Education failed to find a school that could provide the accommodations and services he needed so he could attend school and earn his diploma.... Read more
Jemma was a five-year-old girl who struggled to pay attention in class and learn her alphabet. Her foster mother called AFC because she knew that unaddressed, Jemma’s challenges would severely impact her learning....Read more
