Creating Opportunities for People with Disabilities

The Heritage Education Program


HAVING A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CAN RAISE MANY QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS

At the Heritage Education Program (HEP), we are dedicated to helping you have your questions answered. Our staff is here to support your family's needs and to help guide you through your child's stages of development, whether he/she is enrolled in our Early Intervention, Preschool or School Age programming. We can assist you in the exploration of all the service options within our community that will help your child to achieve his/her greatest potential.

We offer services throughout our Western New York community for children age birth to 21, whose needs meet the eligibility requirements through their county and/or school district.

For our youngest students, some services may be delivered in a family's home or a community childcare center. Heritage Centers also provides programs at various center locations that are staffed by professionals who are duly licensed or certified by the State of New York.

HEP currently has the following educational facilities/classes:
  • Corner House Nursery School in Williamsville, NY
  • Green Acres School in Tonawanda, NY
  • Maryvale Continuing Education in Cheektowaga, NY
  • Newfane Early Childhood Center in Newfane, NY
  • Tonawanda Central in Tonawanda, NY
  • Washington School in Kenmore, NY
  • 101 Oak Street Transition Class in Downtown Buffalo, NY
* Services provided by HEP are paid for by County and/or NYS Department of Education and/or NYS Department of Health funds. There is no direct cost to you.


Early Intervention

HEP works with County Early Intervention Officials to assess the eligibility and needs of infants and toddlers who are developmentally disabled. Services can be provided in the child's home, in community childcare centers or in one of our center-based classes. Services are specially designed to meet the ongoing needs of each family and to build on the child's strengths as he/she develops.

Click here for more detailed Early Intervention information.


Preschool

Working closely with individual school districts and the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE), services for individual children are determined. Classrooms are located within early childhood settings throughout our community and have a certified special education teacher and at least one full-time teacher assistant.

Click here for more detailed Preschool information.


School Age

The school age component of HEP serves children between the ages of 5 and 21 with developmental disabilities. Students may be referred by their school district Committee on Special Education (CSE). In addition to the educational programming these children receive, they may also participate in prevocational training and school-to-work programs.

Click here for more detailed School Age information.



EARLY INTERVENTION

(Ages Birth to 3 years old)

Upon referral from your county of residence, the Heritage Education Program can assess the eligibility and needs of infants and toddlers who may require specialized service(s). Building upon your child's strengths, HEP can offer a wide range of services that may include:
  • Evaluations
  • Special Education
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Speech Therapy
  • Service Coordination
  • Parent Groups
  • Infant Massage
  • Assistive Technology
  • Feeding and Swallowing Evaluations, Program Development and Monitoring
  • School Nursing
  • Developmental Groups for Toddlers
Your family is always the most vital contributor to the development of your child's Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), which documents the services that will be delivered and where. Services may be provided in your home, in a community childcare setting or at our educational facility. In partnership with you, our staff is committed to providing you with the best possible programming and support for your child and family.


PRESCHOOL

(Ages 3-5 years old)

To meet your child's individual needs, the services he/she receives will be determined by your school district Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE), based upon a multidisciplinary assessment. Preschool services may include:
  • Evaluations
  • Special Education
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Speech Therapy
  • Adaptive Physical Education
  • Behavior Management Plans
  • Art Therapy
  • Counseling
  • Parent Training
  • Feeding and Swallowing Evaluations, Program Development and Monitoring
  • School Nursing
  • Social Work
  • Collaborations with community organizations, including Moving Miracles Dance Studio
We strongly support educating students in the least restrictive environment, therefore HEP offers services in a variety of settings that include community childcare centers, as well as our center-based programs that consist of full inclusion with peers who are non-disabled or self-contained environments with multiple opportunities for integration with peers who are non-disabled. Additional components to our program may include the implementation of sensory experiences, music education, art education and the use of computers for motivating learning opportunities. During the school year preschool programming is available five days a week, on a full or part-time basis. We offer a six-week summer program for children who meet the requirements for eligibility as determined by your school district's CPSE.


SCHOOL AGE

(Ages 5-21 years old)

The Heritage Education Program staff understands that students have individual needs. We will work with your school district Committee on Special Education (CSE) to provide a comprehensive educational program to meet your child's needs. School Age program services may include:
  • Special Education
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Speech/Language Therapy
  • Adaptive Physical Education
  • Behavior Management Plans
  • Art Therapy
  • Counseling
  • Parent Training
  • Feeding and Swallowing Evaluations, Program Development and Monitoring
  • Social Work
  • School Nursing
  • School-to-Work Programming
  • Prevocational Training
  • Collaborations with community organizations, including Moving Miracles Dance Studio and Skating Athletes Bold at Heart (SABAH)
The regular school calendar exists (September through June), and during the summer, a six-week program is also available pending approval by your school district’s CSE. Additional program components may include learning activities via use of computers and musical experiences. For students who are 16 years old or older, HEP offers School-to-Work and Prevocational training. These programs present great opportunities for skill development and also provide students with real work experience plus the chance to earn wages.