All proceeds go to the New York Child Learning Institute (part of AABR)

The building that houses my son's school for children with autism, New York Child Learning Institute, is being sold by the convent that leases the space to the school. The school has run for 24 years and served dozens of families with autistic children and given back to the global autism community with training, education, peer-reviewed publications and vocational skills training. Now they are at a crossroads. NYCLI can raise funds to buy their building and expand to serve even more families.

Speaking for my own family.... NYCLI has helped our son beyond measure. We can't imagine life without his teachers and the supportive staff at NYCLI.

I invite you to contribute keep this NYC treasure going full steam. You can either 1) sponsor a cyclist for the Saturday October 14, 2017 ride or 2) sign up to ride yourself and start seeking sponsorship from friends and family.

1) Sponsor one of the riders on the bike-a-thon.

2) Sign up as a rider (team member). Click on "Join the Team" at the bottom of this page. Start gathering support for your ride! Let people know how many miles you plan on doing that day (50 or 25 miles). Rides begin at the Hudson River Greenway, Pier 96 (at 56th Street) on Saturday morning, October 14, 2017. The 50-mile ride starts at 8am. The 25-mile ride starts at 9am.

25 mile route: Click Here (Pier 96/Palisades, NJ/Central Park)

50 mile route: Click Here (Pier 96/Nyack, NY/Central Park)

NYCLI is part of AABR, a certified non-profit supporting disabled children.

EIN: 13-1968035.

Lunch and refreshments for cyclists and their supporters will take place on the Great Hill in Central Park from 1pm-3pm on October 14, directly after the ride. Cyclists will receive a custom t-shirt commemorating the event.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR INSTITUTIONAL SPONSORS:

Axis Company

Razor & Tie Records (Kidz Bop)

Here is some information about the school

The New York Child Learning Institute helps children with autism acquire critical language, social, and academic skills, and to use these skills to develop more meaningful relationships with others and live more productive lives. For the past 24 years, The New York Child Learning Institute (NYCLI) has delivered ground-breaking programs and services to children diagnosed with autism and their families, in a warm and carefully curated environment. Its programs have been recognized and studied by clinicians and educators in the U.S. and abroad: through publications in peer- reviewed journals and textbooks, and graduate level internship programs. Given our children’s diagnoses, school programs are costly but also extremely cost effective and largely borne by government. The scale and scope of its services has been significantly, but not solely, limited by space constraints. Given the growing numbers of children diagnosed with autism, NYCLI is charting a bold expansion course, which will allow it to:

• increase the number of children served in its school by adding two additional classrooms;

• assist more families with early education;

• prepare more young adults with autism for employment;

• increase the number of job placements for NYCLI graduates;

• expand professional training programs for graduate students in regional universities; and

• advance research in the field of autism intervention.

To achieve these ambitious goals, NYCLI must raise $3.8 million in the coming year.

Funds are needed for:

• $2.8 million to purchase our building, half of which we currently rent

• $1 million to renovate and outfit the additional space.

The entire facility is approximately 13,400 square feet and is being offered at a rate of $210 per square foot. If we are unable to purchase the building, NYCLI’s future is in danger. The property owners are open to our offer but we must act quickly. Additionally, NYCLI seeks $1 million to create an endowment to support staff and knowledge sharing activities. Today, NYCLI has created a thriving educational community and serves as a leader in the field. Its mission is to help children with autism acquire critical language, social, and academic skills, and to use these skills to develop more meaningful relationships with others and live more productive lives. The programs serve children ages 2.7 to 21 from 8:15am to 2:15am, 180 days during the school year and 30 days during the summer months. The educational model for all age groups is based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, with the goal of creating a ladder of sequential skills geared to each child’s capability. Although all students enrolled carry a primary diagnosis of autism, some present with comorbid medical or psychiatric conditions, including Tourette Syndrome, chromosomal abnormalities, catatonia, bipolar disorder, depression and seizure disorders. When a variety of conditions further complicate their lives, NYCLI effectively sets an educational course to alleviate challenges.

The Institute is accredited and certified by the New York State Department of Health and the New York State Education Department: Given the severity of the population served, it provides a class ratio of six students to four professional staff in its four carefully curated classrooms. Enrollment has been limited - largely by space constraints – to serving 24 children at a time. AABR has provided ongoing administrative, payroll and legal services. The goal for each child is to benefit from an enriched family life and community involvement and to decrease the need for ongoing specialized educational and treatment services. Therefore, families of pre-school and school- age children are expected to participate in their child’s education: Through bi-weekly home visits by staff and monthly school visits by parents, families receive critically needed assistance and empowering support to help in the transfer of children’s newly acquired skills from school to home and community. Many young adults with autism can hold jobs in their community, with targeted supports. The cost benefits to society are enormous: reducing cost of care and creating better and more lasting outcomes for these citizens. NYCLI works with local businesses to give young adults job preparation training with work experience, in building maintenance, retail, data entry, and food service. Students in the apprenticeship program complete tasks to an employer’s required specifications, with the guidance of a Life-Skills Coach from NYCLI.

Since its inception, 15% of NYCLI’s population has moved from special education and are currently enrolled in regular education classrooms; 36% are enrolled in less restrictive programs for students with learning disabilities. NYCLI’s core educational strategies have proven highly effective and cost efficient. Its reputation for delivering individualized and highly effective intervention for children with autism is unparalleled in the New York area. To meet the increasing demand for these services, we must expand our site-based programs, and enlarge our learning community through the purchase of our facility, half of which we currently occupy. Ironically, the alternative may be to close our doors. NYCLI needs to raise $600,000 for a down payment and a commitment of $2.1 million within the year. Another $1 million is required to renovate and outfit the additional space two new classrooms.

Additional funds will be sought to:

• expand its apprenticeship program that prepares young adults with autism for employment;

• strengthen its university partnerships that educate graduate students in the field of applied behavior analysis;

• expand professional training and increase salaries and benefits; and

• underwrite its capacity to advance our science, through rigorous applied research.

AABR INC

Fundraising Campaigns

New York Child Learning Institute

New York Child Learning Institute Capital Campaign

Ride for New York Child Learning Institute (AABR, Inc.)