2023 January Newsletter

teddi3Newsletter

Moving Forward with Innovation & A United Voice

CIDA Families and Contributors.

Happy New Year! We wish everyone a year full of happiness and health for your family!

The year 2023 is expected to be a milestone year in which we come closer to the many things CIDA has envisioned. As a result of our rigorous efforts over the past few years to make our programs streamlined and efficient, CIDA is now able to support Asian families and young adults with disabilities by focusing on three areas: empowerment of parents/families, employment of young people with disabilities, and advocacy for disability rights.

Asian parent/guardian capacity building
CIDA has been providing parent training, support groups, one-on-one assistance, and translation/distribution of informational resources through partnership with the U.S Department of Education to strengthen the capacity of Korean families with disabilities for the past six years. Since 2020, parent training and support has been expanded to Chinese families through private donations. This year, we will accelerate support activities so that Asian immigrant families can better communicate with service systems and schools.

Employment for Young Adults with Disabilities
Last year, CIDA launched the Social Co-op Program, a job readiness program for young adults with disabilities. The majority of the participants are starting to prepare for employment, or have started their career as artists through CIDA’s CoSpire Business. The 2nd round of the program begins in February 2023, and we are aiming for all participants to have jobs or career opportunities by the end of the program. Moreover, the CIDA Community Center, which is scheduled to open in late February or early March, will hire some of these job program participants as interns or part-time employees. In addition, we will continue to provide transition planning support from high school to adulthood, integrate young people with disabilities into the community, and support independent living and service information.

Advocacy & Solidarity
CIDA is inviting more than 500 Chinese families to join the CIDA network this year. As a result, our current network of 870 members, including Korean families, will become the largest Asian family alliance of over 1,300 members in the NY Metro area. As a united front, CIDA families are able to create a bigger voice and show solidarity toward the New York State and City governments to resolve many pending issues including language access, culturally responsive services, and active information support for Asian immigrant parents regarding special education. CIDA is planning to systematize the direction and strategies of these advocacy activities so that our voice can deliver bigger and more effective impacts.

All CIDA staff members and Board Members have no doubt that this year will be a year in which we move forward toward our common vision with a more innovative and unified voice. Thank you for your continuous support and participation! I wish you and your families a Happy and splendid New Year!

Young Seh Bae, Ph.D.
Executive Director

What’s Up at CIDA

Welcome Adella Lin, Our New Board Director

CIDA welcomes a newly appointed Board Director Adella Lin-Kravitz, Ph.D. Adella is a mother of two children, one of whom is affected by autism. She also is the co-founder of a not-for-profit organization, Project Ready, which focuses on advocacy, education, transition planning, and independent life skills training for teens and young adults with I/DD. In her career, Adella has worked as a technology consultant for the last 10 years with large companies, including Ernst & Young and Conde Nast Publications. We anticipate her role will create a great collaboration and synergy among Asian parents who have children in transition age.

CIDA will Collaborate with MoMA

We at CIDA are delighted to announce that our Social Co-op’s Art Initiative will be collaborating with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in Manhattan beginning in March. This collaboration will begin with a six-week art exploration course for our Art Initiative members.

Coming Soon, CIDA Community Center Program

CIDA is excited to announce that our Community Center is opening soon, located at 36-28 on Bell BLVD, Bayside. The space is under construction and expected to open to the community in late February. The new Community Center will offer Art programs, Cooking classes and the Storytelling Club, all of which are available to the public. Please click here to view the programs offered at the new Community Center.

Events

CIDA events are offered online and in-person. Please check our event calendar for event details and registration information.

  • Adult Support Group (Long Island Only)
    • When: 1/5/2023 10:00 AM
    • Where: Long Island
    • This group meets in person at our Long Island location at Dix Hills, NY 11746. This group is focused on young adults living in LI and seeking housing or group home programs.
    • Link: https://forms.gle/14PwZpRKqCYBRsTn8
  • Support Group for School Age / Toddlers Parents – NY
    • When: 1/9/2023 7:00pm
    • Where: Zoom
    • This support group meeting is for parents of toddlers receiving early intervention (EI) services and parents of children in grades K-12 receiving special education services. Content: Resolving problems with service organizations/schools, sharing local program information, important New York State/New York City special education updates, etc.
    • Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYlcOytpz0qGtbG9SJz4kM9BO78xuYlrhUX
  • IEP Boot Camp: Part I (Part 2 will be held on 1/18)
    • When: Jan 17, Monday 12:30 PM
    • Where: Zoom
    • This session will help the parents understand basics of Individualized Education Program (IEP). During the session, participants will review: 1. what is IEP? 2. Key components of IEP. 3. How to read IEP and annual goals, 4. Written Notifications, IEP meeting and IEP team members.
    • Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAudu6tpjorHtOfNHVUR51y5ixjBtUMRhGL
  • IEP Boot Camp: Part 2
    • When: Jan 18, Tuesday 12:30 PM
    • Where: Zoom
    • This session is a consecutive session from the prior IEP session (1/17). The parents will have an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and udnerstanding in IEP. Participants will review: 1. How to read assessment results and present level of performace, 2. Special factors and AT devices, 3. State Assessment and accomodation, 4. Related services, 5. Transition planning & Measurable post secondary goals. 6. How to communicate better with IEP team.
    • Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUod-CopzspH9dcN-TSHqO3oPq12BOaMyRu