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Programs
ESSNY has expanded all programs to include developmental disabilities other than epilepsy such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, neurological impairments, and autism. It is our goal to assist individuals who have a developmental disability in obtaining their optimal growth potential.
Service Coordination | Community Integration and Independent Living Skills Training | Epilepsy Education and Training | Vocational Services: Development/Placement/Supported work | Counseling | Hospital Intervention | Chris McCarthy Scholarship Fund
Service Coordination
ESSNY provides service coordination to individuals diagnosed with epilepsy, other developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injury. It is our goal to improve the quality of life of these individuals by providing needed supports for optimum independence by:
- Providing advocacy and support to alleviate stress in the home
- Meet with the individual and/or family to assist the person navigating the service system to make the necessary referrals
- Assisting the individual/family by providing access to one or more of the following programs:
- Medicaid Service Coordination
- Home and Community Based Waiver
- Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver Program
- Family Support Programs (includes non-Medicaid service coordination and counseling)
Each program has eligibility requirements for enrollment. Our programs are governed by the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) and the Department of Health (DOH).
Community Integration and Independent Living Skills Training
Community Integration is a service approved through OMRDD's Home and Community Based Waiver Program and Independent Living Skills Training is through the DOH's Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver Program. The aim of these programs is to teach independent living skills through an individualized plan of desired goals, including consideration of the following:
- Community integration
- Budgeting
- Organization
- Food preparation
- Other tasks that help the person become more independent in their living environment
Epilepsy Education and Training
The Education Department of ESSNY provides a wide variety of services aimed at communicating knowledge of epilepsy in a manner that is easily accessible for everyone.
Our training includes:
- Presentations on managing the child with seizures for:
- Camp counselors
- Teachers
- Teachers aides
- School organizations
- Cafeteria workers
- Bus drivers and monitors
- Medication, psychosocial and family issues for nurses, psychologists and counselors
- Up-to-date information with videos, overheads and handouts
Our commitment to epilepsy awareness also includes:
- Consumer Advisory Council events and publications
- Professional Advisory Board seminars and treatment updates
- Volunteer programs
- Kids-on-the-Block Bunraku style puppet shows
Vocational Services: Development/Placement/Supported work
ESSNY provides integrated supported and competitive employment for persons with a variety of disabilities including:
- Work adjustment training and vocational evaluation program
- Job readiness training
- Job development/placement
- Disability education to employers
- Job coaching
- Follow-along supports
ESSNY is an employment network for Wellfare-to-Work providing job placement and placement support services.
Counseling
Counseling is provided by staff social workers to individuals and families. Various therapeutic interventions are used in the course of treatment. Fees are on a sliding scale basis, and we accept third party payment.
Hospital Intervention
Counseling staff provide support and education on epilepsy and its consequences to the identified patient and their family via physician referral.
Chris McCarthy Scholarship Fund
Tim McCarthy founded the Chris McCarthy Scholarship Fund, in memory of his brother Chris, who had been involved with The Epilepsy Society of Southern New York, Inc., since 1976. The fund is used for college and summer camp scholarships, in addition to providing socialization and recreational activities for those affected with epilepsy and their families. The fund provides special experiences and opportunities to those who live with epilepsy on a daily basis.