Joe Crowley: “For 175 years, The New York Institute for Special Education has served the New York community as a private, nonprofit…”

“For 175 years, The New York Institute for Special Education has served the New York community as a private, nonprofit, educational facility which provides a quality education for children who are blind and visually disabled, emotionally and learning disabled and preschoolers who are developmentally delayed. Founded in 1831 as The New York Institution for the Blind, it was one of the first schools in the United States to provide an educational program for children who were blind or visually impaired. Early in the 20th century, the name was changed to The New York Institute for the Education of the Blind to emphasize the educational character of the school. In 1980s educators recognized the need to provide programs designed specifically for students with learning and emotional disabilities. In response to this need, the school established the Van Cleve program for those children who could not be served in a traditional school setting.”