Autism Services
Child Care
Clinical Services
Early Intervention Services
Evaluation Services
Family Resource Program
Service Coordination
Preschool Special Education
Franziska Racker Centers serves individuals with diagnosis within the autism spectrum in many programs and services including early intervention, preschool special education, childcare, the autism lending library, service coordination, family resource programs, and residential services. In our site-based preschool setting we serve children on the spectrum in an integrated classroom setting. For those children who would benefit from a more focused behavioral intervention, we offer the Partnership Program, which is based on the methodology of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Using ABA, the Partnership Program helps preschoolers on the autism spectrum learn new skills and behaviors, develop interests, form relationships, and actively participate in community life while simultaneously helping the families of these children reach their goals for success and happiness. The Partnership Program allows families of preschoolers with autism to be served locally and comprehensively by an intensive behaviorally based classroom model that includes school experiences with typical and non-typical peers and a logically sound transition plan for kindergarten. Currently, the Centers has Partnership Program Preschool classrooms in Cortland and Tompkins County.
Autism Lending Library (Tompkins County ONLY)
The Autism Lending Library includes books, videos and software as well as equipment, safety supplies, therapy supplies, and recreational supplies. The contents of the library focus primarily on autism and allow families in Tompkins County to try things out before they make an investment.For more information on the Autism Lending Library or to make a donation contact: Sheila Foote at 607.272.5891 x.211 or sheilaf@rackercenters.org.
Child care programs for toddlers (18 months-3 years) and preschool aged children (3 years to 5 years) are offered through Franziska Racker Centers. Inclusive classrooms serve both typical and special needs children in an integrated setting. The Centers serve a wide range of disabilities including autism, spina bifida, developmental, and physical. A special needs child enrolled in child care may also receive therapies and special education support while attending the Centers.
~To download a PDF brochure that includes rate information for our Ithaca Child Care, click here.
~To download a PDF brochure that includes rate information for our Cortland Child Care, click here.
Our Community Clinic offers many services from audiological services that provide hearing tests and hearing aid fittings to physical management services for wheelchair and other adaptive equipment fittings. Additionally, the Clinic provides social work services and speech, occupational, physical therapies, and social work as well as education for children in private schools and at our clinic sites.
Audiological Services - our clinic offers comprehensive professional services including evaluation testing, hearing aid sales, and cleaning and repairs. Hearing aid purchases include an optional service to provide your batteries, cleaning and adjustments as needed. Dr. Monica Brace, AuD, FAAA, is a New York Licensed Audiologist and Hearing Aid Dispenser, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. Dr. Brace combines significant medical, pediatric, hearing aid and private practice audiology experience with the commitment to meeting your needs that typifies Franziska Racker Centers professionals.
Social Work - The Centers' Social Work Services are provided to all children in the preschool program and their families. Social Work is provided in collaboration with therapies and counseling or independently of these services. Social workers are a part of each classroom team and attend weekly meetings to address individual, family and classroom concerns. Families are encouraged to become a participant in the development of their child's behavior support plan when there are behavioral concerns. Social work provides a consistent resource for families to glean information regarding diagnosis, evaluations, behavior strategies, equipment, medical assistance, special education and more.
Therapies - The Centers employs speech, physical and occupational therapists who take a personal and direct approach to meeting an individuals' goals. Therapists work in conjunction with other program staff to ensure a complete plan is in place for each person served. Our therapy staff includes professionals with many years of experience and many specialized areas of expertise.
Early Intervention (EI) Services at Franziska Racker Centers are provided for children less than three years old who have or are suspected of having a developmental delay and/or disability. EI Services reach a child during a critical developmental period and provide interactions and support that nurture development of skills both physically and socially. Services are contracted with the County Health Departments. We work closely with families to meet their goals for their child.
Franziska Racker Centers' Evaluation Services help families understand their children's strengths, needs, and development processes. Evaluations are the doorway children go through to get services that meet their special needs. Newborns to 5-year-old children are referred through Health Departments' Early Intervention Programs or school districts. Specialists from a wide range of disciplines assess the children's overall development. This service is most often provided in a child's home or school environment.
Evaluations also take place at our community clinics. These clinics offer services ranging from hearing tests, hearing aid and wheelchair fittings, to assessments that give unique developmental insight regarding a child's special needs.
promote individual choice, independence, and community participation. They are provided in the individual's home or in a community setting through two avenues: Home and Community Support Based Services and Family Support Services.
Home and Community Support Based Services
These family-centered services are designed to promote individual choice, independence, and community participation. They are available to applicants who have Medicaid or who meet the requirements of the Medicaid Waiver and meet the NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) criteria. Service opportunities include:
Day Services Individuals are supported as they explore their communities, fostering independence and choice through participation in skill building activities outside the home such as shopping, banking, use of public transportation and the making of new friends.
In-Home Services Independence is fostered at home through skill building activities such as housekeeping, food preparation, personal care and safety, reading, writing and playing games.
Waiver Respite Caregivers are provided a break from their role of primary support of an individual with developmental disabilities. Waiver Respite is through three different avenues:
At Home Waiver Respite - Care is provided in the home to give relief to the primary caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities.
Overnight/Evening Respite - Small groups of individuals with developmental disabilities can spend the night or participate in an evening recreation program with peers at a community location.
RRAP: Racker Respite Afternoon Program (Tompkins County ONLY) Individuals attend an afternoon program at TST BOCES to give caregivers a break from their role of primary support and care provider.
Family Support Services
These family-centered services extend the opportunity for education, support, and respite to people playing a key role in the life of their family member with a developmental disability. The programs below are available to individuals who meet the NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) criteria. Unless otherwise indicated, programs are available in Tioga, Tompkins and Cortland Counties.
Autism Lending Library (Tompkins County ONLY)
The Autism Lending Library includes books, videos and software as well as equipment, safety supplies, therapy supplies, and recreational supplies. The contents of the library focus primarily on autism and allow families in Tompkins County to try things out before they make an investment. For more information on the Autism Lending Library or to make a donation contact: Sheila Foote at 607.272.5891 x.211 or sheilaf@rackercenters.org.
Equal Partners Project (Tioga and Tompkins Counties ONLY) provides training and consultation to parents of children with disabilities on how to be actively involved in their child's education and build strong partnerships with teachers and schools.Family Resource Fund (Cortland County ONLY) offers financial assistance to meet urgent special needs, for which no other funding is available.
Friendship Network (Tioga and Tompkins County ONLY) creates opportunities for individuals to develop relationships by supporting involvement in areas where they can meet people with whom they share common interests. Friendship Network works with community groups to promote independence, foster participation, and build a neighborhood where everyone is a valued member.
Parent Network (Cortland County ONLY) gives parents opportunities to share information and hear speakers on a wide variety of topics related to disabilities.
Tioga and Cortland County Recreation Respite Program trained staff work with local community resources to provide safe, fun, free activities for individuals while providing several hours of respite for their families.
Respite Programs Temporary care is provided to a family member to allow parents or guardians the opportunity to pursue other interests. Both of the options below offer funding assistance to help cover the cost of the services.
Rest-A-Bit furnishes a list of trained providers available to support families.
Family Partnership allows the family to use a person of their choice.
Supporting Success: Strength Based Approaches for Challenging Behaviors offers consultation and training services by a Behavior Management Specialist who works with individuals with behavioral challenges and their families to foster increased opportunities for success.
Franziska Racker Centers Community Service Coordination Program is an individualized planning services program for people with disabilities. Through information, linkage and referral to community-based resources, advocacy, individualized service plans, and assistance services to access available funds, the program helps children and their families establish goals and then supports them as they strive to achieve them. For more information on Service Coordination, contact Sandy via email at sandye@rackercenters.org or phone at 753.9376 x139.
Medicaid Service Coordination
In Community Service Coordination, a Service Coordinator links an individual or family with needed programs and services. It’s a good starting place for people with disabilities and their families as they explore accessing other disability services. This service is available for anyone over the age of three who meets OMRDD qualifications.
Teamwork is integral to special education at the Centers. We employ a trans-disciplinary approach, with therapists working together with the classroom professionals to support the child's needs. Children with special needs are eligible for services through Early Intervention to age 3 and Preschool Special Education programs through age 5. The Centers' staff is engaged with children and families in their homes and in community settings such as day-care, Head Start programs, and other preschools.
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Franziska Racker Centers 3226 Wilkins Road, Ithaca, New York 14850 607-272-5891 (phone) | 607-272-0188 (fax) info@rackercenters.org Site Design & Programming by World Design Group, Inc. |  |