About Us

Our Mission:

To provide children and adults with developmental disabilities and behavioral challenges with the opportunity to maximize their growth and development while enhancing their families' ability to nurture them within the support of the local community

Overview:

The Special Children's Center ('The Center') provides respite and family support programs for over 200 families from Lakewood , Deal and Brooklyn who have special needs children with serious challenges, while at the same time providing desperately needed relief for their families.
The Special Children's Center is a comprehensive resource for children with a broad range of physical, emotional, and developmental delays. The children in our programs have varied disabilities, including Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, seizure disorders and more.
Parents of special-needs children face the monumental task of dividing their time and attention between the special child and his siblings, especially at times when there is no school, when all are vying for their parents' attention. The Special Children's Center alleviates this overwhelming burden while providing the children with an environment that is warm, nurturing, and productive.

Programs Include:

• After School Program: A daily afternoon program featuring therapy, fun, care, friendship, supper and baths.  Children go home relaxed and ready for bed.
• Sunday Funday: Children enjoy a day of recreation and parents get a breather every Sunday.
• Overnight Respite Home: A program designed to give families a weekend or overnight break, affording them the flexibility and enabling them to attend a family celebration, to spend time with other family members or just to get a break.
• Legal Holiday Program: Special weekend retreats and programming for special children on every legal holiday and legal holiday weekend.
• Max Harari A”H Disneyworld Trip: Children enjoy an annual, fully supervised trip to Disneyworld during midwinter break allowing parents quality vacation time with siblings.
• Advocacy and Case Management: The Center’s experts offer advice, guidance, and proactive assistance in maximizing care options, government assistance, and more.
• Weekend Support Retreat: Families enjoy inspirational and supportive retreats with speakers, entertainment and full-time child care.
• Pre and Post Camp program: 115 children enjoy an all day  structured loving and fun program. In the days between summer camp.
• Zevy Geller A”H Concert:  A much-anticipated annual highlight for special children, their siblings and families, performed by renowned singer Yaakov Shwekey.  A sibling’s dream!
• In-Community Counseling Program: Counseling for over 400 mainstream children yearly with behavioral, social or emotional issues within their regular school setting.
• Residential/Group Homes Services: When the time comes for Center to transition from “extended family” to “immediate family”.  Beautiful homes for special needs children and adults, staffed by trained, highly-skilled direct care personnel.
• Adult Day Program: A full day program for adults with disabilities.
• 0-3 Daycare Program: A comprehensive daycare center with integrated programs for the youngest of Center’s children.
• Deal Summer Camp:  A fun-filled day camp program replete with activities and trips designed specifically for special