Exceptional Family Resources

Exceptional Family Resources is committed to providing the following services that meet the needs of people with disabilities and their families throughout their lifetime.

From offering support, respite and information to parents of infants...
...to helping families deal with educational issues and recreational needs of their growing children...
...and assisting as the young men and women enter adulthood and seek the independence that is part of the typical rite of passage...
Exceptional Family Resources has programs to help on the journey.

Advocacy provides families and individuals with information, support, and individual advocacy. In order to raise community awareness of disability rights and issues, we work with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to facilitate inclusion, access the full spectrum of educational opportunities, secure entitlements and other services, and advocate within a variety of systems vital to family support. We support families individually through the special education process by providing information, technical support and one-to-one advocacy. We also work with families and individuals who are encountering difficulties finding the services they need, or obtaining benefits for which they may qualify. At the community level, we sponsor workshops and conferences for families and professionals, maintain resources on a variety of disability-related issues, and make referrals to appropriate programs and services throughout the community to meet family needs in the areas of respite, recreation, service coordination, residential and vocational services. Our services are free to families. For more information on the EFR 'Advocacy' program contact
Karen Adams at kadams@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 x337.

The Transition Program specifically targets the needs and concerns of transition-aged students with developmental disabilities and their families. This program offers assistance, resources and training to parents and professionals in Onondaga County. The goal of our program is to increase awareness of transition issues for teenagers with disabilities as they move from the security of the school setting to the fragmented world of adult service. For more information on transition contact
Sue Corcoran at scorcoran@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 x327.

The Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) Program assists families of children with special health care needs to access community resources and obtain necessary health supports. Provides information and referrals for children ages 0-21 who have chronic physical, behavioral, developmental and emotional conditions. For information about Child Health Plus, New York State's Health Plan for Kids, call their referral line at (315) 435-6808, or check out their website at: http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/chplus/index.htm For more information on the Children with Special Health Care Needs Program, contact
Sue Wegman at swegman@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 x336.

The Family Education and Training Program offers a variety of educational and training sessions for parents and families of individuals with disabilities. These sessions are also available for professionals. Session topics will span a wide spectrum of offerings related to parenting, the special education process, schools and family support. Family Education sessions, offered in multiple counties, can be used to fulfill the education requirements when an individual is on the Medicaid Waiver but receives no additional Medicaid services. For more information on the Family Education and Training program, contact
Sue Corcoran at scorcoran@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 x320.

Senior Caregivers Assistance Program is designed to assist mature families with older family members who have mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, brain injury, or another developmental disability which significantly limits their capacity to care for themselves by helping the family to:

apply for Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

access to selected services

service coordination
day programming
recreational services
residential services
vocational services
respite services
access services for senior citizens
acquire information to help parents plan for their adult child's future, including trusts, wills,
guardianship, and letters of intent.

Parent to Parent of New York State puts parents in touch on a one-to-one basis with a trained, supportive parent whose child has a similar or related disability. Contacts furnish information on community resources; provide a listing of support groups state-wide; offer support, encouragement and practical tips for families; supply training for parents who would like to become a volunteer support parent; and locate a support parent in another area of the state if there are none in the immediate area. Parent to Parent of NYS North Central Region covers the counties of Cayuga, Cortland, Herkimer, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties. For more information on the EFR 'Parent to Parent' program, email
Dru Nordmark at dnordmark@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 x322.

First Step provides time-limited case management and financial reimbursement for issues related to raising a son or daughter with a disability. Service delivery may include accessing entitlements; linkage to medical services; quality assurance of services; access to respite; educational advocacy; and financial planning. For more information on the EFR 'First Step' program contact
Yolanda Finch at yfinch@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 x324.

Friend's Night Out (18 and older) matches individuals who have disabilities with volunteers for community recreation experiences. Volunteers commit to taking the person out one time each month for a minimum of three hours. EFR often sponsors activities for the monthly outings such as Skychiefs games, parties, or theater tickets. Volunteers are reimbursed up to $12.00 for recreation expenses, and up to $6.00 per outing for transportation. For more information, contact
Coordinator Dana Poulin at dpoulin@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 ext. 304.

Community Connections is very similar to the above program except that the volunteers take their companions out into the community for three hours every week with the goal of connecting the individual who has a disability to an existing activity or group in the community. Volunteers are reimbursed up to $12.00 for recreation expenses, and up to $6.00 per outing for transportation. For more information, contact
Coordinator Dana Poulin at dpoulin@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 ext. 304.

Community Partners After-school Program supports school-age youth at a number of after-school programs at local neighborhood centers. EFR hires and trains staff to work with children to help integrate them into places such as Boys and Girls Clubs, and YMCA programs. Work directly with center staff to make inclusion happen. Staff receive $9.25 an hour and work Monday through Friday afternoons. Hours and locations vary. For more information, contact
Coordinator Heather Lott at hlott@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 ext. 335.

The Syracuse University Student Placement Project matches pairs of college students with teens with disabilities for recreation 20 hours each semester. Students complete their course requirements by taking teens out in the community for activities such as movies, shopping, and ice-skating. For more information, contact
Coordinator Heather Lott at hlott@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 ext. 335.

EFR's Parent Teen YMCA Program coordinates a parent run recreation group that meets at the North Syracuse YMCA every other Sunday afternoon during the school year. Teens participate in activities such as basketball and swimming. For more information, contact the Director of Community Recreation Services
Kelly Diemond at kdiemond@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 ext. 314.

Habilitation Services provide individualized assessment, training, and assistance in acquiring skills and increasing a person's repertoire of interests. The goal is to enhance the individual's independence, both at home and in the community, using a variety of individualized activities and supports based on each person's unique situation, desires and goals. Person-centered residential habilitation plans focus on assisting participants to:

socialize in neighborhood/community settings

increase communication skills

develop independent living skills (ie., personal care and safety)

learn how to use money

participate in social, health-related and recreational activities

EFR recruits, screens and orients people from the community who have proven ability in ADL (activities of daily living) training and community integration for individuals with developmental disabilities to become habilitation services providers. We consider each applicant's strengths, preferences, working condition requirements and availability before matching him/her to a participant in the program. Habilitation services providers receive $9.25-$13.25/hour (and reimbursement for transportation/recreation costs where applicable). EFR offers a variety of relevant training/workshops/seminars to habilitation services providers and families throughout the year. Habilitation Respite provides overnight support and hourly relief to families inrolled in the Habilitation Services program. For more information contact
Karen Bradley at kbradley@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 x316.

Service Coordination is a partnership between individuals, their families, and service coordinators to plan for and pursue the supports and services that will enable individuals to participate in meaningful community activities and to achieve the outcomes they value in their personal lives. EFR's service coordinators provide information, linkage, and referral services to education; vocational training; supported work; transportation; adaptive equipment; residential placements; respite; transition and futures planning; entitlements and financial assistance; legal/advocacy services; social/recreation opportunities; environmental modifications; day and residential habilitation; and medical/nursing services. For more information on the EFR 'Individualized Services' contact
Kaymarie Kavanagh at kkavanagh@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 x320.

The Resource Manual is a comprehensive guide to services in Onondaga County. Organized in a user-friendly manner, categories within the directory include assistive technology; counseling; day habilitation services: early childhood programs; education; financial; information, referral and disability related agencies; legal/advocacy; medical diagnosis and evaluation; parent and consumer groups; recreation; residential services; respite; services for seniors; transportation, vocational and continuing education resources; and an extensive index. To review the manual, or learn how to obtain a copy, click here.

Bridges Newsletter

Bridges, our newsletter, is published quarterly. The newsletter includes information about upcoming events, new programs and procedures, first person articles, and information about the agency. To add your name to our mailing list for this free newsletter, contact
Kathy Pierson at kpierson@contactefr.org or call (315) 478-1462 x328.

Provider information, including the requirements and opportunities for becoming a volunteer, paid provider, or independent contractor, can be obtained by contacting Recruitment Coordinator Carolyn DaVia at cdavia@contactefr.org or by calling (315) 478-1462 x329.