Family Guide for Parents and Guardians with Disabilities - School Accessibility, Enrollment, and Engagement

Sep 15, 2026

Family Guide for Parents and Guardians with Disabilities outlines how families can support a child’s education from pre-K through graduation. The guide emphasizes accessible and welcoming school environments, describes accommodations and inclusive opportunities, and explains how students enter and enroll through New York City admissions processes. It also highlights transportation considerations, attendance expectations, and ways for families to engage through school programs, parent organizations, and DOE family engagement resources.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages37

Reading Time1 h 33 min

AccessFree to download

Letter from the Chancellor

Letter from the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities

Applying and Enrolling Your Child in School

School Building Accessibility and Accommodations

School Transportation

Student Attendance

Website Redesign

Opportunities for Family Engagement

Family Guide for Parents & Guardians with Disabilities Table of Contents Letter from the Chancellor ..................................... 3 Letter from the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities ..................................... 5 Applying and Enrolling Your Child in School .............. 7 School Building Accessibility and Accommodations..... 23 School Transportation .......................................... 26 Student Attendance .............................................30 Website Redesign ................................................31 Opportunities for Family Engagement .....................32 Letter from the Chancellor Dear Families: As a lifelong educator, I know that parents are partners and your involvement is critical to your child’s success in school. This guide is part of our work to ensure that you have the information you need to support your child’s early learning. First and foremost, we work hard to make our schools accessible and welcome spaces for all families; we want you to feel comfortable and empowered in our schools. This guide describes accommodations for parents and guardians with disabilities as they navigate their child’s school experience . It is my hope that this information will help you support your child’s progress from pre-K to graduation. In addition to this guide, I urge you to take advantage of all of the opportunities to engage with your child’s school. Our programs can only improve with the support of parents and advocates like you . Your child’s teacher and principal are always available to speak to you regarding any questions or concerns you may have about your child’s education. You are also welcome to participate in one or more of our parent organizations outlined later in this guide. These are excellent ways for you to share your thoughts and help us make our schools stronger. I encourage you to learn more about other parent opportunities at your child’s school and by visiting the DOE’s Division of Family and Community Engagement website ( [http://schools. nyc.gov/Offices/FACE/default](http://schools. nyc.gov/Offices/FACE/default). htm ) . This Division manages parent council elections, offers workshops, and sponsors other events to help you become more involved in your child’s school. We look forward to partnering with you and I thank you for your continued commitment to your child’s success . Sincerely, Carmen Fariña Schools Chancellor Letter from the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities Dear Families: The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) advocates for the rights of persons with disabilities in local, state and federal government as well as private businesses and organizations. Our goal and vision is to make New York City the most Accessible City in the World. We have written a report, AccessibleNYC ( [http://www1. nyc.gov/site/mopd/](http://www1. nyc.gov/site/mopd/)[ ](http://www1. nyc.gov/site/mopd/)[initiatives/accessiblenyc.page](initiatives/accessiblenyc.page) )“An Annual Report on the State of People with Disabilities Living in New York City,” that addresses issues New Yorkers with disabilities face in the areas of transportation, employment, health, housing, and access to City services, including education. The Department of Education (DOE) works to ensure that students with disabilities have the same high-quality education as their peers. This includes providing access to inclusive opportunities in classrooms, assistive technology, adaptive sports, and accessible school locations. MOPD works with DOE to provide accessibility throughout its services. We are very proud that the DOE has put together this first ever Family Guide for Parents and Guardians with Disabilities. This guide will help those who seek accommodations and accessible materials, andwill provide information on school accessibility, accessible travel options and opportunities for paren

FAQs

What is the purpose of this family guide for parents and guardians with disabilities?

The guide provides information and support for families to navigate a child’s school experience, from early learning through graduation, including accommodations and accessible resources.

How do students apply and enroll in New York City schools?

Enrollment depends on age and program type, including Kindergarten, Gifted & Talented, Middle School, High School, and options like 3-K for All and Pre-K for All. Families may also enroll students moving to the city by visiting a zoned school or a Family Welcome Center.

What accessibility supports and engagement opportunities does the guide highlight?

It describes accessibility throughout DOE services, inclusive classroom opportunities, assistive technology, adaptive sports, and accessible locations. It also encourages families to participate in parent organizations and engagement events, including those managed through DOE family engagement resources.

Sep 15, 2026

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