{"id":165,"date":"2026-02-09T08:54:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T08:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fm-connect1.fortmindz.in\/Shield-wp\/?page_id=165"},"modified":"2026-02-20T10:35:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T10:35:00","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/fm-connect1.fortmindz.in\/Shield-wp\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Mission<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Our Mission<\/h3>

To work in partnership with families and communities to enable children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual\/developmental disabilities to lead meaningful lives.<\/p>

Our Values<\/h3>

By working with families and communities, we help enable children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead full, meaningful lives that include a chance to work and contribute. Everyone has valuable talents and abilities. And everyone matters. We seek to transform the way communities and societies understand, relate to, and support citizens with developmental disabilities. By honoring diversity in values, heritages, abilities, and interests, we help to ensure that people with disabilities enjoy the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Board Members<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Members of The Board of Directors of the SHIELD OF DAVID, INC.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Laurie Sprayregen<\/strong><\/p>

Lori Reinsberg<\/strong>
President<\/p>

Connie Schraft<\/strong>
Vice President<\/p>

Toni Bernstein<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Anita Friedman<\/strong><\/p>

Kevin R Genirs<\/strong><\/p>

Tim Genirs<\/strong><\/p>

Jose Nunez<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Aroza Sanjana<\/strong><\/p>

Louise Young<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Staff Development<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Staff development is an integral component of all Shield Institute programs. Our professional\u00a0team provides support and direction for mandated trainings and staff workshops that highlight\u00a0best practices in the field. This highly capable team of professionals has advance training in CPR,\u00a0First Aid, SCIP-R and HIPAA regulations.<\/p>

Staff development provides the backbone of professional development at The Shield. Evidenced\u00a0based practices are supported through a variety of hands on activities in collaboration with\u00a0program directors and principals. Teachers and therapists benefit from in depth discussion,\u00a0exploration and demonstration of technology and curricula.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Corporate Compliance<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The Shield Institute complies with all federal, state and city mandates regarding consumer and student privacy and billing regulations. To make a confidential (or anonymous) complaint, our toll free compliance helpline is 877-547-6402 or email:\u00a0complianceofficer@shield.org<\/a><\/p>

Corporate Compliance Contact Information<\/a><\/p>

Corporate Compliance Vendor Guidelines<\/a><\/p>

Shield Institute Code of \u00a0Ethical Conduct<\/a><\/p>

Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)<\/a><\/p>

FERPA (Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act)<\/a><\/p>

2025 Lactation Accommodation Policy<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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NY Electronic Postings Law<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOur preschool programs, located in the south west section of the Bronx as well as in Flushing, Queens, provide services to approximately 300 preschoolers on a daily basis. The preschool program is regulated and funded through the New York State Education Department. We provide developmentally appropriate instruction in a variety of classroom models.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Preschool Services <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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With locations in the Bronx and Flushing, the preschool program is funded and approved through the New York State Education Department and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE). Children must be determined eligible to attend our school based on approval from the NYCDOE. Our classrooms are guided by developmentally appropriate instruction through active engagement to build self-esteem and pre-academic skills needed for success in kindergarten.Self contained classrooms (with 8 or 12 children; all with special needs) provide structured teaching and aided language for children who are developmentally delayed or display characteristics on the autistic spectrum. These highly structured classrooms are led by a certified special education teacher and have one or two teacher assistants available to continually engage and encourage children to participate in the full range of offered activities. Our related service staff of licensed speech, physical and occupational therapists provide mandated services in the classroom or in therapy rooms. Social work, parent programs and psychological services are included in our comprehensive program offerings.<\/p>

In our integrated class we provide an opportunity for children with special needs to learn and play with typically developing children, in a guided and supported setting. Each class has 18 children (9 typically developing and 9 with special needs) and is staffed by a certified special education teacher and two certified teacher assistants.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Preschool Evaluation Program <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Shield provides multidisciplinary evaluations to children ages 3 \u2013 5 years in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Korean by New York State licensed therapists and certified teachers. Evaluations are provided, at no cost to families for children with suspected developmental delays. The evaluation program is funded through the New York State Education Department and prior approval from the NYC Department of Education is required. If you are concerned about your child\u2019s development or language and\/or social skills, please call our evaluation coordinators who can assist you with contacting your local school district to obtain consent for evaluation.<\/p>

\u2022 Flushing: 718-939-8700 ext. 1141
\u2022 Bronx: 718-299-7600 ext. ext. 3252<\/p>

Click on the link below for the New York City Department of Education\u2019s website to find your district office.\u00a0http:\/\/schools.nyc.gov\/Academics\/SpecialEducation\/ContactsResources\/cse.htm<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Parent Training Program <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Shield Institute is a recipient of a special NYC council grant to support and provide important programs for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the families who guide them. Since the grant’s inception in 2008, The Shield Institute operates Parent Training\/Support Programs 12 months a year for families.<\/p>

For Samantha Ko and other parents of children with autism and developmental disabilities, the citywide autism initiative means they receive much-needed parenting workshops about how to care for their children, as well as essential after-school and respite services.<\/p>

\u201cI went to parenting workshops at the Shield Institute, and it made a big impact on my life,\u201d said Ko, a mother of a 4-year-old son who has pervasive developmental disorders and speech delays. \u201cI understand what I can do as a parent to help my child.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Foster Grandparent Program <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOur Foster Grandparent Program at The Bronx Shield is sponsored by the New York City Department for the Aging. This volunteer program offers seniors age sixty and older a modest paid non taxable stipend, reimbursement for transportation and a daily meal during service. These Grandmas and Grandpas serve as mentors, tutors and caregivers for children and youth with special needs. As participants of this wonderful \u201cbridge across generations\u201d program, our students benefit from a lifetime of caring and enriching experiences.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mission Our Mission To work in partnership with families and communities to enable children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual\/developmental disabilities to lead meaningful lives. Our Values By working with families and communities, we help enable children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead full, meaningful lives that include a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-165","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fm-connect1.fortmindz.in\/Shield-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fm-connect1.fortmindz.in\/Shield-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fm-connect1.fortmindz.in\/Shield-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fm-connect1.fortmindz.in\/Shield-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fm-connect1.fortmindz.in\/Shield-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=165"}],"version-history":[{"count":82,"href":"https:\/\/fm-connect1.fortmindz.in\/Shield-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/165\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1886,"href":"https:\/\/fm-connect1.fortmindz.in\/Shield-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/165\/revisions\/1886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fm-connect1.fortmindz.in\/Shield-wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}