About the Programs Provided by the DDI’s Young Autism Program

With more than 40 years of experience in the roofing industry, Barry Grummer has served as the president of K Restoration and Roofing Corporation since 2002. A dedicated member of his community, Barry Grummer contributes to a number of charitable organizations, including the Developmental Disabilities Institute’s (DDI) Young Autism Program (YAP).

Since its founding in 1951, the nonprofit DDI has worked to meet the needs of children with autism and other developmental disabilities through a wide range of services. Central to its mission is YAP, which offers programs like Early Intervention, for infants and children going into preschool, and Family Support, a free service for caregivers.

Approved by the New York State Departments of Education and Health, YAP can perform multidisciplinary evaluations at the child’s home, DDI locations in Ronkonkoma and Huntington, or at a daycare center. Other Early Intervention services include parent training and individualized instruction in developmental groups, among others specifically designed to address each child’s particular needs.

YAP’s Family Support service encompasses both a Children’s Day Program and Project SOAR, which are overseen by trained care providers. Funded by the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities, they provide family caregivers a chance to rest or to accomplish a task, whether it’s for a few hours once a week or longer periods during school breaks.

Biking the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway

Based in New York City, Barry Grummer is the president of KR&R, a Manhattan roofing and restoration company that offers many professional services, from exterior facade restoration to balcony repair. When he’s not working, Barry Grummer enjoys staying active and bikes along the West Side Highway in New York City.

Biking in New York City may seem intimidating on the surface, but there are many easy and safe options for bikers, including the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, a 32-mile route that circles the island of Manhattan. The route was born out of a desire to increase access to the waterfront and make use of the long-ignored space. The greenway comprises three main components.

1) The Hudson River Greenway is the longest individual section. It runs along the West Side from Dyckman Street down to Barry Park and through Hudson River Park and Riverside Park.

2) The East River Greenway section runs along the east side of the city, from the Battery to East Harlem, with a 2.5-mile gap in Midtown where bikers must use bike lanes on the city streets to circumnavigate the United Nations.

3) The Harlem River Greenway is the shortest section, and it runs without interruption from 155th Street to Dyckman Street in Northern Manhattan.

The Developmental Disabilities Institute’s Young Autism Program

Barry Grummer guides the respected New York firm K Restoration & Roofing Corp. as president. Community involved, Barry Grummer supports nonprofits such as the Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Developmental Disabilities Institute’s Young Autism Program (YAP). Overseen by the New York State Education Department, YAP operates within a statewide system of preschool special education programs.

Open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the program provides young learners with tangible avenues toward obtaining skills that allow them to excel in school, at home, and within the community. Using specialized training in areas such as health and safety and child development, team members, ranging from special education teachers to speech pathologists, incorporate applied behavior analysis principles as students progress through the day. Students benefit from individual and small-group learning centers, with teachers who are responsive to their specific needs. An underlying value is respect and dignity for all YAP students and their families.

Details about the program can be accessed online at www.ddiny.org.