About

Your child is The Center of your world.
And ours.

We're a nonprofit organization that provides invaluable support, comprehensive resources, and endless love to children with special needs and their families, making a profound difference in thousands of lives each year.

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They say it takes a village
to raise a child.

The Center is that village for over 750 families across New York and New Jersey

We help every child with cognitive, emotional physical, or developmental challenges. We're known for never saying no.

From the moment they are born, for as long as they live, every special child and adult is welcome at The Center.

We provide physical, financial, or emotional assistance, whether or not it’s part of our core programs.

Our loving volunteers come to you anywhere, whether it’s your home, community, or any other place.

Disabilities never take a break – neither do we. Weekends, holidays, or just 3AM on a Tuesday, we answer every call for help.

Our Mission

To empower children and adults with developmental disabilities to reach their full potential— while enriching their families' ability to nurture and care for them.

To take care of every need, to ease every worry.

To create a space where love knows no bounds, and the unique beauty of every child is celebrated.

To witness quiet miracles of love and hope unfold daily, as every child is embraced with joy.

To make sure every child knows without a doubt: they are home, and they are loved.

“These parents can breathe— sometimes for the first time in a long time.”

Parents come in with these tiny newborns; tense and afraid, and they walk out calm. We give them such comfort and the confidence to go home, love their babies and themselves, and live a normal life.

They can say, "I’m not alone"—and they can breathe, sometimes for the first time in a long time."

- Shani Gross

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Our Story

When The Special Children’s Center began, it didn’t even have a name.

It had no business plan. No board. No building. No donors. It was just two 16-year-old friends with a passion for helping—and a need whose urgency few fully understood.

Back in 1996, Jenine and Chaya couldn't have imagined what The Special Children's Center would become or the thousands of families it would one day impact.

All they knew was what they saw around them: Marriages unraveling, parents breaking down under stress, siblings harboring resentment and shame toward their special needs brothers or sisters, and children struggling with disabilities who were not getting the care and love they deserved.

"We're not leaving any child at home. We don't do that."

"We received a call about a child who had a disability that made it dangerous for them to be exposed to the sun, but they couldn't get to The Center. I said, "We're not leaving any child at home. We don't do that." We got the call on a Monday. By that Thursday, we had hired a van to take the child on outings twice a week, in the shade, so the child would not be stuck at home"

—Elyah

A long-time Center donor

"Parents drop off their babies each day knowing that they will be cared for there, like nowhere else"

Without the center everything would be different. My child's siblings wouldn't be able to do their homework, have a normal peaceful few hours with their parents. You would see a lot more stress, a lot of that care falling through on both ends. The special kid wouldn't get cared for properly and the family wouldn't be able to float.

"Each chapter is a new beginning... and The Center is here to write the story together"

"When a special child is born there is so much unknown, so much fear in the parent's eyes. As these children grow, our love grows exponentially, but the fear does not go away. Each chapter is a new beginning, a rebirth, and a whole new flood of emotions for special-needs families. The Center is here to write their story together and make sure they are never alone."

—Jenine Shweky

Co-Founder

"We embrace every child for who they are and magnify their strengths"

"We embrace special needs with who you are and what you are. We magnify on each special child's talents and find a way to identify their strengths. That's not something people should ever have to hide. We put it front and center."

—Shani Gross

Program Director