About us

We are PRAISEnyc.  Our name stands for Parent Resource Advocacy in Special Education.  We empower NYC parents so their children will have the resources for their children to make meaningful progress.  PRAISEnyc's mission is to assist NYC parents in learning how to navigate The New York City Department of Education's Special Education system.  Our specialized focus is helping families of children with a range of layered needs and challenges, from learning differences, to language-based disabilities, to twice-exceptional (2e) students.

Learn More / How We Help

You need us if your child:

✔ Requires DOE funded comprehensive evaluations, including private evaluations

✔ Requires his/her IEP to be implemented, including placement, services and accommodations

✔ ​  Has not made meaningful progress in his/her school program

✔ ​ Has a learning or behavior problem

We Support You

Our services

Some of those services might include:

• Special Education Teacher Support Services (SETSS)
  
• Speech Therapy
  
• Occupational Therapy
  
• Physical Therapy
  
• Counseling
  
• Paraprofessional
  
• DOE Provided Assistive Technology (i.e. FM Units, Laptops, iPads, etc.)

Let us help you navigate the NYC DOE, and to help you find the right solutions to support your child through an IEP or a 504 that not only meets your child's needs, but also learn the tools to compel DOE to implement those services.

Is your child not receiving the full range of services mandated on his or her IEP? Or maybe your child needs services that are not on your child's IEP— but should be?

Contact Us

What a few of our clients say:

Elizabeth is a force to be reckoned with. It is safe to say we could never have done this without her. She held my hand and gave advice every inch of the way. And thank God, for it’s NOT easy. If a parent like me with advanced degrees from top colleges has trouble threading this labyrinth, well, we all need an Elizabeth as guide and counselor. It opened my eyes to what’s truly needed. My family recommends her highly!
​Nan Richardson, PTA President, New York Harbor School.

Practically overnight, Elizabeth Kirk transformed the landscape of 2e education for high school students in New York when she managed to finally bring ICT classes to a Specialized High School this year. She did this quickly, efficiently, peacefully and with little fuss. Working with Elizabeth has been a joy, and transformative for our family. She knows her stuff and is a passionate advocate for children. What good is an IEP if it's ignored? Elizabeth turns your IEP into more than a piece of paper. And what's more, her fierce advocacy helps your school get what they need to deliver what your child needs - which also ripples out to other children who are underserved. Good for the child, good for the school, good for the family, good for the community. Nothing ever changes or gets better, until Elizabeth is on the job.