Helen Keller Services Expanding Children’s Learning Center Preschool to Long Island, Bringing Specialized Early Childhood Education to Families Across Suffolk and Nassau Counties

We’re thrilled to announce that Helen Keller Services for the Blind, a Division of Helen Keller Services, is expanding our Children’s Learning Center to Long Island, bringing our early childhood education preschool program directly to families across Nassau and Suffolk counties. This expansion represents our commitment to ensuring that every child who is blind, has low vision, or other disabilities including autism, Down syndrome, or pervasive developmental delays has access to the comprehensive, expert and compassionate care they need to thrive from their earliest years.

A Program That Transforms Lives

For almost four decades, our Children’s Learning Center in downtown Brooklyn has been transforming the lives of young children and their families. What began decades ago as a program focused primarily on children with visual impairments has evolved into a comprehensive early education center serving children with a wide range of developmental needs.  Our Brooklyn location continues to grow, recently opening a seventh classroom in November 2025, reflecting the increasing demand for our services.

At HKS, our deep expertise is reflected in our provision of educational services using a whole-student approach. This model ensures that every aspect of a student’s development is considered—including vision and hearing ability, communication skills, social and emotional skills, cognitive abilities, and motor skills. By taking all these factors into account, along with each student’s strengths and preferences, we’re able to make meaningful adaptations, provide inclusive and integrated communication, and offer sensory support that significantly impacts student outcomes. This customized educational approach is especially important for children with diverse visual conditions, where these challenges often intersect with other areas of development. Specialized multidisciplinary support is essential in helping each child reach their full potential.

“The success we’ve achieved in Brooklyn has shown us what’s possible when we bring together specialized expertise, innovative programming, and an unwavering commitment to each child’s development,” said Dr. Susan Ruzenski, CEO of Helen Keller Services. “We’re expanding our footprint and bringing decades of knowledge and proven outcomes to Long Island families who need these critical services.”

The Lasting Impact of Early Childhood Education

The transformative power of our Children’s Learning Center extends far beyond preschool graduation. When children receive comprehensive support during their earliest years, the foundation we build shapes their trajectory for decades to come. The skills, confidence, and independence they develop at ages three, four, and five become the building blocks for lifelong success in education, employment, and community participation.

“Much of my success is attributable to Helen Keller Services. Their support has been invaluable, not only to me but also to my family. They understood the importance of nurturing students from an early age, enabling us to confidently explore and engage with the world.”

-Chelsie Reid, former CLC participant, current graduate student at Fordham University

Bringing Our Expertise to Long Island

First Location: Suffolk County
Our first Long Island location will open in summer 2026 at 11 Oval Drive in Islandia, Suffolk County. This preschool will launch with four classrooms in its first year, expanding to six classrooms to ultimately serve up to 75 children. The facility will feature purpose-built classrooms designed specifically for children with disabilities and complex learning needs, state-of-the-art adaptive technology and therapy spaces, and accessible play areas and sensory spaces.

Second Location: Nassau County
A second location in Nassau County will be announced in the coming weeks, further expanding access for families across Long Island. Together, these two centers will serve up to 150 children annually, bringing our comprehensive Brooklyn model directly to communities where families need it most.

“This expansion is about creating new opportunities for Long Island’s children with complex developmental needs,” said Jeff Kunkel, Chief of Programs for Helen Keller Services for the Blind. “We’re bringing the same multidisciplinary approach, the same specialized expertise, and the same commitment to family partnership that has made our Brooklyn program so successful.”

Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Support

Each Children’s Learning Center location will provide a full continuum of services designed to support the whole child. Our comprehensive team includes:

• Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs) trained to work with children who have visual impairments and complex needs
• Speech-Language Pathologists who address communication development and assistive technology needs
• Occupational Therapists focusing on fine motor skills, sensory processing, and activities of daily living
• Physical Therapists supporting gross motor development, mobility, and balance
• Orientation and Mobility Specialists teaching safe, independent travel skills from an early age
• Social Workers and Family Support Coordinators who partner with families throughout their journey

This collaborative approach ensures that every aspect of a child’s development—cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and adaptive—receives expert attention in an inclusive, nurturing environment.

Learning from Success: The Brooklyn Model

The impact of our Brooklyn Children’s Learning Center speaks for itself. Each child’s unique needs shape their individualized learning plan, and small victories build into meaningful progress.

Our students arrive at age three facing significant developmental challenges that affect how they learn, communicate, and engage with the world around them. Over two years, they work with our multidisciplinary team on essential early childhood skills—communication and language development, fine and gross motor skills, social interaction with peers, and building independence. They explore their world through music, movement, and sensory activities designed for their specific needs.

By graduation, children have made remarkable strides, gaining skills and confidence that prepare them for the next phase of their education.

“What we see year after year is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Dr. Avien Henry, Principal of the Children’s Learning Center in Brooklyn. “Children who arrive with complex needs leave us thriving, meeting milestones that seemed distant at the start. With the right support, the right expertise, and our specialists working together seamlessly, we watch children flourish in ways that continually inspire us.”

Voices from Our Families

The true measure of our impact comes from the families we serve. Every child’s journey is different, but our dedication remains the same. Parents have shared reflections about their children’s time at the CLC—stories of growth, milestones reached, and confidence gained. These are the experiences we want more Long Island families to have access to:

“When he first started, he was scared to walk and now he walks around freely and is even walking up the steps at home with support. He came in not knowing his alphabet, numbers, or how to engage with toys, and today he’s made huge strides in all of those areas. He has become more independent and confident thanks to your hard work and compassion.”

“Not everyone would have looked at our daughter and seen all of her amazing potential, but every single person she has encountered at Helen Keller did.”

“Helen Keller exemplifies excellence in education, and I firmly believe that it should be the standard against which other schools are measured. I am always at ease knowing that my child is in school, and his positive attitude and happiness reassure me that you are making a profound impact on young lives.”

“Your weekly updates and photos brighten our days and provide such valuable insight into his speech progress. Thank you for not only working with him at school but also giving us the information we need to reinforce those skills at home. The communication bridge you’ve built between school and home has been instrumental in his continued growth.”

“We want to say thank you for being amazing! We know your jobs can be challenging, but every single one of you handles them with incredible grace and kindness. Every single one of you truly makes it a home, a place where we as parents know our kids are safe and happy.”

Looking Ahead: Building for the Future

This expansion into Long Island reflects our vision for a future where every child with visual impairments or complex developmental needs has access to the support they deserve, regardless of where they live. Research consistently shows that early intervention services dramatically improve outcomes across all developmental domains, setting children on trajectories for lifelong success.

“On behalf of our Board of Trustees, I want to express how proud we are to support this expansion,” said Larry Kinitsky, Chairman of the Board for Helen Keller Services. “This represents our commitment to maintaining excellent programs, growing our impact, and reaching more families who need early childhood services. We’re investing in the future of Long Island’s children.”

How to Learn More

Families interested in learning more about the Children’s Learning Center Long Island expansion, including enrollment information and timelines, can email info@helenkeller.org.

We’ll be sharing more details about our Nassau County location, facility updates, and enrollment processes in the coming months. We’re also planning community information sessions and facility tours as we approach our opening.

About Helen Keller Services for the Blind

Serving the New York metropolitan area, HKSB provides comprehensive programs spanning early childhood through senior years. Our specialized services include early intervention and preschool education at our Children’s Learning Center in Downtown Brooklyn, Camp Helen Keller summer programs on Long Island, assistive technology training, vocational rehabilitation and employment services, day habilitation programs for adults with developmental disabilities, low vision clinical services, and support for seniors experiencing vision loss.