Executive Director's Message

"I believe that there are always lessons to be learned in life but you need to pay attention to all of the miraculous connections. To begin with the School for Language and Communication Development (SLCD) did not start in 1985, it started in 1955 when my father, Morris Jacobs developed a home training program for my younger sister Susan who had a severe disability. I guess you could ask about the connection between these two events so here goes… As my sister’s teacher, my father provided a powerful lesson about love, commitment, and perseverance to his children. I watched for many years as my father and sister struggled with reading and math. These early lessons took root in my childhood but flourished in 1985 when I met Toya Davis and her son Jonathan.

In order to open a school, there are many pieces that need to come together and many people who need to work together. We needed approval from Nassau County to open a school; we needed someone to champion our cause. Luckily there were many champions for SLCD. The public official who became SLCD’s first champion was the County Executive, Thomas Gulotta. I needed to submit an application for program approval to the State Education Department and for this, Senator Dean Skelos became SLCD’s champion. I needed money but the School did not have either a financial history or collateral so our bank loan was denied. To accomplish this goal, the champions appeared from within. My parents agreed to mortgage their house as collateral for a $250,000 loan to provide the money needed to start the school.

The school has grown from 36 preschool children to 400 preschool and school age children with and without disabilities. Over the years, our battles involved expanding services to children with disabilities. Our champions were always Senator Dean Skelos, Senator Carl Marcellino, and Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli. They have supported SLCD and special education programs throughout New York State to ensure that children with disabilities receive the services they needed.

When we lost our home in North Bellmore, Mario Fischetti, Chairman of SLCD’s Board of Directors found and subsequently renovated an abandoned, dilapidated school building into the beautiful facility it is today. As our champion, Mario does not have a child with a disability but he does have a great heart and a strong sense of determination to get the job done – and he did. In order to meet necessary city requirements within Glen Cove, Mayor Thomas Suozzi, now County Executive, became our champion. There is no way that SLCD could have moved into 100 Glen Cove Avenue without the support of the Mayor and the public officials who work in Glen Cove.

At a charity fundraiser for the Queens Museum, I met Alice and Joe Ficalora. The Ficaloras do not have a child with a disability, so why would they become SLCD’s most committed benefactors? In becoming my dearest friends, they inherited SLCD’s children and mission. I guess you could say that a “chance” meeting at a charitable event resulted in the Joseph and Alice Ficalora Preschool Wing – a legacy to SLCD’s children. I do not believe in chance meetings. The Ficaloras have become our champions now.

Twenty years of children and parents have walked through the doors of SLCD. The last six years have been difficult, challenging and exhilarating as the School moved up a grade every year from 3rd grade to 8th grade. This could not have been accomplished without parents who made the commitment not only to their children but to SLCD’s future expansion to high school. The majority of parents whose children are in grades 4 to 8 became part of a major lawsuit and courageously completed depositions demanded by the Attorney General’s office. Each child has had a champion and when parents pull together, they become an unstoppable force. SLCD has finally been approved for a specialized middle-high school program in Woodside Queens …. A dream come true…

So what have I learned? I have learned that when parents love their children, they set an example for the future. I have learned that perseverance and commitment are traits that get passed from one generation to another. I have also learned that goodness attracts good people and that one great mystery in life is that God connects people who do his work. Finally, I have learned that great visions which involve long-term sacrifices are worth the struggles because the gifts are priceless. The children who enter SLCD do not have a voice. After children graduate, they return to tell us about their successes and their futures.

The lesson started with one parent and one child. The lesson has become a reality for thousands of parents and children. Do not ever think that the events you see now are isolated. Present events evolve from the early lessons that we teach each other and we teach our children. We are all connected. We have shared a vision for the future of SLCD. Good deeds today will affect thousands of children who we may never know about or meet in the future – this is the legacy of selfless giving- SLCD a place of miracles."

Ellenmorris Tiegerman, Ph.D.
Founder and Executive Director