Families and advocates seeking specialized educational services recently gathered at Congregation Beth-El in Fresh Meadows for the Atidaynu “Our Future” school open house. This collaborative gathering, supported by Chazaq, All About Kindness, and Special Neshamos, addressed a vital need for children requiring an environment where they can thrive through intensive, individualized support.
Ami Bazov, the school’s COO and former Associate Director of Yeshiva Services at Agudath Israel, shared the story of how Atidaynu’s engagement with the local community began. It started with a phone call from Ruthie Besalel, the school nurse tasked with ensuring student health and safety, to Rabbi Efraim Rubinov, Director of PSTY (Public School to Yeshivah) at Chazaq. After visiting the school and seeing the program in action, Ami noted that Rabbi Rubinov was so impressed by the vision of Founder Yaakov Halberstam and the staff that the Director urged the administration to “go big.” Instead of just admitting a few more students, Rabbi Rubinov pushed for a dedicated event to reach the entire Queens community, noting that the local need for such a specialized system was too great to ignore.
Ami emphasized that the organization functions as a system, not just a school building, working closely with every family to create a custom-made schedule that leverages the child’s knowledge, skills, and staff expertise. Simi Bazov, Atidaynu’s Educational Director and Principal, further described this system as one designed to provide specialized support for every individual student. For those dealing with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities, and behavioral challenges, the school maintains a strict two-to-one student-to-staff ratio. This high level of manpower is essential because, as Simi explained, planning for every single child is as intensive as planning for an entire grade. This commitment is seen in the extreme customization of materials, including personalized worksheets and program books created for every individual student. These efforts are supported by ABA-informed instruction and a wide array of on-site therapies – including speech, occupational, physical, art, and music therapy – with the ultimate goal of helping students reach their full potential and eventually mainstreaming them back into the community.
The emotional heart of the program was a moving testimonial from Linda and Charlie Cohen, whose son Yosef is an Atidaynu student. As a longtime friend of the Cohen family, it was a personal privilege to hear this journey from “just surviving” to truly thriving. Linda recalled the day of the initial interview, which Charlie’s mother – an educator of more than 25 years – also attended. The family shared that upon walking through the building and seeing classrooms filled with such patience and dedication, it was immediately clear that Yosef belonged there. The Cohens described how Yosef now comes home proud of recent accomplishments and eager to keep trying new things. “As parents, there’s nothing more powerful than watching your child begin to believe in himself,” the couple remarked. A public thank-you was offered to Yosef’s teacher, Ms. Sabrina, as well as the classroom aides and the entire collaborative team of therapists. These parents emphasized that such growth does not happen by accident, but through the compassion of the people who support the students every day.
This sentiment of advocacy was echoed by Ed Maksumov, Treasurer and co-founder of Special Neshamos. Drawing from a five-year journey since a child in the Maksumov family received a diagnosis, Ed Maksumov encouraged families to trust their instincts, noting that parents know their children best. Ed explained that his organization was established to provide the advocacy and opportunities that were once difficult to find, now offering resources ranging from sibling sports groups to workshops on maintaining a strong marriage while raising a child with a disability. Ed also emphasized future preparation, highlighting the necessity of legal guardianship for young adults with special needs. Having personally toured the upcoming facility, Ed described the site as beautiful and urged parents to visit the school, to ask every question necessary to ensure the right fit for their child.
As the school looks toward the future, the vision continues to expand with the brand-new facility slated to open for the upcoming school year at 257 Kings Highway in Gravesend. This growth includes the new Early Childhood Division, which now accepts children as young as age three. In addition to the primary school program, Atidaynu offers valuable community outreach through self-directed vocational courses, such as the Driver’s Permit Course and the Food Protection Course.
For more information, call 718-233-9098 or visit atidaynuourfuture.com.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
Atidaynu Showcases Personalized Special Education In Fresh Meadows
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