DEAF ADULTS PLACED IN JOBS BY THE LEXING-

TON VOCATIONAL SERVICES CENTER (LVSC) are holding their own, despite the recession, and earning high marks from employers.

“Employers who work with our consumers appreciate them as hard-working, reliable employees,” remarked Adele Agin, Executive Director of the LVSC. “They are highly motivated to prove them-selves and do excellent work.” The LVSC has offices in New York and New Jersey and staff work to prepare and place in employment deaf men and women ages 18 and over. Currently, about 600 deaf adults are registered with LVSC. Each of these consumers is given aptitude and interest exams, receives expert help in identifying and applying for jobs, and contin-ues to receive coaching from the

SIX LEXINGTON STUDENTS ARE SEATED AT

DESKS IN A SEMI-CIRCLE, LOOKING WITH INTENSE,

eager concentration at their teacher, Shana Weinberg. Behind her is a Smartboard, a large white screen on which an image of Christopher Columbus and text about his voyage is displayed from the teacher’s computer. Each student is practicing reading the text aloud, using sign language and spoken language. Ronni Hollander, Lexington School Principal, is observing from the back of the class. With her is a consultant, Diane Tortu, who has been working with Lexington elementary and middle school teachers, introducing new strate-gies to help them improve their students’ literacy skills. To help support this work, Lexington has joined in a partnership with Bank Street College of Education. Ms. Tortu, an expert in both literacy and education of deaf individuals, is a professor and advisor at the college in the literacy program. She is also a former teacher at Lexington who knows the school’s strengths and challenges well. The focus of Ms. Tortu’s work is “balanced literacy,” an approach to teaching that draws on the strong interrelationship between the learning of reading, writing, and receptive language develop-ment. Balanced literacy uses in-depth assessments of each child to guide teachers’ plan-ning to meet the needs of their students. Students’ progress is tracked in reference to bench-marks. Throughout the school

day, students actively engage in discussions, “reading-alouds,” guided and shared reading with their teachers and other students, and writing and word study, continually making meaning from what they encounter in the class-room and other interactions. Ronni Hollander said, “Recently, there has been much discussion about reading programs due to the No Child Left Behind legislation. Schools across the country have

been adopting research-based programs to better assess their students’ needs and progress, which can guide staff in making decisions about best teaching practices. Lexington staff also felt the need to explore programs that could

D E A F E M P L O Y E E S S H I N E I N H A R D T I M E S

B A N K S T R E E T C O L L E G E O F E D U C A T I O NH E L P S L E X I N G T O N S T U D E N T S I M P R O V E

L E X I N G T O N S C H O O L C E N T E R F O R T H E D E A F

S P R I N G S U M M E R 2 0 0 9

MIGUEL FLORES, ARTIST AND SUCCESSFUL VOCATIONAL SERVICES CLIENT, WORKS AT AN ART STORE AND SELLS

HIS WORK IN A NEW JERSEY GALLERY

LITERACY EXPERT DIANE TORTU WORKS WITH MIDDLE SCHOOLSTUDENTS

2007-08financialsandDonorHonor Rollinside

continued on next pagecontinued on page 4

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support their pedagogical approach to working with the deaf population.” This year, Lexington adopted the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment System for reading, along with other materials to support word study. Ms. Tortu explained, “Gay Su Pinnell and Irene C. Fountas have studied how children learn to read and write for many years and are widely regarded as experts in the field of literacy for children. Their balanced literacy approach includes an assessment program that allows teachers to have more accurate information about their students’ decoding, comprehension and writing abilities.” The new assessment tools provide information that is used to guide instructional goals and book selection. The Fountas and Pinnell system assigns precise text levels to reading materials, so instruction can be differ-entiated for each student. Ms. Tortu said, “It is essential that books are selected for students that allow them to comprehend the text with some support from the teacher, while learning new strategies that will help them become capable readers.” Lexington staff has unique challenges in adapting the literacy program to meet the needs of its students. In selecting goals and instructional methods for students, teachers must consider individual students’ varied needs for visual and auditory strategies that will help them read and “decode” written language. They must also consider their students’ varying language levels and knowledge of content materials. In some cases, students have multiple disabilities. Some students have a first language other than English, such as Spanish or Mandarin. These second language learners

will build on the knowledge of their first language in approaching reading and writing challenges. The schoolwide effort to address the needs of students has inspired donors to lend support to the literacy program. Heart and Hand for the Handicapped and the Pumpkin Foundation have made it possible to purchase new reading materials and set up comfortable, child-friendly “reading circles” in pre-school and pre-school Special Education classrooms. Federal Title I grants and other funds have been used to expand the department libraries in elementary and middle school grades. The Lexington staff is committed to this mission of revisiting their work using the balanced literacy approach. Walking through the halls, one can peek into the classrooms or look at the bulletin boards and see the results of work already in progress. Cataloging and “leveling” of existing books according to the Foun-tas and Pinnell system have started in the school’s new literacy office. Dr. Carroll said, “Our goal is to continue to purchase leveled texts both in fiction and non fiction that will support our work in literacy across the curriculum in all content areas. The success of the program depends on getting the right books into our students’ hands while we carefully select the instructional goals and teaching strategies. The ultimate goal is to help all our students become successful literate adults.” Ms. Hollander said, “The fun of the program is seeing our students find success while they come to enjoy reading.”

B A N K S T R E E T C O L L E G E W O R K S W I T H L E X I N G T O N

2 LEXINGTON SCHOOL CENTER FORTHE DEAF

HAS HEARING LOSS AFFECTED YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW? THE LEXINGTON HEARING AND SPEECH CENTER is a state-licensed facility that specializes in diagnosing and treating hearing and speech difficulties. Generous grants from the New York State Assembly and from private donors, including the Heckscher Foundation for Children, the Hyde and Watson Foundation, and the Herzfeld Foundation, have recently supported a major upgrade of our technology. We provide infant testing, early intervention services for children ages 0-3 and their families, speech-language evaluations and therapy, ear/nose/throat evaluations, and audiological evaluations for populations from infant and children to seniors. In addition, our mobile van visits senior centers, schools, and busi-nesses to provide hearing loss tests to persons who cannot come to our center on their own. The mobile project is supported by private donors, including the Moses Parshelsky Foundation, the Oppenheimer and Haas Foundation, and the Rodgers Family Foundation. We accept Medicaid and Medicare and can often make affordable arrangements for patients whose private insurance does not cover the cost of care.

H E L P F O R H E A R I N G L O S S A T A L L A G E S

LEXINGTON AUDIOLOGIST FITS A HEARING AID ONA PATIENT

continued from cover

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LEXINGTON’S MODEL TRANSITION PROGRAM

(MTP) IS HELPING STUDENTS MAKE

SMOOTHER TRANSITIONS from high school to the next stage of their lives -- whether that involves higher education, vocational training, or supported employ-ment. Formally known as “Transition Program: Steps to Success,” the initiative is funded by a competitive grant from VESID (Vocational and Educa-tional Services for Individuals with Disabilities), a New York State agency. Lexington is one of just 60 sites in the state that has received this grant and the only one of the 60 that special-izes in serving deaf individuals.

“Many of our students face challenges entering the world of work or higher education after leaving Lexington,” said Regina M. Carroll, Superintendent. “While we have always provided transition services, the Model Transition Program is helping us to expand them. We are engaging students and their families and connecting them with the VESID office much earlier in their high school careers than we were able to do before.”

José Vasquez, the coordinator of the grant at Lexington, is an experienced vocational services counselor who is himself hard of hearing and who previously worked in the Lexington Voca-

tional Services Center. Mr. Vasquez works as part of the Career Education team, under the direction of Tony Massa.

The transition initiative includes several core compo-nents. Each student receives a vocational assessment. Parents are involved through parent work-shops and individual student/parent planning meetings. Students gain work experience through commu-nity service placements, intern-ships, and the New York City Summer Employment Program. They have coursework in career education and independent living. In their senior year, students participate together with other young deaf adults in VECTOR, a socialization/recreation program provided by Lexington Vocational Services Center.

Dr. Carroll said, “While some components, such as the internship placements and summer jobs, have been part of Lexington’s program for several years, others were newly developed with the help of the VESID/MTP grant.” The parent-student workshops are an example of a new component. Parents and students together have attended workshops titled “Introduction to VESID,” “Self-Determination,” “Understanding Assessments,” “Financial Aid for College-Bound Students,” and “Transition Planning for Deaf Students with Developmen-tal Disabilities and Multiple Handi-

caps.” These will be repeated each year and the series will be expanded to cover additional topics, such as Entitlements and Advocacy.

A Close and Diverse Community

Lexington students form a close community, bonded by a keen sense of identity as deaf people. Beyond this shared affirmation, however, they differ widely in interests and aptitude. Therefore, coursework, internship experiences and other transition services must be individu-alized to meet the needs of the particular student.

Mr. Vasquez reported, “The range of placements of the graduates of 2008 shows the diversity among the student body.” Some students last year graduated with Regents Diplo-mas and now are college students. Other students have successfully transitioned to vocational training programs and job placements.

Two graduates of the class of ’08 are now college freshmen at the National Institute for the Deaf (NTID) in Rochester, New York. The Model Transition Program, working with VESID staff, helped them identify their goals, apply for financial aid, and make successful transitions from Lexington to college.

Two other students from the class of ‘08 have made equally successful transitions into vocational place-ments. Interested in working in food

M O D E L P R O G R A M

H E L P S S T U D E N T S

W I T H T R A N S I T I O N

F R O M L E X I N G T O N

continued on page 9

TIM HARTIGAN, SENIOR TRAINER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO, AND SUSAN TOLIN, LEXINGTON

CAREER EDUCATION TEACHER, ENGAGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT THEIR FUTURES

SPRING SUMMER 2009 3

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continued from coverD E A F E M P L O Y E E S S U C C E E D

specialized, ASL-fluent LSVC staff throughout their employment. The consumer’s “job coach” visits his or her place of employment at least monthly, to ease any communications barriers and troubleshoot any difficul-ties that arise on the job. A case in point is Miguel Flores, who first came to Lexington in 2005 in the hope of finding a job. An émigré from Latin America who communicates primar-ily in sign language, Mr. Flores indicated he would like to work in a retail store. He explained that he was a visual artist and was particularly interested in working with art supplies. Larry Feldman, director of the LVSC/New Jersey program identified a possible job opening for Mr. Flores at Michael’s, a large arts and crafts store in Rockaway, New Jersey. A job coach, Mary Shinn-Orrok, accompa-nied Mr. Flores on his interview. He made a good impression and was hired in a part-time position as a stock clerk. About three years later, Mr. Flores’s supervisor, Char-lie Hill, made a phone call to LVSC to say that the com-pany continued to be pleased with his work and wanted to promote him to a full-time position. Charlie Hill, the store manager, said, “Miguel has a wonderful work ethic. He goes non-stop. He’s a total team player who does anything we ask of him.” Asked how customers managed to communicate with Mr. Flores, his supervisor said it was not a problem. “At Miguel’s own request, he wears a name tag saying he is deaf. He points to it if necessary and uses a notepad to communicate with customers.” Mr. Flores’s success goes beyond his advancement at his job. In spring 2008, three of his paintings were

selected for a gallery show in Orange, New Jersey. In an artist’s statement distributed by the gallery, Mr. Flores said, “Many times I felt isolated, not able to have communication. My art has kept me intrigued and has been a safe home for me when I needed it.” All three paintings -- vivid depictions of New York City sites in bold acrylic colors -- were sold. Also in 2008, Mr. Flores applied for and received U.S. citizenship, after being permitted to take the citizenship exam in sign language. LVSC job coaches attended his citizenship ceremony in Newark, New Jersey. While Mr. Flores’s artistic skills are exceptional, his success as an employee is characteristic of Lexington consumers. Of the 600 adults currently registered with LVSC, about 75% have been placed and the rest are in the process of applying for jobs. Hotels, retail facilities, health facilities, cleaning plants, and food services are among the industries who have found that hiring deaf people is good business. Mr. Feldman said, “Employers come back to us because our consumers are pre-screened, are able to do the work, and have the support of a supported employment specialist. We tell them that if the consumer’s deafness interferes with the actual job performance, we will attempt to resolve the issues via coaching and accommo-dation. Aside from some appropriate accommodations, the deaf employee is treated just as any other employee.” Sometimes sign language classes are given at the job site. Said Ms. Agin, “This results in a support system and wonderful interaction between deaf and hearing employees.” As Charlie Hill, the Michael’s store manager said, “It’s not at all hard if you’re open-minded.”

4 LEXINGTON SCHOOL CENTER FORTHE DEAF

DAVID CARDONA, 19, A MEMBER OF THIS YEAR’S GRADUATING CLASS, HAS BEEN NAMED TO THE

United States Deaf Wrestling Team that will travel to Taipei, China this summer to participate in the Deaflympics. David has won tournaments at Lexington, LI Lutheran and Martin Luther, and took 4th place at the 2008 New York City Mayors Cup Tournament. Among his many honors are: 2008 New York State Private School Wrestling Tournament Champion (160 lbs) and Tourna-ment MVP; 2008 Lexington Athlete of the Year; Deaf All-American; Private Schools Athletic Association Wrestling All-Star; Independent Private and Parochial Schools Wrestling All-Star; and Eastern Schools for the Deaf Wrestling Champion. David, a resident of the Throgs Neck section of the Bronx, also excels in soccer and track. He is an honor roll student.

W R E S T L I N G S T A R N A M E D T O U . S . T E A M

DAVID CARDONA, HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING CHAMPION

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GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT

Federal

U.S. Department of Education

State

New Jersey Division of Rehabilita

tion Services

NYS Education Department (NYSED)

NYS Department of Health

NYSED Vocational Services for

Individuals with Disabilities

(VESID)

NYS Dormitory Authority

NYS Metropolitan Transit Authority

(Bridge & Tunnel Authority)

NYS Office of Mental Retardation

and Developmental Disabilities

Port Authority of New York & New

Jersey

New York City

Department of Education

Department of Health and Mental

Hygiene

The following public officials generously provided individual local initiative grants for capital and/or operating funds for programs and services.

NYS Assembly

Ivan C. Lafayette

Catherine T. Nolan

Audrey I. Pheffer

NYS Senate

Martin J. Golden

Serphin R.Maltese

City Council

Helen Sears

FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS AND

INDIVIDUALS

$25,000 AND ABOVE

Ambrose Monell Foundation

Estate of Ruby Fleming

Heckscher Foundation for Children

Oppenheimer and Haas Foundation

$10,000 - $24,999

The Hyde and Watson Foundation

Moses L. Parshelsky Foundation

The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary

$5,000 - $9,999

Alice Shaver Foundation

Brinker Capital Holdings, Inc. +

Stella & Charles Guttman Foundation,

Inc.

Emy and Emil Herzfeld Foundation,

Inc.

Susan and Stephen Mandel

Stuart and Linda* Schlesinger +

The Pumpkin Foundation

The Litwin Foundation, Inc. (Leonard

Litwin)

$1,000 - $4,999

Anonymous

Blumenfeld Development Group, Ltd.

Shirley Brownrigg Charitable Trust

Arthur and Linda Carter

Regina M. Carroll and Thomas

Colasuonno +

Heart and Hand for the Handicapped

La Guardia Corp Center Assoc, LLC

(Brad Blumenfeld)

Jerome and Susan Lauren

Esther Lustig +

Alan Mansfield* (Greenberg Traurig

Philanthropic Fund)

Laurence and Carole * Moskowitz

Dorothy Sarnoff Raymond Charitable

Foundation

Sydell and Ira Smith

Solon E. Summerfield Foundation, Inc.

Pfizer United Way

Linda Pon

Tashlik, Kreutzer, Goldwyn & Crandell

P.C. +

The Children's Hearing Institute Inc. +

The Glickenhaus Foundation

United Way

Robert and Miriam Zadek

$500 - $999

Advanced Bionics +

Nancy and Anthony Amalfitano +

Joseph and Marianne Bosnack +

Marilyn and Marshall Butler

Foundation

Candle 79 (Joy Pierson and Bart

Potenza)

Michael and Kathleen DiSanto +

Cathy Gavin

GRM International of New York, Ltd. +

Albert Hlibok*

Logan Bus Company & Affiliates +

William and Phyllis Mack

Mark Family Foundation

Stephen and Ann Markelson

National Development & Research

Institutes, Inc.

Louis and Catherine Paglia +

Mark and Dara Perlbinder

Lawrence Reich (Ingerman Smith,

LLP) +

John Simonetti

Sorenson Communications +

St. Joan of Arc Youth Council

W.P. Owners Corp. Charity Fund +

$100 - $499

Abraham Kaplan Foundation

Adele Agin +

A.Haupt, Inc. +

Jane Alpert & Foster de Jesus +

John & Corrinne Alpert Foundation

Evelyn Alter

Martin Balsam

Rose Marie Beveridge

Philip* and Judith Bravin

Martin and Jane Breiter +

Martin and Carole Brownstein

C.V. Starr & Co., Inc. +

Hugh and Christina Canavan +

Lois Cohen

Oscar and Susan Cohen

Laura Cruz +

DaCorta Bros. Inc. +

John Dorsa +

Bernard and Phyllis Feinberg

Martin and Ellen Fiasconaro +

Joseph Forstadt

Jerome Gartman

Gordon and Ilene Goldstein +

Gotte's Restaurant Group, Inc. +

Joseph Graziano

Hal Hen Company

Robert Hanophy +

Gregory Hlibok*

Jia Bay Ho +

Andrew Hollander +

Ronni Hollander +

Steven and Dina Horowitz

Braden Josephson

LAN Associates +

Janet and Gerald Lazar

Lisa Lobejko +

Cathy Markland +

Patrick and Bernadette McCormac

Melba Toast, Inc. +

Joseph Minogue +

Janet Moran

William Moran +

N & R Deli, Inc. (Anthony and

Rosalie Digiovanni)+

Richard Naiman

Joyce Neier +

New York City Transit Authority

New York Life Insurance Company

New York University School of

Medicine +

North Queens Home Owners Civic

Association

Northeastern Technologies Group,

Inc. +

Carmela O'Donnell

Lynn Oettinger Sien

Pastries, Ltd. +

Eric Peeks +

PHONAK LLC +

We are thankful to all our supporters, public and private, who helped make

possible our full range of programs and services. This report acknowledges

contributions received from July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008. Contributions made

after July 1, 2008 will be acknowledged in our next annual report

D O N O R H O N O R R O L LJ U L Y 1 , 2 0 0 7 - J U N E 3 0 , 2 0 0 8

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Eleanor Romberg

Mark and Jaye Roter

Robert Saccente +

Savory Food Service/Landmark

Foods +

Robert Schanzer +

Perry and Susan Scheer

Sheldon and Phyllis Schiff

Barry Schoenfeld +

Robert and Michele Sheiner +

Sign Talk Consultant Network +

Howard and Paula Slonim

Leon Sokoloff

Sorenson Communications

Tim and Karen Sorrentino +

Sovereign Bank +

Steinway & Sons +

Success Apparel LLC +

Louis Taxin +

Lois Tepfer

Suzanne Turkewitz

Christopher Tzimorotas +

Thomas Tzimorotas +

Dennis Velotta +

Doug Velotta +

Michael and Doreen Warantz +

Shirley and Milton Weinger

David and Karen Weiss

Thomas and Carol Whalen +

Doris Wurgler +

Howard Zucker +

$5 - $99

Ana Acevedo

Arlene Ackerman

Charles Adler

American Express Giving Express

Program

Jeffrion Aubry +

Stella S. Bennett

Albert Berke

Doris Blanchard

Sarah Church

Nancy M. Chiren

Margaret Conway +

Dorothy Corporan-Nieves

Mary Ann Dorsa +

Marie Driscoll

Joyce Ehrlich

Edward Finn

Honorable Louis Fusco, Jr.

Ingelore Honigstein

Ann Gelles

Richard Giliberti

Moe Glickel

Evelyne Gugliotta

Carole Grand

Gabriel Grayson

Marian Hernandez

Matilda Jones

Paul Kaplan +

Marjorie Kaufman

Ann Keane

Kevin J. Keane +

Tamar Kouffman

Hyer G. Laing

Lehman Brothers

Harry Litowitch

Bernice Lubinsky

Eric Mansfield

Cathy Markland

Corinne Marks

Anita Newman

New Precision Technology

Danielle Novikoff

Sheryll Quamina

Robin Resnick

Liliana Rivas-Cruz

Mary Ann Robertson +

Adrianne and Harvey Robins +

Marta Roczniak

Gary Rosenblatt

Paul Rotter

Runway Tire Service Co., Inc.

Ira Schneiderman

Annette Scudero

Jay Sears

Shore Trading Co., Inc.

Helene Shuster

Winston Shyatt

Target

Philip and Peggy Tempesta

Geraldine Vittorella

Eleanor Vorce

Bram David Weiser

John Wilson

Katharine Wolpe

Gift-In-Kind

EQUINOX

Golf Galaxy +

Modell's Sporting Goods +

Carole Moskowitz +

New York LaGuardia Airport Marriot +

New York Mets +

Maria Noto (Tir Na Org) +

Phonak LLC +

Plaka Grill +

Queensborough Performing Arts +

S'Nice (Mike Walter and Deb Pirraglia)

Sweet & Sara (Sara Sohn)

Tabo International, Inc.

* Board of Trustees

+ Golf Outing 07

L E X I N G T O NSCHOOL CENTER FOR THE DEAF

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Gerard J. Buckley, Ed.D. President Gregory J. Hlibok, Esq. Vice PresidentRicky E. Thomas Vice PresidentAlbert J. Hlibok Treasurer Claudia Gordon, Esq. Secretary Linda Schlesinger Chair, Development CommitteePhilip W. BravinPatrice L.A. Joyner Alan Mansfield, Esq. Frank E. Moriya, D.B.A. Carole Moskowitz I. David Paley Arvin S. Pasricha Robert B. Steinberg, Esq. Paul Windels, Jr. EXECUTIVE STAFF

Regina M. Carroll, Ph.D. Superintendent/CEOMarianne Bosnack Chief Financial OfficerAdele I. Agin Executive Director, Mental Health/Vocational Services

NEWSLETTER

Jane Alpert Development ConsultantWilliam Moran Graphic DesignJohn Collins Photography

30th Avenue and 75th StreetJackson Heights NY 11370718-350-3300 TTY/VOICE718-350-3056 TTY718-899-9846 FAXwww.lexnyc.com

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C ONSOLIDATED S TATEMENT OF A CTIVIT IES

L EXINGTON S CHOOL FOR THE D EAFAND C ONSOLIDATED E NTITIES

YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 AND 2007

Unrestricted Temporarily

Restricted Permanently

Restricted Total 2008 Total 2007

Revenues, gains and other supportGovernment grantsTuition and maintenance of pupils - aidable budget $ 21,271,883 $ 21,271,883 $ 20,323,341Title I - Improvement of Communication Arts 403,691 403,691 339,994Government grants and contracts 1,993,609 1,993,609 1,256,966Fees for service and other revenue 2,079,548 2,079,548 2,736,502Contributions 126,436 $ 181,723 $ 6,250 314,409 307,200Special Events $ 31,423Less direct costs (8,280) 23,143 23,143 20,181Dormitory Authority state aid 455,000 455,000 435,000Investment income/(loss) (933,051) (933,051) 1,502,072

Net assets released from restrictions 197,846 (197,846)

TOTAL REVENUE, GAINS AND OTHER SUPPORT 25,618,105 (16,123) 6,250 25,608,232 26,921,256

Expenses Program servicesNew York State educational services 18,639,138 18,639,138 17,885,602Private and Ellis Island 1,138,459 1,138,459 990,581Title I 332,875 332,875 354,765Vocational services 1,591,909 1,591,909 1,387,166Hearing and Speech 1,000,146 1,000,146 1,113,502Mental Health 706,251 706,251 863,838Universal Pre-K 381,825 381,825 365,691Day care 153,509 153,509 145,527Performing arts 86,236 86,236 82,054Other programs 41,735 41,735 52,097

Total program services 24,072,083 24,072,083 23,240,823

Supporting servicesManagement and General 2,940,607 2,940,607 2,854,504Fund-raising 58,041 58,041 66,100Total supporting services 2,998,648 2,998,648 2,920,604

TOTAL EXPENSES (includes interest expense of $360,094 and $386,598 in 2008 and 2007 respectively) 27,070,731 27,070,731 26,161,427

Change in net assets (1,452,626) (16,123) 6,250 (1,462,499) 759,829

Net assets - beginning of year 15,229,228 806,857 407,720 16,443,805 15,683,976

NET ASSETS - END OF YEAR $ 13,776,602 $ 790,734 $ 413,970 $ 14,981,306 $ 16,443,805

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C ONSOLIDATED B ALANCE S HEETJUNE 30, 2008 AND 2007

2008 2007ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,433,672 $ 6,641,578Investments 8,785,841 9,856,255Accounts Receivable New York State - aidable budget 1,002,014 956,555 Title I 82,405 Grants and contracts 37,732Other (less allowance for doubtful accounts of$271,541 and $318,631 in 2008 and 2007, respectively) 1,334,142 1,167,434Prepaid expenses 1,798Fixed assets - net 11,024,241 11,254,481Deposits with Bond trustee 2,307,931 2,611,275

Total assets $ 30,925,573 $ 32,571,781

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 4,111,865 $ 3,931,809Due to government agencies 327,033 307,433Mortgage payable 6,505,000 6,940,000Deferred revenue 5,000,369 4,948,734

Total liabilities 15,944,267 16,127,976

Net assets Unrestricted 13,776,602 15,229,228 Temporarily restricted 790,734 806,857 Permanently restricted 413,970 407,720

Total net assets 14,981,306 16,443,805

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS $ 30,925,573 $ 32,571,781

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services, their vocational aptitude exams showed that they would do well in this field. The Model Transition Program provided counseling, coaching, and inter-preter services to identify appropriate training programs and guide them through the application process. Eventually, both were accepted at the Culi-nary Training Institute and began their studies in fall 2008. They will graduate in spring 2009 and begin looking for jobs in the field.

One Lexington student with multiple disabilities illustrates another kind of success. The young woman remained at Lexington until age 21, as New York State law allows. With support from the Model Transition Program, her case was accepted by New York City OMRDD (Office of Mental Retardation and Developmen-tal Disabilities). She was recently placed in a day program at FEGS, a nonprofit agency in Manhattan. OMRDD provides her transportation from her home in the Bronx to her placement site in lower Manhattan.

Her grandmother said, “I was afraid my granddaugh-ter wouldn’t like the placement because she has to get up at 5:30 to take the bus. But she is happy. She has a computer there. She works with older people, which she enjoys. I’m grateful because if it weren’t for this program, she would be home all day doing nothing.”

Students participate in the major components of the program from 9th grade through their high school years. Ninth-graders begin with an entry-level voca-tional assessment/interview and Career Education classes, where they are encouraged to think about their life after high school, understand the meaning of “transition,” and identify their interests and dreams,

and goals. Their parents are encouraged to attend a workshop where they learn about high school diploma requirements and the assessments that guide instruc-tional decisions and planning for the students. After the workshop, a parent can meet individually with a member of the transition team to review the child’s assessment results.

In 11th grade, students are given placements outside Lexington in a form of community service. Community service builds their sense of giving to the community while allowing them to experience settings outside the school. At the same time, career education classes continue. Students go on to participate in summer jobs and internships with employers that help them learn about the world of work, gain real-life experience, and prepare for eventual paid employment.

Finally, thanks to the Model Transition Program, Lexington is able to draw on the advice and support of experts in the field. Recently, for example, Tim Harti-gan, a senior trainer at the University of Buffalo, came to Lexington to address an 11th grade class on transi-tion issues.

Every question the visitor asked the class about their plans, their knowledge of college requirements, or the expectations of employers prompted an eager show of hands and a chorus of answers. A telling moment occurred when he asked the students for examples of people with disabilities who had succeeded. “Our coaches, teachers and counselors,” came the answer.

José Vasquez, watching from the back of the room, smiled with satisfaction.

GREG HLIBOK ’85 AND CLAUDIA GORDON ‘91 ARE TWO DISTINGUISHED

LEXINGTON alumni who serve on the Board of Lexington School and work as attorneys for the U.S. government in Washington DC.

Mr. Hlibok is a Gallaudet University alumnus who hold a law degree from Hofstra University. As a Gallaudet student in 1988, Mr. Hlibok earned a national reputation for his skilled and determined leadership of the Deaf President Now movement, which led to the appointment of the university’s first deaf president. Today Mr. Hlibok is a senior attorney at the Federal Commu-nications Commission’s Disability

Rights Office. He has taken the lead on several crucial rulemaking procedures that resulted in unprecedented growth in Video Relay Service and Internet Protocol Relay Service.

Claudia Gordon earned a degree in political science from Howard Univer-sity and also went on to earn a law degree. In 2001, she became the first known Black deaf woman in the U.S. admitted to the bar to practice law. Today Ms. Gordon is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Department of Homeland Security. She was awarded the DHS Secretary’s Gold Medal for her excep-

tional leadership work on behalf of people with disabili-ties impacted by Hurricane Katrina. As Board members of Lexington for many years, both Mr. Hlibok and Ms. Gordon have been active in raising funds for the School and its affiliates and in strength-ening alumni participation.

D I S T I N G U I S H E D L E X I N G T O N A L U M S I N P U B L I C S E R V I C E

M O D E L P R O G R A M H E L P S W I T H T R A N S I T I O N

SPRING SUMMER 2009 9

GREG HLIBOK

CLAUDIA GORDON

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ON NOVEMBER 28, 2007, TAP-DANCERS FROM LEXINGTON’S MIDDLE SCHOOL WERE THE STARS of the annual New York Eye & Ear Infirmary’s “Thanks for Giving” black-tie ball at the Pierre Hotel. The six students performed along-side professional tap dancer Rod Ferrone, in a production especially designed and choreographed for them by Alina Bloomgarden of Stage Meets Screen. Lexington is deeply grateful to the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary for its generous invitation to our young performers and for the warm reception they received.

P U T T I N G O N T H E R I T Z

26-26 75th Street30th Avenue & 75 StreetJackson Heights, NY 11370www.lexnyc.orgAddress Service Required

LEXINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS STARRED IN A PERFORMANCE AT THE PIERRE HOTEL

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