FAQ

GENERAL FAQ

How do we get access to the NYU classrooms for the in-person workshops?

We are proud to partner with The Ability Project at NYU Tandon and must comply with their Covid-19 protocols for in-person learning. TKU students who are participating in our in-person classes need to be fully vaccinated with at least 1 booster.

How do I know if Tech Kids Unlimited is the right fit for my student?

Tech Kids Unlimited is for children ages 7-21 years of age who have been diagnosed with cognitive, learning, and emotional disabilities such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Auditory Processing Disorder, Anxiety, OCD, Executive Processing and Dyslexia, etc. Students don’t need any previous tech knowledge to attend. TKU students usually attend private schools for students with disabilities, are home-schooled, go to non-public schools as well as the Department of Education’s ASD NEST program in NYC. Most students have an IEP or a 504 Plan. Students should be able to function in a classroom-like environment and work mostly independently. Most of our students have a medium to high level of both receptive and expressive language with little to no behavioral issues. Students come from an inclusion, integrated, 12:1:1 or an 8:1:1 classroom environment. TKU is unable to provide 1:1 help for students online currently. TKU is not specifically trained in working with students who are nonverbal. TKU understands that students will need additional help and support, and the TKU model (master tech teacher, assistant teacher, 3:1 counselor ratio and a social worker as staff) makes sure they are set up for success.

‍Note about behaviors for in-person workshops: TKU staff does not have the capacity or training to manage extremely aggressive or physical behaviors. Students who exhibit violence or strong aggressive behaviors will be asked to leave the program and will be refunded for any remaining workshop days. If you are unsure if your child's behaviors are appropriate for the TKU classroom, please contact: info@techkidsunlimited.org before registering. This policy is in place to ensure the safety of all students and staff. If an in-person workshop would not work, you may want to try virtual workshops.

Do you offer financial aid?

TKU offers financial aid. Please go to the About section of this website to find the Financial Aid Application. Once you fill it out you will receive an email in regard to financial aid amount and the code to use to enroll your child. TKU makes sure no student is turned away due to financial challenges.

Can you explain the language used on the website?

TKU would like to address the different types of language you might see about disability on this website. Most often, TKU prefers to use the terms "neurodiverse" and "students who learn differently" to describe students in TKU programs. TKU uses these terms to be inclusive of all the different types of neurological diversity within the student community. TKU also prefers these terms because of their association with the Neurodiversity Rights Movement, a disability civil rights movement that recognizes autism and other neurodevelopmental differences as a normal part of human diversity. You can read more about neurodiversity in the context of education here or watch a short video about it here. TKU understands that every individual has preferences about how they prefer to describe themselves and their identity. TKU respects individual preferences. You may also see a mixture of other words that are used to describe learners who are welcome at TKU, including both identity-first language (e.g. "autistic students'') or person-first language (e.g. "students with special needs'' or "students with disabilities'' or "students with ADHD") on the website. This is because we want to ensure that folks outside the TKU community can find TKU and get involved in programs. Sometimes the language we prefer within our communities is inconsistent with the language used by larger groups like school systems, grant-making foundations, and government service providers who may use more clinical language for the purpose of clarity.

What is the refund policy?

Full refunds for programs will be provided only if requested a full week (7 days) before the start date of the workshop. A 50% refund will be given after that. If there is a medical emergency, please provide a doctor’s note.

IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS FAQ

What is the covid-19 vaccination/mask policy?

As per NYU guidelines where all our in-person workshops are being held, all attendees must be fully vaccinated and boosted against covid-19. Parents/Guardians will not be allowed upstairs/on-campus at any time. They will only be allowed to drop students and pick students up in the lobby of NYU. At this time, masks are required at all times once on campus except when eating. Contact information/a phone number will be provided so that you can contact staff as needed during program hours.

Is there a minimum number of workshops I have to enroll in?

No, you can register for as few or many workshops as you'd like!

When is the deadline to register?

The deadline to register is typically 1 week (minimum) before each class begins.

Will lunch be provided?

Lunch is not provided. Students should bring their own lunch or bring money for lunch. If bringing money for lunch, students have options nearby which staff will bring them to to buy lunch before eating back on campus. Options include pizza, Pret-a-Manger, amongst others. Peanuts are strictly prohibited. We have a no-peanut policy due to extreme allergies of many of our students

What are the hours? Is there early dropoff and late pickup?

The hours of summer program workshops are 10 AM EST- 4 PM Est. Early drop-off is available for $16 per day paid directly to a designated TKU staff member. Late pick-up is available for $16 per day. Early drop-off is at 9 AM EST and late pick-up is at 5 PM EST. Parents/guardians who do not pick up their students by 5 PM may incur an extra charge.

Where are you located?

We are located at NYU Tandon, The Ability Project, 3rd floor, 370 Jay St., Brooklyn, NY, 11201. This central location is close to many train stops including:
A, C, F, R to Jay St. MetroTech
2, 3, 4, 5 trains to Borough Hall
Q, B, trains to DeKalb Ave.
LIRR to Flatbush Ave. Atlantic Terminal

What is the classroom size? What is the staff to student ratio?

TKU workshops do not have any more than 20 students per classroom. Each class has a teacher, assistant teacher, social worker, and counselors.

VIRTUAL SUMMER FAQ

What is the refund policy for Virtual workshops?

-The refund policy for virtual workshops includes a full refund the week before the workshop, 50% refund a day before the workshop begins.
- Medical reasons or other extenuating circumstances may be considered.
- If there are circumstances where TKU feels the program is not the right fit for your student (ie: bullying of other students, inability to follow along even after extensive social worker intervention) you will be refunded for remaining days your student doesn’t attend.

What time zone are the workshops in? Can I join from anywhere?

All timings on our website are in Eastern Time. You can absolutely still join if you are in another part of the country...or world!

What system will you use to host virtual workshops?

We will be using the software Zoom for all virtual (online) workshops. Students should install Zoom onto their computers prior to the start of workshops and regularly install updates. Zoom is safe and private via multiple settings we have in place. In addition, TKU uses an NYU account which is very secure. An email with instructions on how to download Zoom and the Zoom address will be sent prior to the start date of each workshop.

Is a computer required to join the workshops?

A computer (MAC or PC) is highly recommended to fully experience a virtual workshop and receive all its benefits. Joining on an iPad or similar device will limit the students' capabilities to use the software we will be teaching, however, they will still be able to join. For certain workshops, a computer is required so we recommend reading the description for a class prior to registering.

Does my child have to be on video?

It is not a requirement to be on video. However, we encourage all students to be on video. Aside from teaching technology skills, we want to provide a way for students to stay connected to each other and the TKU community. If you don't have a webcam for your computer, you can get one for $20 (ie: a Logitech webcam) if you're interested. Alternatively, students may join the Zoom meeting using a phone or tablet with their video enabled, and participate in the workshop activities from a computer.

How do I know if a virtual workshop is appropriate for my student?

Students should have basic typing knowledge and be able to navigate their way around a computer (ie: understand how to open up a new browser, type in a URL, point and click, use a mouse, etc).

What is the size of each virtual classroom? How many staff members are there?

Each workshop will remain small with no more than 20 students per class. Breakout rooms are used to ensure students receive enough attention. Every class will have a master tech teacher, an assistant teacher, and a counselor. There will also be a social worker who will work with each class on social-emotional learning. The social worker will be happy to talk with you on the phone about any issues that might come up during the class time.

GENERAL FAQ

IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS FAQ

VIRTUAL SUMMER FAQ

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