The Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs

Chapter 501 of the Laws of 2012: “Protection of People with Special Needs Act” is effective on June 30, 2013 and makes changes to the requirements for the standards for the protection of day and residential students who attend a residential school (i.e., the New York State School for the Blind, the New York State School for the Deaf, a State-supported school which has a residential component, a special act school district, or an approved private residential school). Chapter 501 also established the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, which will assume the functions and responsibilities of the former Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities. The Justice Center will be responsible for investigations of allegations of serious abuse and neglect of vulnerable persons in State-operated and licensed facilities, including residential schools under the State Education Department's (SED) oversight; overseeing implementation of the procedures of State oversight agencies for tracking, investigating and monitoring corrective actions of allegations of abuse, neglect and significant incidents; maintaining a register of individuals who have committed serious acts of abuse (Staff Exclusion List); and establishing codes of conduct of ethical standards to which all individuals who have regular contact with people with special needs would be held accountable. Additional information regarding Chapter 501, the Justice Center and a full text of the law are available on the Justice Center webpage. To view Justice Center Resources for Success, materials produced by the Justice Center to help equip staff and advocates with the needed skills to prevent abuse and neglect, please visit the Justice Center’s Resources for Success webpage.

Incident Management Unit (IMU)

The Incident Management Unit (IMU) was created in March 2014 to oversee the New York State Education Department’s activities pursuant to Chapter 501 of the Laws of 2012 and the creation of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Specifically, IMU responsibilities include tracking and monitoring safety plans, plans of prevention and remediation of allegations of abuse, neglect and significant incidents in approved residential schools serving students with disabilities; investigating significant incidents in approved residential schools serving students with disabilities and ensuring appropriate actions are conducted by the schools in response; remaining a primary point of contact and liaison to the Justice Center, approved residential schools, and other impacted stakeholders relating to reportable incidents or requests for technical assistance pursuant to the responsibilities under Chapter 501 of the Laws of 2012; collaborating with the Justice Center to ensure approved residential schools serving students with disabilities receive all necessary information and training as required under the law.

IMU Offices:

Eastern Regional Office NYS Education Department Office of Special Education Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA) 89 Washington Avenue, Room 309 EB Albany, NY 12234 Telephone: (518) 473-1185 Fax: (518) 474-6963 Alan Mueller, Supervisor, (518) 473-1185

Hudson Valley Regional Office NYS Education Department Office of Special Education Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA) 1 Park Place, 3rd Floor Peekskill, NY 10566 Telephone: (914) 940-2900 Fax: (914) 402-2180 Alan Mueller, Supervisor, (518) 473-1185

Western Regional Office NYS Education Department Office of Special Education Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA) 2A Richmond Avenue Batavia, NY 14020 Telephone: (585) 344-2002 Fax: (585) 344-2422 Alan Mueller, Supervisor, (518) 473-1185