Riverdale Early Childhood Center Helps Autism Community Thrive as Birch Family Services Marks 50 Years

When Demah Zayed’s two young sons were diagnosed with autism at just 18 months old, her shock gave way to uncertainty. 

She described it as something she never thought would impact her kids’ lives. 

But in a corner of Riverdale just off Johnson Avenue, Zayed found a sense of community that grounded her and her family. 

Her children — Salem, 6, and Yousef, 5 — recently graduated from Riverdale Early Childhood Center, a preschool program operated by Birch Family Services. The not-for-profit works to empower those with autism and other developmental disabilities.

For Zayed, who moved from Ohio to New York City with her husband eight years ago, the center has been a lifeline.

“At the beginning, it was really hard,” Zayed said. “But when they came here, [staff said] ‘No, they’re just regular kids. We don’t see a difference. We’re going to treat them like our own’ … They’re loved, they’re cared for, they’re safe.”

The center is part of Birch’s citywide network. This month, the organization is marking its 50th anniversary — five decades of supporting families like Zayed’s through therapy, education and advocacy.

When Salem first started at the center, he had frequent periods of emotional dysregulation, which presented itself in outbursts and aggressive behavior. Now, Zayed said, he has made enough progress to transition into an integrated kindergarten classroom and is learning alongside his neurotypical peers. 

Yousef’s communication skills have also drastically improved. He is able to form full sentences to express when he wants something, as well as state when he is feeling emotions like sadness or anger. 

But the journey was far from easy. 

At one point, the boys were set to be placed at Birch locations far from each other, with one in Washington Heights and the other in Pelham Bay. Zayed, who has multiple sclerosis, told the center the daily travel would be too much for her. 

Principal Joyce Group, a veteran special educator who began her career as a speech pathologist, stepped in. She rearranged classroom sizes to keep the brothers together at the Riverdale center.

“We just don’t just think about the child coming in as a little person,” Group said. “We think about the child coming in as an individual that impacts so many people around them.”

Currently, the center serves 38 children from the ages of just under 3 years old to 5, with class sizes ranging from eight to 12 students.  The program, which opened last year, combines the state curriculum with personalized plans for each student, as well as provides a range of critical therapies. 

Inside, the hallways are lined with bright bulletin boards, most of which are decorated by the kids and point to what they have been learning. One display shows several different paper cutouts of Potato Head, with the classic Hasbro toys’ features labeled according to the five senses. 

Small posters offer positive behavior reminders. One lists language alternatives, such as saying “Can you use a softer voice?” instead of “Be quiet.” Another reminds kids to “Bee” — the school’s mascot — safe, kind and helpful. 

Group said nurturing emotional development is just as important as academic progress. 

“We look at each child as understanding from a social emotional perspective — their wants, their needs, their feelings,” Group said. “Feelings are very important and sometimes very hard to express.” 

In one of the classrooms are hands-on learning toys — such as a play kitchen and a dollhouse — as well as vibrant alphabet rugs, visual aids to help with language development, and a job chart to provide structure and independence. A fifth classroom is set to open soon, adding space for 12 more children. 

Birch Family Services was founded in 1975, and has since served over 20,000 children and adults with autism or other developmental disabilities. The organization has 30 locations across the city. 

“For any not-for-profit to sustain itself for 50 years is a testament to the staff who work on a day-to-day basis [and] to the families who have sought us out and had a good experience,” President and CEO Matthew Sturiale told The Press. “I’m excited about the fact that we’ve had growth and we continue to grow.”