ENHANCING THE WAY STUDENTS RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
RUCHI ITA FELLER’S PASSION FOR WORKING WITH SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN WAS IGNITED WHILE VOLUNTEERING AT A SUMMER CAMP FOR YOUNGSTERS WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES. WITNESSING THE IMPACT SHE COULD MAKE, SHE FOUND HER CALLING AND PURSUED A CAREER IN EDUCATION.
As a graduate of Damen College, Ruchi earned a master’s degree in Special Education and post graduate training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
Her professional journey began as a school educational specialist, where she saw an overwhelming demand for additional services and the lack of available educational specialists. Motivated by the need for a more comprehensive approach, Ruchi Feller co-founded Yes I Can — a groundbreaking organization offering comprehensive special education assistance.
Today, Ruchi serves as Yes I Can Program Director, while Simcha Feller, co-founder and her husband, directs executive organization development.
Simcha’s own academic challenges helped him understand first-hand what children with learning disabilities experience. Simcha was fortunate because his parents sought an individualized learning plan during and after school to support him.
His childhood friend Yisorel L. faced similar difficulties in school. Yisorel required individualized support to keep up with his classmates and progress to the next grade. However, unlike Simcha, Yisorel’s parents did not pursue the additional help, perhaps not realizing its significance. Sadly, Yisroel became increasingly unable to function effectively in society.
Yes I Can provides educational support to children whose parents are struggling to keep them in mainstream schools. Currently, serving over 145 schools and more than 1,500 students, Yes I Can methodology pairs individualized services with specialized techniques. Using expert external consults, Yes I Can helps restore parents’ faith.
YES I CAN SERVICES INCLUDE
P3/SETSS (Special Education Teacher Support Services): Legally mandated educational aid for children with disabilities. Children are assessed, and appropriate goals with proper treatment plans are set ensuring progress in mainstream environments.
SEIT (Special Education Itinerant Teacher): New York State Certified special education professionals assisting students with academic, emotional, and social skill disabilities. SEIT professionals interface with teachers, meet with students’ parents, and assess students in classrooms to develop individualized strategies for each child.
Paraprofessional Services: Paras offer instructional and behavioral assistance, catering to special education needs or those under a federal 504 plan. Our paras work with students to ensure health and learning needs are met. Health paras are trained to monitor children and to administer medication.
Oral Transliteration Services: Communication support is provided for students with hearing impairments.
Social Groups: Interaction skills are taught under the guidance of skilled facilitators. In these settings, active listening, empathy, and respect are practiced, and reviewed.
Consulting Services: As part of our enrichment program, consultants provide no cost screenings. Our enrichment program connects students with top NYC professionals, ensuring access to high-quality third-party support.
More recently, Yes I Can established Yes I Care, a Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) program.
YES I CAN SERVICES INCLUDE
Caregiver/Family Advocacy and Support Services: Caregivers and families are trained to make informed and empowered choices for children struggling with developmental, medical, mental health, and/or substance abuse issues.
TESTIMONIALS
“I was worried sick that my child would grow up illiterate — since he was struggling so much with his reading. YIC helped teach him to read using the “LIPS” (Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing) program. My child now stays up late to finish the novels he loves reading! Thank you YIC for this incredible impact in our lives.”
Alex F.
“Note taking and essay writing were very difficult for my eighth grade child. YIC intervention taught him to improve his writing, sentence structure, and grammar skills, giving him confidence. Seven years later, my son is now in college getting his degree in special education to help other children!”
Sondra B.
“Sammy was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and was suffering socially. He couldn’t pick up the nuances of social cues or nonverbal skills, and he was a very black and white thinker. His supplemental educational specialist used the social thinking program techniques. They worked! Thank You YIC for caring and helping him succeed.”
Emily W.
Acclaimed nationwide, Yes I Can is steadfast in its mission to uplift students facing learning disabilities. The organization champions comprehensive solutions, promotes collaboration, and regularly upgrades its training modules. With ambitious plans for growth, Yes I Can remains steadfast in its dedication to ensure every child’s academic success.
The combination of Ruchi’s professional training and Simcha’s personal experiences have made Yes I Can one of the nation’s premiere providers of educational support for children with learning disabilities and related issues. For more information, visit the official Yes I Can website: Yesicanservices.com.
