Racker (Cortland) (Owego) (Ithaca)

About

Franziska Racker Centers is a voluntary not-for-profit dedicated to creating opportunities for people with disabilities and their families. Throughout the organization's history, our goal has always been to be responsive to the needs of individuals not only to provide services, but also to offer each person and family opportunities for growth and learning. Our founding in 1948 was based on valuing diversity and on appreciating the many things all people have in common. Our mission and vision and our guiding principles as well as the Circle of Courage universally apply to all people, including those we serve and those in our employment. Racker Centers currently serves over 3,000 individuals and their families with approximately 200,000 individual services from our main service areas: Early Childhood, Clinical, Mental Health, Community Support, Residential and our Learning Initiative. We have over 30 sites in Tompkins, Cortland, and Tioga Counties. We employ more than 750 people, making Franziska Racker Centers one of the larger employers in our area. Licensed by five state agencies, Racker Centers offers a range of services including: preschool special education, clinical therapies, mental health treatment programs, residential opportunities, and community support services. We serve people of all ages from newborns to senior citizens with diverse strengths and needs.

Services Provided

Independent/Community Living

• Housing/Residential services (e.g., apartment, low-income housing, supported apartments, groups homes, intermediate care facility, community residence, treatment facility)
• Supported living (e.g., in-home assistance, group living, family care, housing subsidy)
• Daily living skills (e.g., cooking, cleaning, budgeting, community habilitation)
• Recreation (e.g., parks, sports centers, arts programs, summer camps, social groups, day habilitation programs)
• Home modifications (e.g., ramps, environmental control, accessibility modifications)
• Financial assistance (e.g., public assistance, financial literacy, social security benefits)
• Transportation (e.g., public transportation, driving instruction, vehicle modification, medical appointments)
• Food security (e.g., food pantries)

Healthcare

• Health specialists serving youth with disabilities (e.g., developmental pediatrician, occupational therapist, physical therapist, behavioral support, speech therapy, clinical evaluation, dentistry, music therapy, health insurance navigators)
• Mental health (e.g., crisis intervention, clinics, social work, stabilization center, treatment facility, substance abuse, mobile mental health)

Family Supports

• Support groups (e.g., parents, caregivers, siblings, peers)
• Educational resources for families (e.g. special education, disability specific resources, adult service systems)
• Evaluations (e.g., psychological, neurological, assistive technology, developmental)
• Respite services (e.g. temporary/relief care, emergency care)

Education/Training

• Preschool/early childhood programs
• School-age programs (e.g., Career & Technical Education, Alternative Schools)

Other Services

• Advocacy (e.g., special education, supported decision-making, young adult self-advocacy)
• Assistive Technology

Supported Age Ranges

• Early childhood (0-5)
• School age (5-18)
• Young adult (18+)

Counties Served

• TIOGA
• BROOME
• CORTLAND
• TOMPKINS