NIS, a not-for profit 4410 school, approved by the state of New York, began with a coalition of parents, community people and staff in 1976. The school has been granted an absolute charter by the New York State Regents to provide education and therapeutic services to all children from birth to five years of age.

At NIS, we believe in the rights of all children to grow and learn in a supportive environment, and the rights of parents to have a real voice in their children’s education. We are always willing to try new approaches that are compatible with our child-centered philosophy. We strongly believe each child, regardless of disability, ethnic background or socioeconomic status has the right to develop to his/ her fullest potential.

The name of our school was chosen to reflect our interdisciplinary approach to working with children and families. Every child and every family receives support from a team of professionals who together look at all aspects of development: cognition, communication, social/emotional, and sensory-motor.

In October 1995, NIS moved into a beautiful 35,000 square foot child-centered building, allowing us to expand services beyond preschoolers with a disability to include: nursery school, pre-kindergarten, Universal Pre-Kindergarten and a licensed child care program.  In 2019, we began offering enhanced group, center-based early intervention classes.  We also now offer classes in the Longwood, Sachem and Patchogue-Medford School Districts, as well as at the South Shore Children's Center in Islip Terrace.

NIS remains a circle of people who envelop those we serve with warmth, enlightenment and security.