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Brooklyn Letters IconBrooklyn Letters

1139 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn

4.9 56 reviews

  • Avatar Emily Matles ★★★★★ a week ago
    We would highly recommend Ally! Our son always asks about her, so very thankful to Brooklyn Letters for introducing us.
    ~ Emily, mom of Brooklyn 2 year old
  • Avatar T Ainsley ★★★★★ 5 months ago
    I cannot express how grateful and rewarding my experience with Brooklyn Letters has been. Her tutor Ms. Daria is so knowledgeable, amazing, kind and awesome. My daughter has made so much progress in Literacy and Math and it's all … More thanks to Ms. Daria. I know my daughter is sad that she can no longer work with Ms. Daria, as she looked forward to their sessions every week. Thank you again!
  • Avatar Natalie Levon ★★★★★ 4 months ago
    Nicole has been an amazing therapist!! She played a tremendous role in our daughter’s speech progress and overall development. She has come such a long way and we are so happy with the therapy she received!
  • Avatar Colin Peters ★★★★★ 6 months ago
    We could not be happier with the services Valerie provided! She is very thoughtful and knowledgeable and provided significant guidance to support our daughter's speech development outside of our scheduled sessions. She established … More a great working relationship with her, and she will definitely be missed! Your business model is amazing and it was an absolute pleasure working with Valerie. I've referred your organization and Valerie to the Executive Director of our daughter's school and friends/colleagues who are in need of speech therapy services.
  • Avatar Lil Amatore ★★★★★ 7 months ago
    Christina was absolutely wonderful. She went out of her way to win my son over and it worked. He looked forward to her visits and his speech improved so much under her care. She was super flexible and it’s clear she truly cares. We adore … More Christina and we’re going to miss her. Almost sad he improved so much! She’s simply amazing and we can’t say enough how great she is. I would recommend her services to anyone and everyone, without hesitation. Thank you so much for connecting us with her!
  • Avatar Heather Liljengren ★★★★★ a year ago
    We cannot say enough good things about Effie, the ASL teacher, who was so engaged and effective with our 2 year old daughter from the very first session! Effie gladly included our whole family in the sessions! Her expertise and fantastic … More personality gave our daughter a way to communicate that she was so desperately seeking. The coordinators at Brooklyn Letters were so helpful and communicative…I would highly recommend their services!
  • Avatar Brigid Bower ★★★★★ 11 months ago
    Samantha Dalmas was fantastic! We saw her for a feeding therapy evaluation and while she doesn’t think my daughter needs more feeding therapy sessions at this time, but she gave me lots of tips to try. If my daughter's doctors want … More to see more progress at her next appointment, I wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to Samantha again.
  • Avatar Duygu Başaran ★★★★★ 11 months ago
    Brooklyn Letters was recommended to me through a friend's speech therapist friend in NJ. The articulation evaluation for my daughter went well. We were pleased with Kristin's services.
  • Avatar Kelley Peters-Patel ★★★★★ a year ago
    Melissa was wonderful. Our daughter warmed to her immediately and by the time she left, had already started "practicing" some of the techniques Melissa had shown her. I will not hesitate at all to reach out to Melissa again, should … More the need arise.
  • Avatar R Elmore ★★★★★ a year ago
    Aileen was INCREDIBLY helpful to us, both in assessing possible origins of my grandson's food aversions, as well as informing us of various available interventions to consider.
    I can’t thank you and Brooklyn Letters enough for connecting
    … More us with Aileen. In all our feeding therapy journey we have not gotten anything near the kind of benefit that we did from her. Her knowledge, professionalism, and responsiveness have put us on the path of progress with my grandson and has also made us feel genuinely well cared for.
  • Avatar Christine Weiher ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    We were amazed with Allison! She met my son at 2 1/2 years old, not speaking much at all, and over a computer, and she was able to develop a bond and friendship, so much so that he would look forward to his weekly computer time with Allison. … More I was not sure how the speech therapy would go- but we are so happy that we tried it out and continued. It allowed my son to gain confidence in his speech, make a new friend :), and also give him the skills and a bit of understanding of how to shape his mouth or where to place his tongue to make the proper sounds. We were extremely happy with Allison- she was fantastic to work with.
  • Avatar Andrea Saffady ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    My sessions with Karen have been extremely helpful. My speech has improved tremendously. In fact, I just finished 2 hours of conducting interviews with a consulting client via MS Teams and I have an upcoming conference call. Both my … More neurologist and neurosurgeon remarked about how good my speech is. Much of the day it is perfect, although I still have some rough spots when I get tired or speak too quickly. One of my granddaughters is a speech pathology student at Ithaca College. She sat in on 2 sessions while she was home for winter break, and she was very impressed with Karen.
  • Avatar Jacob B ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We were delighted with Christie. First, and most importantly, our son made great strides under her guidance. So great, that we felt he no longer needed help! She was incredibly patient and kind with him and our son really responded to … More her. Christie was also great with me and my wife. She provided thorough and informative updates on our son's progress and which exercises she was using with him, so we could reinforce what she was teaching him. All in all, we had a fabulous experience with Christie and would highly recommend her.
  • Avatar Jessica C ★★★★★ a year ago
    Theo was wonderful and his work with my son has produced some progress. I am grateful for the services Theo provided.
  • Avatar Melissa Stevens ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    Highly recommend Jill. She is a total pleasure to work with. After a few months working with Jill, my son is reading above grade level and LOVES to read. Mission accomplished!
  • Avatar Demet Evren ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    Paige was great and we had been really happy with her. I would highly recommend her! I recommend Brooklyn Letters to whomever asks for a speech therapist.
  • Avatar Jeizel Rosenthal ★★★★★ 2 years ago
    Isabel was WONDERFUL and our son absolutely adored her, and he is making great progress with his reading and writing.
  • Avatar Lesley Duval ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Theo was fantastic with our 4yo son. We were very worried that his progress would fall off when we had to switch to remote sessions, but Theo kept our son happy and engaged through the screen. Highly highly recommend!
  • Avatar Samantha Packard ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    We've been working with Theo from Brooklyn Letters for close to 4 months now and the results are apparent; our daughter has vastly improved her speech in a relatively short amount of time. We make "Theo Day" a celebration … More in our house with pancakes for breakfast, and the enthusiasm is matched in the sessions. Theo is fun, patient, professional, and caring, and he gives us the tools to take the lessons beyond the session. Thank you Theo, and Brooklyn Letters, for helping our daughter express herself.
  • Avatar Travis Ricca ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    I worked with Alina to enhance my pronunciation, tone, and pacing while communicating socially and in a work environment. She was great to work with and clear about goals and learning objectives. The improvement from day 1 has been tremendous! … More
  • Avatar Enrico Bermudez ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    Cathy has been excellent with us and our son. We will sorely miss her. He has improved significantly with Cathy’s help. Cathy was a true partner with us, especially as we pursued additional help through our son’s school system.
  • Avatar Kayne Elisabeth Wilk ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We really loved working with Alina, she is so fantastic. Patient yet firm, and determined the best course of action very clearly and succintly for us. And it all transitioned so well to Zoom as well. I will definitely be back in touch for … More services for our other child after summer break!
  • Avatar Jen S ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Vera was amazing! My 11 yo daughter made progress so quickly and really looked forward to her sessions. She was kept motivated and engaged.
  • Avatar susie tofte ★★★★★ 3 years ago
    The work that Allison P. did with our daughter over the years has been invaluable to us. Our daughter had such a good relationship with Allison, and it allowed them to work really well together - even remotely these past 6 months. This … More year, Allison went above and beyond by helping us throughout the neuropsych eval we did, trying to re-open our daughter's IEP at her school, and eventually landing her at our chosen school. She was in contact with our daughter's teachers, with the neuropsychologist, and made herself available as a reference to speak on behalf of our daughter's learning differences.
    Allison stopped by our house last week to give our daughter cupcakes and say goodbye, and I literally cried with appreciation for what an amazing speech therapist she has been. She has been our daughter's biggest champion. The new families that she will work with this year are lucky to have her.
  • Avatar Alicia Perez-Katz ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Sydney was great! Our son was sad to end his sessions with her, which says a lot. We appreciated her honest assessment of his skill level, and he now has materials to self monitor and practice. Thank you!
  • Avatar Kristin Ames ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Our experience with Theo was terrific. Theo was great with my son. He developed a positive relationship with him based on sincerity, respect, trust and a deep personal connection. In their lessons, Theo was encouraging, creative and kind. … More He helped our son understand how to differentiate the sounds he made when he spoke, and gave him great exercises to practice every week between lessons. Our son was sorry to have the lessons come to an end, but recognized that Theo had helped him as much as possible and it was time for him to stop. Theo explained to him (and us) how to keep working to get the last 5%, and encouraged him to keep working on the exercises on his own. I have recommended Theo to another parent who noticed my son's improvement and inquired for her own son.
    We are all grateful to have gotten to know Theo, and we greatly appreciate all the work he did to help our son.
  • Avatar Aisha Holder ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    "I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Michelle Macroy-Higgins. We are extremely pleased with her work with our daughter. I was so grateful for my daughter to have a speech therapist who is a researcher (specialty in late … More talkers), graduate professor and practitioner. Her expertise was clearly evident in our conversations and work with our daughter. She was very responsive to my questions and often sent articles and other materials about language development that I found helpful. Thankfully, my daughter's speech improved tremendously. Michelle developed such a warm relationship with my daughter. My daughter was always excited to see Michelle and would greet her at the door with a big hug. Lastly, I would add that Michelle always demonstrated empathy with me as a mother who was initially worried about her daughter's language development. I could go on and on about how pleased we were with Michelle's work."
  • Avatar Andrea Peartree ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Theo is a wonderful Clinton Hill speech therapist. We were really pleased with him. Our son showed drastic improvement, not only in his speech but in his confidence.
  • Avatar mario costa ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    Alexa has been an enthusiastic, reliable, well prepared and caring teacher for our 6 year old daughter. She has been able to improve and increase our daughter's confidence lesson by lesson with patience and competence; through varied … More and productive didactic practice. Alexa has engaged our daughter in several activities that always kept her motivated and eager to learn literacy. My wife and I, both of us are educators, feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe Alexa's pedagogical skills. Alexa has had a big impact on our daughter literacy growth. Thank you Brooklyn Letters!
  • Avatar Lily Alt ★★★★★ 4 years ago
    We were absolutely DELIGHTED with Marsha's services. She was wonderful. We found her to be kind, fun, engaging, very knowledgeable. She provided us with clear instructions and additional written handouts each week. She engaged our … More son with different techniques and toys, and showed us how to use her techniques when we were interacting with him. I actually just texted her on Saturday - Our son finally said "more" - one of the target words we had been working on with her. It was a total joy to hear, and I had to share it with her - she wrote back immediately to congratulate us. I am so appreciative of her expertise, and wish we could have seen her for longer. I recommended her to another family in our neighborhood who is looking for a speech therapist.

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NYC Remote Special Education Advocacy & IEP Consulting with Derek at Brooklyn Letters

NYC Remote Special Education

Navigating the special education landscape in New York City can feel overwhelming. At Brooklyn Letters, we understand the challenges parents face, and we’re proud to introduce a truly differentiated service designed to empower your family, now available remotely.

Brooklyn Letters also owns and operates Manhattan LettersQueens Letters, and Staten Island Letters.

Meet Derek: Your Insider Advocate for NYC Special Education, Exclusively at Brooklyn Letters

What makes Derek unique, and why is he the unparalleled choice for families seeking comprehensive special education support through Brooklyn Letters?

Derek’s distinction lies in his real-life, day-to-day experience from inside the system. Unlike many who possess general knowledge or experience solely as a parent, Derek was an actual teacher and administrator who was deeply involved in CPSE and CSE meetings. He intimately understands the referral process all the way through to the meeting and beyond, providing an insider’s perspective that is invaluable. This means he can anticipate challenges, suggest effective strategies, and help you navigate the system with unparalleled clarity, ensuring your child receives a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Derek provides expert guidance through the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) and Committee on Special Education (CSE) processes, ensuring your child’s rights and needs are fully represented. For a step-by-step breakdown of what to expect, explore our detailed guide on how to prepare for your NYC CSE meeting.

Expertise Rooted in Real-World Practice & Academic Excellence

Derek brings a powerful blend of academic rigor and practical application to every consultation at Brooklyn Letters:

Beyond his extensive teaching experience, Derek’s expertise is significantly deepened by his roles as Director of Pupil Personnel Services for the Mount Pleasant Cottage Union Free School District (July 2024-present), Assistant Director of Pupil Personnel Services for the Port Washington Union Free School District (September 2022-June 2024), and CPSE Administrator in Brooklyn (August 2021-September 2022). In these leadership positions, he:
  • Chairs CPSE, CSE, and 504 meetings for district-wide students.
  • Oversees the IEP process for residential and day students within the district, and supervises Special Education programs.
  • Supervises related service providers (such as Speech Therapists, Psychologists, and Social Workers) for provision of mandated services.
  • Presents to Special Education Parent Teacher Associations (SEPTA) and coordinates Special Education extended school year programs.
  • Served as a Committee on Pre-School Education Administrator for NYC Department of Education, CSE 8 Brooklyn (August 2021-September 2022), where he chaired initial, requested, and annual review meetings on assigned caseload to recommend appropriate services in the least restrictive environment.
  • Collaborated with schools and agencies to improve the alignment and quality of IEPs.
  • Provided ongoing support to parents with the Special Education process and ensured their child is provided with quality services.

Derek also holds a Master’s in Professional Studies and a Professional Diploma in Educational Leadership from Manhattanville College. He possesses multiple New York State certifications, including Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6), Early Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities (Birth-Grade 2), and School Building/District Leader. As a current Director of PPS, he remains actively immersed in today’s educational environment.

He has extensive experience working with students diagnosed with ADHD, Autism, learning and emotional disabilities, and speech and language impairments across K-8. Derek excels at improving academic progress in English Language Arts and Mathematics, providing effective test-prep strategies, and fostering strong study skills. His data-driven approach, utilizing pre and post-assessments, work samples, and students’ current academic functioning, allows him to skillfully modify instruction through task analysis and multi-sensory approaches. Derek’s ultimate goal is to identify and address academic skills, break down complex tasks, and teach strategies for independent application—all with unwavering drive, patience, and commitment.

All of our Special Education Advocacy & Consultation Services with Derek are offered conveniently and effectively via secure remote sessions through Brooklyn Letters, allowing you to access expert support from anywhere.

Rates

Our advocacy services are billed at $175 per hour (remote only). To help families feel supported from the very beginning, we also provide a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your child’s needs and outline next steps.
Special Education Advocacy

Exclusive Complimentary Evaluation Review by Brooklyn Letters' Director & Owner, Craig Selinger

As an added value to families who sign up for our comprehensive special education services, Craig Selinger, Director and Owner of Brooklyn Letters, offers a complimentary review of your child’s key evaluations.

This free service provides an additional layer of expert insight into complex reports, ensuring you have a thorough understanding of your child’s needs. Craig’s review covers:

  • Neuropsychological Evaluations
  • Psychoeducational Evaluations
  • Speech-Language Pathology Evaluations
  • And other Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs)

Please note: Craig Selinger provides this in-depth review as a complimentary service to help families understand their child’s reports. Derek will be a dedicated professional working directly with you and your family on all aspects of special education advocacy and strategy, leveraging the insights gained from these evaluations.

A Collaborative Approach: Expanding Your Support Network

At Brooklyn Letters, we believe in a holistic and collaborative approach to your child’s success. While Derek provides unparalleled expertise in special education advocacy, we understand that some needs may extend beyond our direct scope. For these instances, we proudly collaborate with a trusted network of highly qualified professionals, including:

  • Neuropsychologists
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Physical Therapists
  • Independent Parent Advocates
  • Special Education Attorneys
  • And other specialists

This ensures that if your family requires services or expertise outside of what Brooklyn Letters directly offers, we can connect you with reputable professionals who share our commitment to your child’s well-being and educational progress.

Our Comprehensive Remote Special Education Services at Brooklyn Letters Include:

  • 1:1 Special Education Consultation: Receive personalized, in-depth guidance tailored to your child’s specific special education needs.
  • 504 Plan Development and Review Support: Navigate the creation and review of 504 plans to ensure appropriate accommodations and modifications are in place.
  • Assistive Technology Special Education NYC: Gain expert insight into identifying and leveraging assistive technology solutions within the NYC school system.
  • CPSE CSE Guidance & Advocacy: Comprehensive support and expert advice throughout the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) and Committee on Special Education (CSE) processes, ensuring proper eligibility determination and your child receives a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
  • CPSE CSE Meeting Representation: Have a knowledgeable, experienced advocate from Brooklyn Letters represent your child’s best interests during crucial CPSE and CSE meetings.
  • CPSE CSE Transition Support: Ensure smooth and effective transitions for your child between different educational stages, including the critical Turning 5 NYC meetings for preschool to kindergarten.
  • Educational Consulting for Learning Differences: Specialized consultation to understand and address your child’s unique learning styles and challenges, offering effective strategies.
  • Neuropsychological & Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) Review and Interpretation: Gain clarity on complex neuropsychological evaluation reports, psychoeducational evaluations, and Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs). Derek will help you understand findings, translate recommendations into actionable IEP goals, and strategically utilize these reports for effective advocacy. He also has experience administering educational evaluations using instruments like the Woodcock Johnson III.
  • Parent Rights & Procedural Safeguards Guidance: Understand your full rights as a parent throughout the special education process, including effective use of procedural safeguards under IDEA.
  • Related Services Advocacy: Guidance and advocacy for identifying and securing all necessary related services, including but not limited to Speech-Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), and Counseling Services.
  • Family Special Education Advocacy: Dedicated support and advocacy to secure the appropriate services and rights for your child with special needs within the least restrictive environment (LRE).
  • Finding Special Education Programs: Expert assistance in identifying and securing the most suitable special education programs for your child, including public and private options.
  • IEP Development Training: Empower yourself with comprehensive training on the nuances of IEP development, enabling you to be a more effective participant in your child’s Individualized Education Program. Our IEP development training sessions empower parents to confidently participate in their child’s Individualized Education Program. For additional strategies, read our blog on working with an IEP advocate in NYC, where we share practical tips for collaborating effectively with school teams and securing appropriate services.
  • Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Guidance: Understand and advocate for your child to be placed in their Least Restrictive Environment, promoting inclusion and appropriate support. We help families understand and advocate for their child’s Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), promoting inclusion and meaningful support. Learn more about how LRE decisions work within NYC schools and what parents can do to ensure their child receives appropriate placement.
  • NYC Public School Special Education Advocate: Focused advocacy specifically within the New York City public school special education system, leveraging deep local knowledge through Brooklyn Letters.
  • Parent Education Special Education: Gain vital knowledge through focused educational sessions designed to inform and empower parents on all aspects of special education.
  • Parent Workshops Special Education: Participate in engaging group workshops that provide valuable insights and strategies for navigating the special education journey.
  • Peer Support Special Education: Connect with a supportive community through peer support opportunities, understanding you’re not alone in your journey.
  • Post-Secondary Transition Planning Special Education: Prepare your child for success beyond high school with strategic planning for higher education, vocational paths, and independent living.
  • Special Education Paperwork Help NYC: Receive practical assistance with understanding and completing the often-complex special education paperwork in NYC.
  • Special Education Professional Development (for schools): Derek also offers professional development services to schools looking to enhance their special education practices and understanding.
Derek

Choose Brooklyn Letters with Derek for unparalleled insight, comprehensive support, and a truly unique advocate who understands the special education system from every angle. Let us help you unlock your child’s full potential.

Learn More About Navigating NYC Special Education

Continue building your knowledge with expert insights from Brooklyn Letters:

These guides provide valuable context and strategies as you partner with Derek and Brooklyn Letters to secure your child’s educational rights.

Prefer to call or email? Text or call (917) 426-8880 or email [email protected]

You’re Not Alone—We’ll Guide You Through Every Step

Parents often feel unsure about whether their child’s literacy challenges are typical or indicators of deeper decoding or spelling difficulties. Our literacy specialists will walk you through the entire assessment process—from reviewing prior evaluations to creating targeted, research-backed literacy goals. We make the process clear, supportive, and stress-free so you know exactly what your child needs next.

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