Inclusive Services

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Inclusive Services Brooklyn Public Library is committed to providing inclusive services for children and teens with and without disabilities. at Leonard St.
718-349-8504

Call 917.751.4890 for more information, and to let us know how we can help your child participate fully. Locations can be found at the following Brooklyn Public Libraries and virtually at bklynlibrary.org/Inclusive Services:

Red Hook Library
7 Wolcott Street
718.935.0203

Greenpoint Library
107 Norman Ave.

"You know your child best."
11/02/2026

"You know your child best."

In New York City, 87% of parents believe their child reads at or above grade level, and 81% believe their child is at or above grade level in math.* Yet, only 59% of NYC students actually are.** Parents want to see their kids confident in reading and math - check out how you can help them build thei...

Business and Career Center’s: Community Connection Resource FairThu, Nov 5 2026 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Central Library, Lobb...
11/02/2026

Business and Career Center’s: Community Connection Resource Fair
Thu, Nov 5 2026
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Central Library, Lobby Gallery
10 Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11238

Come and meet the community partners of BPL's Business & Career Center and Adult Learning Department!

At this event, participants will be able to learn about the different community resources available to them, including small business counseling, career help and workforce training opportunities.

There will be something there for everyone to engage with and learn about!

Partners to be announced shortly.

Registration not necessary but requested.

Come and meet the community partners of BPL's Business & Career Center and Adult Learning Department! At this event, participants will be able to learn about the different community resources available to them, including small business counseling, career help and workforce training opportunities. Th...

Your next chapter starts here. The Transition Summit is a chance for NYC families of students with IEPs or 504 Plans to ...
11/02/2026

Your next chapter starts here. The Transition Summit is a chance for NYC families of students with IEPs or 504 Plans to explore what’s next, meet the people who can help, and get personalized guidance—all in one place.

Saturday, November 7th
10 am to 2pm
John Jay College

On November 7, NYC families of students with disabilities can explore postsecondary options, attend workshops, and get personalized support.

Book Launch: YOU'RE NO BETTER by Andrew Joseph WhiteMon, Nov 2 2026 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Leonard Library81 Devoe St. at Leo...
11/02/2026

Book Launch: YOU'RE NO BETTER by Andrew Joseph White
Mon, Nov 2 2026
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Leonard Library
81 Devoe St. at Leonard St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Important note: A free RSVP must be obtained from the linked Eventbrite (blue "Register" button)! A waitlist and walk-ins may attend depending on remaining space. This event is free and open to the public and all ages, but will be in high demand! Books will be available for purchase on site from The Twisted Spine if you would like to buy a copy!

We're thrilled to welcome best selling author Andrew Joseph White to Brooklyn Public Library in partnership with The Twisted Spine in conversation with audiobook narrator Lachlan Watson (THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA) on November 2!

About YOU'RE NO BETTER:

Bestselling author Andrew Joseph White returns with another horrific YA thriller: a profound portrait of a struggling teen trying to convince the world—and himself—that he’s better than the serial killer who raised him.

Morgan Slaughter, a seventeen-year-old trans boy with autism, put his serial killer father in prison years ago. Despite that, everyone thinks Morgan will grow up to be just like his dad: including his volatile mother, the documentary crew following their family, and maybe himself.

Desperately, Morgan latches onto his father’s final victim—the only one who was never identified—hoping that if he unravels the mystery, he’ll finally prove he’s better than the man who hurt him. But this puts Morgan in the crosshairs of classmate Felicity Keating, who knows the truth about Morgan’s childhood—that he wasn’t just a witness to his father’s brutality, he was an accomplice. And if he doesn’t let them help with his investigation? They’ll tell everyone.

Forced to confront his past, Morgan’s ugly but carefully controlled world unravels. The film crew is manipulative. His mother’s temper spirals into malice, then violence. And Morgan and Felicity may be more tightly intertwined than either of them can stomach . . .

You’re No Better is a gritty and unapologetic coming-of-age suspense about teens who grew up surrounded by cruelty and are clawing their way to adulthood the only way they know how.

Important note: A free RSVP must be obtained from the linked Eventbrite (blue "Register" button)! A waitlist and walk-ins may attend depending on remaining space. This event is free and open to the public and all ages, but will be in high demand! Books will be available for purchase on site from The...

Energy AssistanceWhat is HEAP?The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-inc...
11/02/2026

Energy Assistance
What is HEAP?
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income homeowners and renters heat and cool their homes.

HEAP consists of five seasonal components benefits: Regular HEAP Benefit, Emergency HEAP Benefit, Cooling Assistance Benefit, Clean and Tune Benefit and Heating Equipment and Repair and Replacement (HERR) Benefit.

Regular HEAP Benefit
The 2026-2027 Regular HEAP benefit is scheduled to open November 2, 2026.

If you are eligible, you may receive one regular HEAP benefit per program year to help you pay for heating your home.

Eligibility and benefits are based on:

income,
household size,
the primary heating source, and
the presence of a household member who is under age 6, age 60 or older or permanently disabled.
Regular benefits for households that pay directly for heat based on actual usage are paid directly to the vendor that supplies the household's primary source of heat.

Your household may be eligible for a Regular HEAP benefit if:

A member of your household is a United States Citizen or Qualified Non-Citizen
Your household's gross monthly income is at or below the current income guides for your household size
You receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or
You receive Temporary Assistance (TA) or
You receive Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI Living Alone)
Learn more about the Regular HEAP benefit.

How to Apply:

You can apply for HEAP Regular benefit online, in person by visiting a HEAP office, or by mail.

Apply Online

Apply online on ACCESS HRA.
Scan your documents using the ACCESS HRA mobile app available for free on the iTunes Store (for iPhones) or the Google Play Store (for Android phones).
After you submit your application, you may be contacted to do an eligibility interview. You can do your interview over the telephone without having to come into a benefits access center.
You can check the status of your application by going to ACCESS HRA.
Apply in Person

You can apply in person by visiting a HEAP office or Outreach location near you.

Apply by Mail or Fax

You can fax your completed HEAP Application (LDSS 3421) to 917-639-2900 or mail to:

Home Energy Assistance Program/HEAP
P.O. Box 1401
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008
You can request an application be mailed to you by calling 718-557-1399 and HEAP will provide you with more information on eligibility, the application process, and required documentation.

Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement (HERR) Benefit
The 2026-2027 Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement benefit opened October 1, 2026.

What is HERR? The Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (HERR) benefit helps eligible homeowners repair or replace their furnace, boiler, and other direct heating equipment needed to keep their home’s main heating source working. HERR is only given to eligible applicants once every ten years.

How much is the HERR benefit? HERR benefit amounts are based on the actual cost to repair or replace a furnace, boiler, and/or other essential heating equipment, up to $4,000 for a repair and $8,000 for a replacement.

To Apply:

If you need a copy of the application mailed to you, or need additional help, please call the DSS One Number: 718-557-1399.

Return in person at a HEAP office
Fax to: 917-639-2900, or
Mail to:
Home Energy Assistance Program/HEAP
P.O. Box 1401
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008

Learn more about the Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (HERR) Benefit.

Emergency HEAP Benefit
The 2025-2026 Emergency HEAP Benefit closed on April 24, 2026.

If you are eligible, the Emergency HEAP Benefit can help you heat your home if you are in a heat or heat related emergency.

Emergency HEAP benefits and eligibility are based on:

income,
available resources, and
the type of emergency
You may be eligible for an Emergency HEAP benefit if:

Your electricity is necessary for your heating system or thermostat to work and is either shut-off or scheduled to be shut off or
Your electric or natural gas heat is off or scheduled to be shut-off or
You are out of fuel, or you have less than one quarter tank of fuel oil, kerosene or propane or have less than a ten (10) day supply of wood, wood pellets, corn, or other deliverable heat source.
and

Your household's gross monthly income is at or below the current income guides for your household size as posted in the table below or
You receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or
You receive Temporary Assistance (TA) or
You receive Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Living Alone and
The heating and/or electric bill is in your name and
Your household's available resources are:
less than $2,500; or
less than $3,750 if any member of your household is age 60 or older, or under age 6.
Learn more about the Emergency HEAP benefit.

How to Apply:

You can apply for HEAP Emergency benefit by telephone, or in person by visiting a HEAP office.

Apply by Telephone:

You can call the DSS OneNumber at 718-557-1399 and HEAP will provide you with more information on eligibility, the application process, and required documentation.

Apply in Person

You can apply in person by visiting a HEAP office or Outreach location near you.

Cooling Assistance Benefit
The 2025-2026 Cooling Assistance benefit closed on June 5, 2026.

If you are eligible, you may receive one Cooling Assistance benefit per applicant household for the purchase and installation of an air conditioner or a fan to help your home stay cool.

In circumstances where an air conditioner cannot be safely installed, a fan will be provided.

Only one air conditioner or fan, not to exceed $800 with installation for a window, portable air conditioner, or fan and not to exceed $1,000 for an existing wall sleeve unit, will be provided per applicant household. No additional HEAP cash benefits are available.

You may be eligible for a Cooling Assistance HEAP benefit if:

Your household's gross monthly income is at or below the current income guidelines for your household size as posted in the following table, or
You receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or
You receive Temporary Assistance (TA), or
You receive Code A Supplemental Security Income (SSI Living Alone), or
You received a Regular benefit greater than $21 in the current program year or received a Regular benefit equal to $21 during the current program year and reside in government subsidized housing with heat included in your rent, and
Your household contains at least one individual with a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by extreme heat, or
Your household contains a vulnerable member based on their age (elderly age 60 years or older, or young children under age 6) which meet all other component eligibility criteria, and
A member of your household is a United States Citizen or Qualified Non-Citizen, and
You currently do not have a working air conditioner or the air conditioner you have is five years old or older, and
You did not receive a HEAP funded air conditioner within the past five years.
Learn more about the HEAP Cooling Assistance Component benefit.

How to Apply:

You can apply for HEAP Cooling Assistance Component benefit online, in person by visiting a HEAP office, or by telephone. HEAP Cooling Assistance Component benefit applications will be accepted starting April 15, 2025.

Apply Online

Apply online on ACCESS HRA.
Scan your documents using the ACCESS HRA mobile app available for free on the iTunes Store(for iPhones) or the Google Play Store (for Android phones).
After you submit your application, you may be contacted to do an eligibility interview. You can do your interview over the telephone without having to come into a benefits access center.
You can check the status of your application by going to ACCESS HRA.
Apply in Person

You can also apply in person by visiting a HEAP office or Outreach location near you.

Apply by Telephone

You can call the DSS OneNumber at 718-557-1399 and HEAP will provide you with more information on eligibility, the application process, and required documentation.

Clean and Tune Benefit
The 2026 - 2027 Clean and Tune benefit will opened October 1, 2026.

What is clean and tune? Eligible households can receive energy efficiency services, which includes the cleaning of primary heating equipment but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper, and efficient operation of the heating equipment.

How much is the benefit? Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost to provide clean and tune services, up to a maximum of $500.

How to Apply:

You can apply for HEAP Clean and Tune benefit by telephone, or in person by visiting a HEAP office.

Apply by Telephone:

You can call the DSS OneNumber at 718-557-1399 and HEAP will provide you with more information on eligibility, the application process, and required documentation.

Learn more about the Clean and Tune benefit.

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income homeowners and renters heat and cool their homes.

Events for Youth & Families: LachiSat, Nov 14, 2026 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Central Library, Dweck Center10 Grand Army PlazaBr...
11/02/2026

Events for Youth & Families: Lachi
Sat, Nov 14, 2026
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Central Library, Dweck Center
10 Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11238


Experience Magnificent, the debut family music album from disability advocate and Grammy-nominated musician Lachi.

Centered on confidence, inclusion, and empowering young people to embrace what makes them unique, Magnificent is full of pop, hip-hop, and global rhythms that’ll make you want to dance and sing along, however that may look for you. With more than 70 collaborators, many of whom are artists with disabilities, neurodivergence, and other lived experiences, Magnificent is a recent expression in Lachi’s career making the music industry more inclusive for creators of all abilities.

Check out the lyric video for "Fidget" from Magnificent HERE.

RSVP is not required to attend and admission is first come, first served.

Named a USA Today Woman of the Year and in Forbes' Accessibility 200 list, Lachi has built a multifaceted career at the intersection of music, storytelling, fashion, and disability advocacy. Born legally blind, she is the founder of the U.N.-recognized RAMPD, which works to make the music industry more inclusive for creators and professionals with disabilities. Her work spans media, literature, and culture, from her PBS series Renegades to her award-winning book I Identify as Blind and her co-production of the GRAMMY-nominated album The Colors in My Mind.

Events for Youth & Families programs are made possible through generous support from the Estate of Pearl S. Reuillard in memory of her parents Yetta and Louis Schwartz.

Experience Magnificent, the debut family music album from disability advocate and Grammy-nominated musician Lachi.

"Universal pre-K would free up money that would otherwise be spent on childcare."
10/30/2026

"Universal pre-K would free up money that would otherwise be spent on childcare."

Jessica Pac urged policymakers to consider the impacts of early childhood education and whether it can help keep kids out of the system.

Just because someone looks good doesn’t necessarily mean they feel good.
10/30/2026

Just because someone looks good doesn’t necessarily mean they feel good.

"I don't look like the people who are in ads for hospitals, the people you typically think of when you think of being sick."

Our Halloween Night: A Free Picture Schedule and Story for Trick or Treating.A note for autistic adultsIf you are an aut...
10/30/2026

Our Halloween Night: A Free Picture Schedule and Story for Trick or Treating.

A note for autistic adults
If you are an autistic adult, all of this works for you too. A plan, a pair of headphones, and permission to leave early are good tools at any age.

Make it yours
Every child is different. Cross out steps you do not need. Add a photo of your own street. Tape the page to the fridge, or fold it into a pocket so your child can check it along the way.

For more ideas, read our earlier post, How to Make Halloween Work for Your Autistic Child, Your Way.

Happy Halloween from all of us at Autism Digest.

Halloween asks a lot of kids: costumes, dark streets, doorbells, and new faces. Our free printable, Our Halloween Night, gives your child an 8 step picture…

"A recent study, based on data from the National Survey of Children’s Health, found that kids with ADHD who experienced ...
10/29/2026

"A recent study, based on data from the National Survey of Children’s Health, found that kids with ADHD who experienced bullying every day had a 70 percent chance of having anxiety, compared to 35 percent for their peers without ADHD. The research also found that bullying and their parents’ mental health had a greater link to kids’ well-being than other factors like school resources or neighborhood safety. That’s why it’s so important to know the signs of bullying and to address it immediately. And since October is National Bullying Prevention Month, now’s the perfect time to talk about these issues with your child."

Kids with ADHD may be more sensitive to bullying than their peers a...

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