Respite Services
After School Respite
After School Respite Program currently serves school age children and young adults. It is designed to provide a program where persons with various disabilities (i.e. mental retardation, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury) can socialize and have fun. Activities vary from day to day and include cooking, games, holiday parties, field trips into the community and a week-long vacation with staff. The program currently has three locations: Hauppauge, Old Bethpage, and Setauket. The hours of operation are from 2:30PM to 5:00PM. Transportation is arranged for all participants.
I love coming to Respite because I get to be with my friends and go out in the community. I love to paint and color with my friends.
Marlin age 16, Consumer
Read What People are Saying
Helping Hands Behavioral Outreach, Inc.
(“HHBO”) is a unique and highly successful peer-mediated socialization program for children, teenagers & young adults with Autism & Developmental Disabilities ages 5-21, located in our Old Bethpage facility.
HHBO’s primary focus is teaching necessary life skills utilizing behavior analytic principles that are known to be effective when working with children and teens with Autism and developmental disabilities.
Staff include Board Certified Behavior Analysts, an Art Therapist, special educators, school counselors, social workers, as well as other specialists, and allow for a high staff to student ratio, as well as one to one support as needed.
HHBO also has a Peer Mentor Program, in which elementary and middle-school-aged children volunteer their time at our Saturday Socialization Program. The Peers participate and interact with the children in the Gym, Dancing, Art, Music, Cooking, and Games groups.
Programs Offered at HHBO
Saturday Socialization Program: a respite & recreation program with a peer mentoring focus,10 a.m. -3 p.m., full year, closed over school holidays.
After-School Recreation Program: Monday thru Friday, 3:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m., when school is in session, excluding school holiday and summer closures
Summer Respite/ Club Adventure: Usually 3 weeks. One in July and two in August
Vacation Respite: During school breaks
To learn more about Helping Hands Behavioral Center call 516-870-1692 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
FREE is one of the most rewarding programs I have ever had the pleasure of working at. The clients that FREE serves range in age from young children to older adults and every day working with them brings new and exciting experiences. I have been employed by FREE since February 2009 and was immediately welcomed by the staff and administration and I feel as if I have been employed here for years. With plenty of opportunities to grow in employment, and the exceptional clients makes FREE a great work environment.
John M.
For information about overnight respite services, please click here.