The Shield Institute

The Shield Institute
144-61 Roosevelt Ave.
Flushing, NY 11354
*Special education services & Article 16 Clinic

Additional locations:

Agency Contact
Dr. Susan Provenzano
Executive Director
718-939-8700 x1310
sprovenzano@shield.org
www.shield.org

Nature and purpose of agency
Founded in 1921, The Shield Institute is one of the oldest leading providers of services to individuals with developmental disabilities in New York City.  The Shield provides services to over 1,700 individuals annually.  Services include:
•    special education program for preschoolers age 3-5, and school age services for ages 6-21
•    adult day services (center-based and community-based activities)
•    Medicaid service coordination
•    Article 16 clinic (counseling, occupational, physical, speech and rehabilitative therapy)
•    Pure Vision Art Studio: a professional art studio for artists and artisans with disabilities

Tasks available for students
Special education program
Assist teachers in their classrooms (preschool and K-12).  Assist teachers develop augmentative communication materials (picture boards, objects and computers) for use in the classroom.

Adult day services
Assist in planning and implementing social and recreational activities.

Article 16 Clinic
Assist psychologists, social workers, speech therapists and counselors in taking baseline data. 

Pure Vision Art Studio
Support adults with developmental disabilities in creative activities.

Time requirements
Minimum commitment of 20 hours per semester.

Student awareness/special instructions
Students need to complete a volunteer application provided by The Shield Institute.  Students may need to complete a criminal background check, depending on number of hours of contact with clients.

Agency directions
Driving (Flushing Location)
Go north on Utopia Pkwy.  Take a left onto Horace Harding Expy N, nad then take the left ramp onto 495W.  Take exit 23/Main Street and take go right onto Main Street.  Turn right on Roosevelt Avenue (about 20 minutes by car).

Public Transportation (Flushing Location)
Take the Q31 bus from Utopia Pkwy and Kildare Rd, in the direction of Bayside.  Get off the bus at 47th Ave and 193rd St.  Transfer to the Q26 bus at 46th Ave and Hollis Court, in the direction of Flushing Main Station.  Get off the bus at Sanford Ave and Parsons Blvd.  Walk Northwest on Parsons Blvd toward Barclay St.  Turn right at Roosevelt Ave (about 40 minutes total).

For directions to other locations, please use googlemaps or hopstop.