The North Merrick Special Education Parent Teacher Association recently donated five permanent communication boards to playgrounds at all three elementary schools in the North Merrick Union Free School District, expanding opportunities for inclusive play and social interaction.
The boards were installed at Camp Avenue School, Harold D. Fayette School and Old Mill Road School last month, following a fundraising effort led by SEPTA.
Laura Squillace, treasurer of North Merrick SEPTA and a former president of the organization, said the initiative grew out of a broader post-pandemic focus on inclusion and communication.
“Coming out of Covid, one of our biggest goals was making sure every child felt welcome and part of the community,” Squillace said. “Communication is such a huge part of that — not just playing together, but being able to express needs, feelings and ideas.”
Communication boards use simple images and symbols to help children communicate nonverbally. Squillace said they benefit students with speech or language challenges, neurodivergent students and children with disabilities, while also supporting younger children and community members who visit school playgrounds.
Kelly Croghan, president of North Merrick SEPTA, said the boards reflect the organization’s mission to foster empathy and inclusion across the district.
“North Merrick SEPTA is proud to announce the installation of communication boards in our schools,” Croghan said. “These boards help give a voice to students with communication challenges and promote understanding, kindness, and inclusion among all students. This is one way we’re working to ensure every child feels seen, heard, and valued.”
Cynthia Seniuk, superintendent of North Merrick Schools, thanked SEPTA for the donation and its impact on the district.
“We are incredibly grateful for the donation of communication sensory boards for all of our playgrounds by the North Merrick SEPTA organization,” Seniuk said. “Their thoughtfulness and generosity are deeply appreciated by our entire school district community.”
SEPTA members said the effects of pandemic-related isolation highlighted the importance of rebuilding social and communication skills for all children.
“We noticed that it wasn’t just special education students who experienced regression,” Squillace said. “Kids across the board lost that everyday interaction. In a small district like North Merrick, where children constantly see each other in school, sports, and activities, it was important to reunite them.”
The communication boards were funded through SEPTA’s annual March fundraiser, held last year at Dave & Buster’s in Westbury. Squillace said the organization raised about $4,800 to purchase and install the boards.
SEPTA fundraises throughout the year to support inclusive programming, previously donating books on autism, ADHD and anxiety to school libraries and exploring projects such as sensory walks.
Squillace credited the district’s administration for its support in bringing the project to fruition.
“The administration was incredible — from approvals to physically helping place the boards,” she said. “It truly was a team effort.”
SEPTA members said the boards are among the first of their kind in the Bellmore-Merrick area, reflecting a growing emphasis on accessibility and inclusion in public spaces.
The organization will hold its next annual fundraiser on March 6 at the Long Island Children’s Museum. The event is open to the public and will feature raffles, food, and full access to the museum.
“When people come to our events and support us, we want them to know their time and money are going somewhere meaningful,” Squillace said. “If this helps even one child feel included, it’s worth it.”
