SPAN-ing the Decades

30 Things About SPAN
Fun Fact #4:

While SPAN began in a kitchen in Westfield, NJ, its reach and influence now extends beyond the state to the entire US, its territories and outlying islands, and abroad to other countries. We are involved in several international efforts to educate parents and advocacy groups and to help them implement systems change in their schools, communities, and local and national governments.
Through its various projects, SPAN's reach includes the continental USA, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands,
Yap, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

SPAN's International Influence

India
SPAN's Deepa Srinivasvaradan and Garima Jain have coordinated with the South Asian Total Health Initiative on a statewide South Asians and Disabilities conference and training/information sharing around special education. Members of the SATHI have worked with the Indian government on setting up models for case coordination and early intervention education.
   
 Tanzania
Collaboration with the Anglican Church of Tanzania has included developing a project for finding families of children with disabilities and empowering them via local support groups to join with other families for support and advocacy. SPAN's Wendy Broadbent is currently working with a local school to help them replace corporal punishment with positive behavior supports.

China
SPAN has a relationship with disability advocates in China that involves sharing information about inclusive education and the role of parents and parent centers in ensuring implementation of IDEA. In addition to much other activity, SPAN was influential in helping  the China Disabled Persons Federation change their education platform to strongly support inclusion for all students with disabilities.  

Dominican Republic
Former SPAN staffer Luz Sautner has been working in the Dominican Republic on disability advocacy around their new disability law. Luz uses SPAN materials to train parents about special education and has plans to bring a delegation of parents to NJ to meet with SPAN and visit inclusive education programs.
  
Brunei
In 2016, SPAN hosted a Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative Fellow from Brunei (on the island of Borneo). She learned how to grow her organization, which provides services to children with autism and other developmental disabilities, and to engage parents as advocates for social change in Brunei. Reciprocally, SPAN's  Myriam Alizo spent two weeks in Brunei helping efforts around family support and engagement.

Donate to SPAN today and help us continue our national/international mission of educating children with disabilities and their families on their rights and and empowering them to be strong advocates in their communities and countries .
 
С уважением, 诚挚, S pozdravem, Taos-puso, Cordialement, Sincerely, με εκτιμιση, Sensèman, Cordiali saluti, Tọkàntọkàn,
 
Diana Autin & Debra Jennings
Co-Executive Directors
(And for this Hanukkah season, דאנק איר און צופרידן האַנוקקאַה)
 
~ Don't forget to make your year-end,
tax-deductible donation to SPAN ~

SPAN is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that relies on funds from a variety of grants and also from people like you--our partners and parents, our families and friends. Help SPAN reach even more families in t he next 30 years and beyond!
 
 
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