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The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute provides caregivers with the necessary resources and education to access the appropriate supports and services for their loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
DDMH Learning Community Meeting
Return to School: Resources for Students
Date: Friday, August 16th
Time: 10 am to 12 pm

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased stress, fear, and worry for many families. Making the transition from home to school can create extra challenges, and may be harder for youth with developmental, behavioral, or emotional challenges. 

Our Director Lisa Ford will join Raina Graham, M.Ed. and Karen Rea from Rutgers Behavioral Health to discuss resources and supports, including the use of Social Stories, to assist families in making a successful transition to in-person learning.
In The News
NJ pumps $125M into special-ed programs to help schools that 'do the right thing'
"The funding, known as extraordinary aid, is available to districts when individual students’ needs eclipse $40,000 a year and intensive services such as one-on-one instruction or therapy are required." Read the full article here.
Challenges for children with autism spectrum disorder on return to in-person learning
"We may be in the thick of summer but a lot of parents are already thinking about the transition back to in-person learning for their kids this fall. Health experts say making the switch will likely be more difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder, who faced significant obstacles trying to adapt to virtual school during the pandemic. Skills that took years to learn may have slipped away during the enforced isolation of the pandemic." Read more here.
Virtually Awesome
Zoom With Us: Accessing DDD Services

Date: Tuesday, August 24th
Time: 6 to 7 pm
In the final part of our 2021 Summer Zoom Series, we will discuss the different services available through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), and how to access them. This session will be particularly helpful for parents who have children graduating high school or anyone who wants to learn more about the DDD Supports Program and how it supports independent living in the community.
Special Education Virtual Mini-Conference

Date: Wednesday, August 18th
Time: 1 to 5 pm
Presented by the NJ Department of Education and the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, this mini-conference will cover important considerations related to students with disabilities and special health care needs and school buildings re-opening. Attendees will also have an opportunity to submit questions in advance of the event.
Mission to Transition
Key Questions for School Reopening

The Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) has created a list of questions that parents can ask their school district or IEP team to ensure that the specific needs of their children are taken into consideration. This list was initially developed for the 2020-2021 school year, but will be just as helpful for the return to school this September.
Reality Tech
8 Examples of Assistive Technology and Adaptive Tools
Assistive Technology (AT) is one of the core strategies schools use to help with learning and thinking differences. Some adaptive tools are low-tech and some are pretty fancy. Here are some common examples:

Audio players and recorders
It may help your child to be able to listen to the words while reading them on the page. Many e-books have audio files, and smartphones and tablet computers come with text-to-speech software that can read aloud anything on your child’s screen. If kids struggle with writing or taking notes, an audio recorder can capture what the teacher says in class so they can listen to it again at home.

Timers
From wristwatches to hourglass timers, these inexpensive devices help kids who have trouble with pacing. Timers can be used as visual aids to show how much time is left to complete an activity. If kids have difficulty transitioning from task to task, timers can help them mentally prepare to make the switch.
Early Childhood Reopening Resources
The Center for Parent Information is pleased to host this collection of resources relevant to reopening early childhood programs and settings for young children with developmental delays and disabilities, ages 3-8.

The collection mindfully spotlights materials, videos, and webinars produced by the 5 early childhood centers funded by the Office of Special Education Programs that early childhood programs can use to guide their reopening efforts. For practitioners, working in person again with families and their young children must seem like a welcome return to what’s familiar and known. However, much has changed, ourselves not least of all.
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The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute | 732.828.2022 | thefamilyinstitute@arcnj.org
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