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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.
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New Jersey Supreme Court Committee Issues Opinion 57 Supporting Non-Attorney Advocates in Special Education |
In September 2020, the New Jersey Supreme Court's Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law released Opinion 56, making it more difficult for non-attorney advocates to assist families during special education proceedings such as Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings and Mediation conferences. Non-attorney advocates provide invaluable knowledge and assistance—at no cost—to families who need support navigating special education processes or cannot afford an attorney. Families, self-advocates, and organizations across the state, including The Arc of New Jersey, expressed overwhelming opposition to Opinion 56 and petitioned for its withdrawal by the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of parents and families across New Jersey, Opinion 57 was issued on April 14th, superseding Opinion 56 and supporting the role of non-attorney advocates in special education. Opinion 57 states that "non-lawyers may represent parents or children with disabilities in Office of Administrative Law contested special education cases provided they are qualified, submit an application, and do not charge a fee for the representation." It also grants non-attorney advocates the ability to advise, represent, and speak on behalf of families at IEP meetings and Mediation conferences. The Committee supported the efforts of organizations offering training for non-attorney advocates and encouraged the NJ Department of Education to initiate a certificate program in the future.
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Zoom With Us: What's in your IEP and How Do You Plan for Transition
Thursday, May 20, 2021
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Whether you’re preparing for your child’s first IEP meeting or you have been to several already, this presentation is for you. Join The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute as we discuss the IEP process, federal and state laws that regulate special education services, and discuss what your student’s IEP Transition Plan may include.
This is an online event. After you register, you will receive the link to join the meeting a few days before the event.
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New Special Education Webinars!
Join us in May for the two newest workshops in our 2021 Special Education Webinar Series.
Jeannine Brinkley, Director of Family and Professional Development for SPAN, will present Special Education in Charter Schools. This webinar will explore the similarities and differences between special education services in charter schools and "regular public schools." This webinar will take place on May 12th at 1:00 pm.
Our second webinar of the month will be Creating Supportive Behavioral Intervention Plans. We will focus on utilizing a student's strengths to build strategies that maximize their inclusion in the classroom with their peers. This webinar will take place on May 26th at 1:00 pm and is presented by Mary Katherine Hawryluk, School Psychologist for The New Road School in Somerset.
Click the button below to register for our Special Education Webinars!
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VIRTUAL College Tour: The Garden State Pathways (GSP) Program at Camden County College
Thursday, May 6, 2021
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Join The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute for a VIRTUAL tour of The Garden State Pathways (GSP) Program at Camden County College. The GSP Program is a post-secondary, transitional program sponsored by Camden County College in Blackwood, and designed for students with intellectual/cognitive disabilities. The program serves students eighteen years of age or older who are eligible for or received IDEA funding and are interested in learning a work-related skill, as well as enhancing their independence with life skills.
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N.J. advocates are seeking extended services for special-ed students who missed school because of the pandemic
"A bill cosponsored by State Senate President Steve Sweeney and Sen. Dawn Addiego (D., Atlantic) would allow students who would age out of eligibility in June to remain in school for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years. It was passed in March by the state Senate, 37-0." Read the full article here.
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Sent Home Early: Lost Learning In Special Education
Near the end of Delilah McBride’s second month of kindergarten in Taylor, Mich., her family received jarring news from her principal: Delilah would be allowed to come to school only in the morning. Someone would need to pick her up before noon every day, even as the rest of her peers continued learning and playing together. Read more here.
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5 Tips to Completing the DDD Application
Applying for services through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) may seem like a daunting task for a lot of families, especially because it happens in the midst of the transition to adulthood. We have created an infographic with five tips to help families navigate the DDD application process more easily. Click the image to download the infographic, and remember that you can always contact us if you need additional assistance with the application.
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A Family Guide to Participating in the Child Measurement Outcomes Process
The PACER Center has released a guide for parents and families about Child Outcomes in Early Intervention (EI), and how participating could benefit their child and families across New Jersey.
From the PACER Center:
As a parent of a young child who is in an early intervention (EI) or early childhood special education (ECSE) program, you want to be sure these services are helping your child develop and learn. These services are designed to make the most of each child’s potential, as well as to strengthen the family’s ability to help their child. But how can you know if your child’s early intervention or special education program is meeting his or her needs?
One way to learn more about your young child’s progress is through three “child outcomes” that are measured for every child in the United States who participates in an early intervention or early childhood special education program. These outcomes will help you know how well your child is developing and participating in activities at home, at school, or in the community. In addition to helping you measure your child’s individual progress, these outcomes are also used to measure how well your child’s early intervention or early childhood special education program is serving all children who are enrolled.
By participating in the outcome process, you are not only helping your own child but are also helping your district and state know how early childhood programs are performing overall. As the parent, you are a critical part of your child’s development and education, and this guide will help you understand and meaningfully participate in the outcome measurement process for your child’s program.
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Personalizing the Reading Experience
By customizing the display of information, you can reduce the effort it takes for your learners to read the information in web pages, ebooks, and other digital content. Your learners can then dedicate more of their mental resources to actually understanding the content.
The good news is that many of the features that previously required the purchase and installation of specialized software are now often included as standard options on the devices many of your learners already own. This makes the process of finding a good feature match for a learner that much easier (and less costly).
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