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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.
Making up Special Education Services if the Student Graduated at the End of the 2019-2020 School Year
Many individuals have raised questions about students classified under the IDEA who turned 21 during the 2019-20 school year and/or accepted their diplomas at the end of the 2019-20 school year. They want to know if those particular students can still seek make-up services because they did not receive an appropriate education when the pandemic forced schools to shut down in March 2020.  

While those students may not be covered under S3434, a bill recently signed into law which added another year of eligibility for services under the IDEA for three classes of students, they still have options. Students who graduated at the end of the 2019-2020 school year can still pursue compensatory education if they file for mediation or due process within two years from the date they should have known the school district was not providing an appropriate education. Disability Rights New Jersey, in collaboration with New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, has published this guidance to help those students pursue compensatory education.
In The News
NJ student prisoners to receive significant boost in special education services
For the past four years, The Arc of New Jersey worked with Disability Rights Advocates from New York and the ACLU-NJ to file suit against the New Jersey Departments of Corrections and Education regarding special education services for individuals with disabilities in prison. According to a settlement of the suit preliminarily approved by the federal District Court for the District of New Jersey last month, the NJDOC will drastically improve the provision of special education services for people in its prisons. The agreement will overhaul special education services in New Jersey state prisons by mandating the implementation of newly created policies across the NJDOC and providing comprehensive monitoring by the NJDOE. The Arc of New Jersey is very pleased and thankful for this outcome and grateful for the work of our partner organizations on this effort. If you believe that you or someone you know is entitled to compensation as a member of this class action, click here for additional information about how to proceed. Read the full article here.
N.J. will offer 6 million masks to schools so they can comply with Murphy’s mask mandate
"The governor said the state will provide millions of KN95 and surgical masks, along with about 500,000 child-sized masks. They will be doled out on an as-needed basis and will be free of charge.
'We invite all public-school districts and nonpublic schools to request any masks they may need,' Murphy said during his regular COVID-19 briefing." Read more here.
Virtually Awesome
A Visual Guide to COVID-Proofing Your School
via edweek.org
These updated graphics distill the most recent guidance for schools on ways to curb the spread of COVID-19 through contact tracing, better ventilation, widespread testing for the infection, and procedures for keeping students safely distanced from one another on school buses.
Mission to Transition
Postsecondary (College) Go Bag

Students heading into their final year of high school have many choices to consider about their future. Some students will choose to seek employment, others will want to further their education by attending college. Our Postsecondary Go Bag gives students and their families valuable tools, tips, and information about transitioning from high school to college. It includes our transition checklist, strategies for success in education, and a list of available college programs for students with IDD.
Reality Tech
Seeing AI App for iPhones
Microsoft initially developed the Seeing AI app in 2017, and has been expanding it ever since. This app uses the camera on your device to identify people, objects and scenery, then audibly describes what the camera is viewing. It is currently available in 16 languages, and has also recently been updated to recognize currency, documents, and handwritten text.

Check out this video overview of the app:
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The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute | 732.828.2022 | thefamilyinstitute@arcnj.org
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