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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.
Checklist for Additional School Year Under S3434
As you may have heard, Governor Murphy signed Senate Bill 3434/A5366 into law on June 16th. The law will allow certain students receiving special education services to remain in school an extra year to make up for learning loss caused by the pandemic. The Arc of New Jersey spent months advocating in support of this bill, testifying before many committees and engaging our grassroots to urge the Governor to sign it. The law extends the age eligibility for special education and related services to students attaining the age of 21 during the 2020-2021 school year, the 2021-2022 school year, and the 2022-2023 school year, provided that the parent of the student and the IEP team determine that the student requires additional or compensatory special education and related services, including transition services.

Although we are thrilled about the signing of this bill, we want to make sure that families are prepared to request the additional year from their school districts. Below is a checklist of the next steps for families who want to request the additional year. Click here to download the checklist.
In The News
NJ to Offer Extra Year of Special Education for 8,700 Students Due to Covid
“We recognize that the pandemic has been especially hard on the roughly 8,700 students this will impact and who have may not have the full set of transitional skills and job training they need for adulthood." Read the full article here.
In Pandemic School Year, Special Education Gets Renewed Scrutiny
"Serving close to 200,000 students with a wide range of disabilities and needs, New Jersey's special education system is getting a lot of new attention — and likely funding — from Trenton. They come as the Murphy administration and the Legislature look to expand services and capacity in the wake of the pandemic."
Virtually Awesome
Family Institute Summer Zoom Series
Due to the enormous success of our Zoom With Us Series, The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute will be hosting a brand new Zoom With Us Series this summer! Each month we will present on different topics that affect children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Featured topics this summer will include:
An Overview of The ABLE Act
June 22nd, 6pm

Guidance for Guardianship and Alternative Options
July 27th, 6pm

Accessing Services Funded by DDD
August 24th, 6pm
Can't We All Just Get Along? Conflict Resolution
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
2:00 - 3:00 pm

This webinar will cover how to identify and diffuse conflicts that you may experience in your everyday lives. It will cover how to communicate in a healthy way and resolve tense situations. Case examples will be presented for participants to brainstorm conflict resolutions. This webinar is presented by Erin Smithers, Information and Referral Coordinator for NJ Self-Advocacy Project.
Mission to Transition
Making Action Plans for Life and Career (MAPS) Club

The Planning for Adult Life Program is pleased to offer FREE live virtual Making Action Plans sessions for high school students in special education. These "live" online classes will begin the week of July 6, 2021 and run through August 13, 2021.
Each class will last 50 minutes and include:
  • 5-minute ice-breaker activity
  • 5-minute review of the prior lesson
  • 25-minute skill-building (presentation of skill, discussion, and student practice)
  • 10-minute game playing/interactive activity
  • 5-minute feedback and assignment of generalization activity outside of the session. 
Sessions include a weekly student small group class over 10 weeks. There are a total of 10 group classes.
Reality Tech
Makers Roundtable with ATAC
Monday, July 12th at 12:00 pm

The Richard West Assistive Technology Advocacy Center (ATACT) of Disability Rights New Jersey is hosting a virtual roundtable to discuss made or modified devices. Please join the event if you have ever made or modified a device that has helped someone. All types of Assistive Technology and ideas are welcome. Share your discoveries, learn something new, and help someone else. 

Facilitated by Scout Merry, AT Specialist, Missouri Assistive Technology Project
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The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute | 732.828.2022 | thefamilyinstitute@arcnj.org
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