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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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Click to follow us on social media! |
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Mondays with Michael Completes Season 2! |
Our Facebook Live Series Mondays with Michael concluded its second season after 40 weekly episodes. The season finale featured a discussion with Lisa Ford, Senior Director of The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute, about her program's resources and how they can assist families of individuals with IDD.
This season covered topics such as classroom placements, transition planning, parental rights, college options, and many more. All episodes have been recorded and are available in our Mondays with Michael Archive. Click the button below to view the recordings!
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A message from Michael Pearson:
Hi everyone,
I'd just like to thank you all for attending Mondays with Michael this season, and I hope the information provided each week was helpful to you and your families. The series received more than 6,500 views, with much of that success due to our viewers sharing the videos with friends and in Facebook groups.
Families are at the forefront of everything we do, and we will always create our content based on what they ask for. If there's a topic related to special education that you'd like to see featured next season, please feel free to contact me at mpearson@arcnj.org. I hope you all have a wonderful summer, and I'll see you in September for Season 3 of Mondays with Michael!
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Honoring Family Advocates |
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As an organization founded by families, The Arc of New Jersey is always proud to honor individuals who support a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD). Family members play a vital role in the lives of children with IDD, often becoming advocates for education, inclusion, and services. Every month, we will feature a parent or family member who has shown incredible advocacy skills related to special education. Our June Education Advocate of the Month is Nadia Niakian! We asked Nadia to share her experience as an advocate for her sons and included some of her responses below. |
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Bill Would Require Medicaid to Pay for Behavioral Services Offered Free to Students
"New Jersey would reimburse school districts statewide for behavioral health services provided to any student who receives Medicaid under a bill now moving through the Legislature.
Those services, which can include case management and health education, must be reimbursed by Medicaid regardless of whether the student participates in an individualized education program or if the covered services are provided at no charge to the student.” Read more here.
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For Teens with Autism, Transition Goals Often Lacking
"The vast majority of teens with autism have transition plans as part of their individualized education programs, but a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study finds that these plans often miss one crucial element.
In a review of health and education records for 322 teens with autism in three states, CDC researchers found that 92% had a transition plan in their IEP by age 16. Nearly all included goals related to employment and education or training after high school as required under federal special education law.
However, only 41% of teens with autism had a goal related to post-high school living arrangements, according to findings published this month in the journal Pediatrics." Read more here.
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Updated Parental Rights in Special Education (PRISE) Guide from NJDOE |
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The New Jersey Department of Education has updated the Parental Rights in Special Education Guide for 2023. Commonly known as the PRISE guide, this document is one of the most valuable tools that a family can use to learn about the IEP process, dispute resolution, transition planning, or anything related to special education in New Jersey. School districts are required to provide parents with a copy at least once a year (usually at the annual IEP meeting) and any time a decision is made about a child's IEP. Click the button below to get the 2023 PRISE Guide. |
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ACCESS Program at Hudson County Community College |
The ACCESS (Accessible College and Continuing Education for Student Success) Program is a ten-week training program for youth who have been diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability, and are seeking academic or workforce pathway training.
10-Week Program Includes:
- Life and Coping Skills
- Computer Basic Skills
- MS Excel Basics
- MS Word Basics
- Career Planning
- Work Readiness Tools
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Assistive Technology Demonstration on July 6th. |
Want to see a variety of assistive technology devices in action? The Community Living Education Project (CLEP) will host a FREE webinar for self advocates, families, and professionals who support people with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
During this webinar, experts from The Richard West Assistive Technology Advocacy Center (ATAC) will demonstrate devices, apps, and software that address Visual impairments & Deaf/Hard of Hearing Supports.
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3rd Annual Family Day Out |
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Thanks to a generous donation from Raising Hope for Others, Inc., The Arc of New Jersey hosted its 3rd annual Family Day Out on June 11th at ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood. More than 100 individuals with IDD, family members, and DSPs gathered to watch the Jersey Shore BlueClaws take on the Hudson Valley Renegades. Although the BlueClaws lost 1-0, that didn't stop attendees from enjoying a beautiful day at the ballpark. Check out some photos from the event! |
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