SEPAG UPDATE:
SPF SEPAG Meeting Recap-The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Special Education Parent Advisory Group held our October meeting on Monday 10/16. The meeting consisted of a review of the SEPAG's actions for the past year, which recapped the work being done by SEPAG, as well as actions taken by the District based on Parent/Caregiver feedback that was shared with the District by the SPF SEPAG.
School Liaisons reported in and shared actions being taken in some schools by Principals to be inclusive and responsive to Parent/Caregiver feedback.
During the Q&A session Participants, including those who attended virtually, were able to ask questions and engage in discussions with SEPAG and District members.
In the coming days the meeting notes will be shared via the SPF SEPAG site and the presentation will be shared via our website and Facebook page.
UPCOMING MEETING INFO:
The November SPF SEPAG meeting is scheduled for Monday Nov. 23rd at 7pm. The meeting will be in person as well as with a virtual option for those that cannot attend in person. The meeting link and other meeting dates can be found here.
We aim to gather parent/caregiver feedback for this school year, as it is our goal to provide informed input that can shed light on systemic matters and is useful to and actionable by the district. If you are new to the SPF SEPAG, or are a parent/caregiver of a child receiving services in/out of the district, this form can be used to communicate information with us so that we can share with the district. Feel free to share with any other parents/caregivers that may find this communication useful. Remember that case specific information should be shared with your Child's case manager.
SPF HIGHLIGHTS:
Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools Caregiver's Corner- Fall Volume 1
SPECIAL EDUCATION RELATED RESOURCES AND EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEK. SEPAG recognizes that as parents and caregivers time is limited, therefore the majority of the events we share are online events:
Monday, Oct. 23rd
10am-The Arc of NJ- Mondays With Michael (FB live).Which Placement is Best for My Child? Mondays with Michael is a Facebook Live series that addresses individual topics related to special education. Episodes take place every Monday at 10am during the school year and feature a 10-15 minute discussion with The Arc of New Jersey's Director of Children's Advocacy, Michael Pearson Jr
Tuesday, Oct. 24th
7:30pm-The Center for Parent Information and Resources-Understanding Shifting Laws in College Transition for Students with Disabilities: A detailed look at the laws in place and how they lead to changes in the disability accommodations system at college, including what accommodations are typically available.
Wednesday, Oct. 25th
4pm-Scotch Plains Library-Paw Buddies. Children are invited to practice their reading with a trained therapy animal at this program. This event will be held in the basement of the library. This program is for emerging readers who are in K-5th grade.
Thursday, Oct. 26th
10am-RWJBarnabas-A Medical Overview of Autism Spectrum Disorders
3:30pm-The Reading League NJ Chapter- TRL New Jersey Public Meeting-Please join TRL NJ board members to learn about TRL NJ's impact on the literacy landscape and share your ideas for future projects
6pm-Financial Aid Information Session-Join Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter for an informative FAFSA workshop in partnership with the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA)
UPCOMING EVENTS:
10/4-11/8-Union County Rec Programs for people with Special Needs-Yoga, Ceramics and Developmental Golf for Teens And Adults With Disabilities And Special Needs.
Oct. 30th, 7pm-Scotch Plains Library-Conservation in the Classroom
Oct. 30th, 6pm-The Arc of NJ-Turning 18: What Every Parent of a Child with Disabilities Needs to Know (Guardianship, Entitlements & Waiting Lists)
Nov. 2nd-SPAN's NJTSS-ER - Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences: Discussing Early Reading
Nov. 7th, 7pm-SPAN-SPAN Awareness
MONTHLY THEMES:
Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
& "Disability History and Awareness Month" in New Jersey
The Learning Resource Center (LRC) Network is a project of the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education funded through IDEA Part B funds. The materials and resources at the LRC's are provided to support the education of students with disabilities, helping them to succeed and to achieve in the least restrictive environment. LRC shares these resources as a part of it's Learning Disabilities Awareness and Disability History Month theme for the month of October:
What is neurodiversity? Understood writer Amanda Morin defines neurodiversity and provides resources to dive deeper into understanding the brain and neurodevelopmental differences such as ADHD and dyslexia, as well as the difference between neurodiversity and disability.
Executive Functioning and Neurodiversity-Part of the LRC-South's Neurodiversity Informational Series with Dr. Amy Accardo, this PL Short focuses on neurodiversity in education, explains executive functioning, and discusses strategies to improve executive functioning skills.
Dyslexia success stories-The Understood Team curated this list of success stories with the hope that it would be a source of inspiration for kids with dyslexia. Explore personal stories of teenagers, authors, actors, scientists, entrepreneurs, designers, athletes, and others sharing their experience with dyslexia. See also their curated list of ADHD success stories.
The New Jersey Transition Toolkit-Designed to assist school staff and students with disabilities and their families in their efforts to prepare students with disabilities for entry into a successful adult life after high school, as students "transition" from school to adult life.
National Bullying Prevention Month - PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center-Activities for families, schools, and community members to support bullying prevention. Resources include bookmarks, posters in English and Spanish, lesson plans for elementary and middle/high school students, and a four-week activity kit for K-12 classrooms. To prevent bullying all year long, check out their resources for parents, kids, and teens!
IN THE NEWS, BROADCASTS AND UPDATES:
NJDOE-HIB 338 Forms for Parents and Caregivers Now Available in Multiple Languages
NJDOE-Online Safety Tips for Parents and Caregivers - Now Also Available in Spanish
NJDOE-High School Study Abroad Scholarships
TOOLS YOU CAN USE:
Center for Parent Information and Resources-IEP Tip Sheet: Age of Majority. This tip sheet introduces and briefly defines age of majority. The age of majority is defined by state law and is the age at which the child is no longer a minor and assumes rights and responsibilities to make certain legal decisions. The tip sheet includes a brief summary of federal regulations, common questions, and additional resources. Check with state law for specific information about age of majority in your state.
AT YOUR LEISURE:
Center for Parent Information and Resources-Webinar | U.S. Department of Education: Advancing Digital Equity for All
NJ Coalition for Inclusive Education-The Inclusion Think Tank Podcast. Episode 31: Special Education, Is Not a Place, It Is a Service
READING NOOK:
Differently Wired: A Parent's Guide to Raising an Atypical Child with Confidence and Hope.
The information on this website/newsletter is for general informational purposes only. SPF-SEPAG makes no representation or warranty, express or implied. Your use of the information is solely at your own discretion. This website/newsletter may contain links to third party content that are not controlled or operated by the SPF SEPAG. Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for those websites.
