Welcome to the Table Talk newsletter from The Arc of New Jersey's Children's Advocacy Program. Our May edition is filled with valuable advocacy resources as well as exciting opportunities and experiences for your family. For more information, please visit our webpage. | |
Advocacy with Adara on Facebook Live Update
Season Two is in full swing! Don't forget to view our archived episodes on Facebook.
New to the series? Each episode offers a friendly 10-15 minute chat on special education or services for children with IDD and their families. Tune in every other Monday during the school year at 12 pm on our Facebook page. No sign-ups needed, just drop by, watch, and don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments. We look forward to having you join us!
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Navigating the DDD System
Monday May 19th at 6:00 pm please join Alyssa Lacey, Transition and Employment Specialist, for an overview of the DDD service system, steps to complete the eligibility process, and Support Coordination - DDD’s care management model.
Sign up here
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Know Your Rights: Informal Removals and Psychiatic Clearances
On June 17th at 6:00 pm, join us for an important conversation with Lisa Quartarolo from Disability Rights New Jersey as she breaks down your rights when it comes to informal removals and psychiatric clearances in schools. This session will explain what informal removals are, why they’re problematic, and how they differ from formal disciplinary actions. Learn how to recognize when a psychiatric clearance request may violate your rights, and what steps you can take to advocate for yourself or your child. Whether you're a parent, student, educator, or advocate, this event will equip you with the knowledge to better navigate and challenge unfair practices in school discipline and mental health referrals. Sign up here.
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Children's Advocacy Virtual Office Hours
Virtual office hours are here to stay! Due to anticipated volume, sessions will be limited to 20 minutes and given on a first come, first served basis to ensure that we can accommodate as many families as possible.
Upcoming Virtual Office Hours :
May 19th at 12:30 pm
May 29th at 12 pm
June 5th, 11th, & 19th at 12 pm
Click to sign up
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The Children's System of Care- Assistive Technology Requests
The Children’s System of Care (CSOC) is pleased to announce the reopening of the Assistive Technology program for youth with intellectual or developmental disabilities up to age 21. Effective 5/13/2025, CSOC will resume accepting new Family Support Services (FSS) applications for Assistive Technology requests. Interested families may call Perform Care (1-877-652-7624) to request Assistive Technology services and complete the FSS application over the phone. For more information about CSOC’s Family Support Services programs including Assistive Technology, please visit their website.
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Kicks for a Cause: Inclusive Summer Camp & Lunch
Kayleigh Daley, a junior at Gateway Regional High School and founder of the nonprofit Shine Together – Unified Social Inclusion, is hosting her first adaptive soccer camp, “Kicks for Cause,” on Saturday, July 12th at Gateway High School in South Jersey. The free event, open to individuals with special needs of all ages, will run from 10:00 AM to 11:15 AM followed by lunch, with all proceeds benefiting a local South Jersey special needs center. Volunteers and participants can sign up through the Shine Together website under the “events” tab. Sign up here.
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Summer Social Skills Camp
in Secaucus
Introducing JDK Social Station, a CSOC-qualified and 1:1 summer camp provider located in Secaucus, NJ. Our camp focuses on building essential social skills in a supportive and engaging environment tailored to each child’s unique needs. Click here for more information.
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First School For Autism Opens in Newark
Branch Brook School in Newark has reopened in 2024 as the city's first elementary school dedicated solely to students with autism, serving preschool through third grade. Located at 228 Ridge St., the school offers on-site therapies and specialized services, addressing the rising number of autism cases and providing local families with critical support.
Click here for full article.
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NJ 4th Grader Fires Back
at RFK Jr.
At a Princeton school board meeting, 9-year-old Teddy, a Riverside Elementary student with autism, spoke out against U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s false claims linking autism to vaccines. Teddy firmly rejected the idea that people with autism are "broken," saying, “I have autism and I’m not broken,” and urged the community not to believe such misinformation. Read more here.
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Summer Camp Sign Ups
Start Now
In 2025, the Children's System of Care (CSOC) will offer Summer Camp Services to eligible youth and young adults under 21, including financial support for tuition and one-to-one aide services. Additionally, CSOC will provide Alternative Recreational Sessions (ARS), allowing youth to engage in shorter, community-based activities with peers. Eligibility based meeting criteria outlined by CSOC. Applications must be received by June 30th, 2025. Read more here.
The Arc of New Jersey's Family Institute has a CSOC Summer Camp Services Guide and a Summer Camp Check List. Check them out!
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Disney+ Movie on Navigating Middle School with Cerebral Palsy
Disney’s film Out of My Mind, now streaming on Disney+, follows a non-verbal sixth grader with cerebral palsy as she navigates middle school and finds her voice. Starring Phoebe-Rae Taylor, who has cerebral palsy, along with Jennifer Aniston and Judith Light, the film features a cast that includes actors with disabilities and was created with input from disability consultants to ensure authentic representation. Premiering at Sundance earlier this year, it’s a powerful story that raises awareness about cerebral palsy and inclusion. Read the full article here.
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Senior Engineering Students Launch Club to Adapt Toys for Disabled Children
When Michael Gibbons transferred to Rutgers–New Brunswick in 2023, he couldn’t find a student club focused on engineering and disability advocacy—so he and fellow student Aaron Clarion started one. Just a year later, their organization, A4A (Accessible, Adaptive, Accommodating, and Adventurous for All), has 50 active members and has already redesigned ride-on cars for several local families, all at no cost. As they graduate, Gibbons and Clarion leave behind a thriving, student-run group driven by passion, not credit or recognition. Click here to read the full artcle.
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