Click below to access our interactive calendar:

Recreation Events

February 11th - Galentine's Day Party

Celebrate friendship at our Galentine’s Party with a cozy movie night and creative crafting fun, featuring a showing of Bride Wars and bracelet‑making with light refreshments!

February 23rd - Dinner Out & Bingo

Enjoy a lively evening of great food and classic fun at DAWNcil's Dinner‑n‑Bingo Night at Rockaway River Barn. Relax over a delicious dinner, play bingo with friends, and take part in some friendly competition for a chance to win fun prizes.

Catch us in the Community:

In the News

Webinar: Disability Rights New Jersey's Role in Investigating Abuse & Neglect of People with I/DD

Monday, February 2nd | 6:30pm to 8:30pm

This webinar offers an in‑depth overview of how Disability Rights New Jersey investigates allegations of abuse, neglect, and rights violations in licensed settings. Participants will learn about DRNJ’s authority, mission, and distinct role in monitoring investigative bodies to strengthen safety and protect vulnerable individuals.

Click here to register.

Webinar: Get Ready: What AT Are Colleges Using Now?

Tuesday, February 10th | 12:00pm to 1:00pm

This webinar explores the assistive technology tools currently used in college settings to support students with disabilities. Participants will learn about AT for reading, writing, note‑taking, and time management—the “Big Four”—with added discussion of emerging AI tools to support successful transitions from high school to college.

Click here to register.

Engineer Who Uses a Wheelchair Makes History

by Traveling to Space

In a groundbreaking moment for disability inclusion and space exploration, German aerospace engineer Michaela “Michi” Benthaus became the first wheelchair user to travel to space in December 2025. Benthaus flew aboard a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket, experiencing several minutes of weightlessness during a 10‑minute suborbital flight—a historic achievement that challenges long‑standing assumptions about who belongs in space.

Benthaus, who has used a wheelchair since a 2018 accident left her paralyzed from the waist down, demonstrated that disability does not limit innovation, expertise, or exploration. Her successful flight marks a major step forward in expanding accessibility within aerospace and opens the door for more inclusive thinking about future space missions. This milestone serves as a powerful reminder that with the right accommodations and opportunities, people with disabilities can reach extraordinary heights—on Earth and beyond.

Read more: Blue Origin: Engineer becomes first wheelchair user to go to space

Warming Centers Open in Our Region

Local warming centers are available for anyone needing a safe, heated space during extreme cold. Please note that some sites require calling ahead, especially in Warren County.

• Sussex County | Warming Centers
• Morris County | Warming Centers
• Warren County | Warming & Cooling Centers

2026 Winter Olympics Coverage Becomes

More Accessible Than Ever!

Viewers of all abilities will have greater access to the excitement of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, thanks to expanded accessibility features announced by NBCUniversal. This year’s coverage will include enhanced closed captioning, expanded audio description, and improved digital accessibility—making it easier than ever for people with disabilities to fully experience the Games.

Closed captioning will be available for all Olympic events airing across NBCUniversal platforms, including Peacock’s Gold Zone whip‑around show. Captioning will also be provided for digital livestreams with commentary on Peacock, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app, as well as for full event replays. For viewers who are blind or have low vision, audio description (AD) will be offered through the second audio program (SAP), providing spoken descriptions of on‑screen action and context. Notably, Milan Cortina 2026 will feature more audio description than any previous Winter Olympics—and for the first time, AD will be delivered in stereo, enhancing sound quality and immersion.

In addition, NBCUniversal has committed to improved web accessibility across its digital platforms, including keyboard navigation, better color contrast, and screen‑reader compatibility on NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, and the NBC Sports app. These efforts reflect meaningful progress toward inclusion and ensure that individuals with disabilities can enjoy and engage with one of the world’s most celebrated global sporting events.

To read the full article, click here.

Update on Social Media Use in New Jersey Schools

Recent findings and recommendations from the New Jersey Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage on Adolescents highlight growing concerns about the impact of cell phones and social media on students during the school day. In response, it is anticipated that the Governor will sign legislation implementing a “bell‑to‑bell” ban on cell phone and social media use in New Jersey schools.

Importantly, the proposed legislation is expected to include exceptions for students whose IEPs or 504 Plans require the use of assistive technology, as well as for students who rely on technology for translation and communication access.

Click here to access the PDF.