February 2022 Special Connection
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Dear Families and Friends,
Did you know that February is Friendship month? Ignite a spark of love and friendship this month. Reach out to friends, pay a compliment and boost a friend or loved one's confidence, and get a warm, fuzzy feeling yourself by giving them a much deserved compliment. This is especially needed now when so many are alone and isolated. We all need to receive that special attention and to give it. So give a virtual hug to those you can't see. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY
ASCF Staff and Board
TRANSITION TOOL
All About Me:
This tool encourages asking questions about student’s strengths/interests, challenges/concerns, and activities with the focus to prepare them for the transition into adult life.
English:
https://spanadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/All-About-Me-English-April-2021.pdf

Spanish:
https://spanadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/All-About-Me-Spanish-April-2021.pdf
CALL TO ACTION
Virtual Town Hall - Protect Your Child's Right to Compensatory Education
 Virtual Town Hall - Protect Your Child's Right to Compensatory Education Now
February 9, 2022 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Join us to hear important information about compensatory education:
  • What is it?
  • Who is eligible?
  • How do I ask for it?
  • How is it determined?
  • Deadlines that may be approaching for requesting compensatory education
Panelists include:
  • Peg Kinsell, Director of Public Policy, SPAN
  • Jennifer Rosen Valverde, Esq./MSW; Clinical Professor of Law, Education and Health Law Clinic, Rutgers
  • Mercedes Witkowsky, Executive Director, NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities
Panel Moderated by: Brenda Considine, President, Considine Communications Strategies
Live interpretation into Spanish will be available for all sessions
Los talleres se interpretarán simultáneamente al español.
REGISTER:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-town-hall-protect-your-childs-right-to-compensatory-education-registration-259653599907
For Fact sheet go to:
https://spanadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Protect-your-childs-right-012622-combined-FINAL.pdf
Articles for Your Information
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For some children with sensory processing disorder (SPD), information reaching the senses often feels like an assault of competing stimuli.

Read more about what this could mean for your family.

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IRS Raises Limit For ABLE Accounts

For the first time in four years, the amount of money that people with disabilities can save without jeopardizing eligibility for government benefits is rising.

Read more about what this means for you.
Resources
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Equal Opportunity Support Services
They work with graduating high school students getting ready to transition into the DDD adult services system
Transition Services can provide a bridge between school life and working life for students with a developmental disability. This is a non-profit organization qualified by the NJ State Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to provide Support Coordination that assists students with disabilities in gaining access to needed medical, social, educational, vocational, and other services.  
Services are FREE to Students Statewide
They can help the family, student, and Child Study Team by :
·        Answering questions about the DDD application process
·        Attending IEP meetings to bridge resources, supports, and services
·        Assisting to implement transition plans
Students can find out more information about their services by calling 732-641-0660
or they can sign up through their website at EqualOpportunitySupportServices.org
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RESOURCES
SESAME STREET
Your friends on Sesame Street are here to support you during the COVID-19 crisis. They know that these are stressful times, and families everywhere are coping with changing routines, anxiety, and loss. Their site is filled with rich content you can use with children to spark playful learning, offer them comfort, and help your whole family thrive. They hope their resources help you play, learn, and breathe deeply together—and they'll keep adding more as we weather this crisis together.        #CaringForEachOther

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The KID Foundation’s SPD Network
(Resources for the Sensory Processing Disorder Community)
This web site began in 1996 to help parents, teachers, therapists, doctors, and others learn about and understand Sensory Processing Disorder.
It has since become the primary Internet portal for information about these commonly misunderstood disorders.
Webinars
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ASCF Virtual Trainings
BASIC RIGHTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION:
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 7:00
 
HOW TO READ YOUR CHILD'S IEP
MONDAY, MARCH 21, 7:00 PM

BEHAVIOR/SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL,
MONDAY, APRIL11 7:00 PM
 
CONFLICT RESOLUTION, MONDAY
MONDAY MAY 16, 7:00 PM: 
 
 INCLUSION & EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR, MONDAY JUNE 13 AT 7:00 PM

 Register by phoning the office at 973-728-8744 or emailing judy@ascfamily.org
The link will be sent to you.
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY… VIRTUAL TRAINING
Please register at: https://bit.ly/3yrPffN More info: npratt@spanadvocacy.org
Empowering Women in Community Leadership for Healthier Families
The Empowering Women in Community Leadership project builds community capacity to enhance engagement and leadership opportunities for women of childbearing age to prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and lead poisoning prevention. Must live/work in Essex, Mercer. Camden, Union, Morris, Hudson and Passaic County. Limited slots.
4 Information sessions in English and Spanish, 11 am-12:30 am
Session 1: (Feb 17), Session 2 (Feb 24) , Session 3 (March 3). Session 4 (March 10)
Serving on Groups That Make Decisions: A Guide for Families is intended to be a useful tool for anyone who is currently serving, or wants to serve, on a decision-making group.
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Compensatory Education: What Parents Need to Know
Thursday, February 24, 2022 
 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
The Arc of New Jersey is pleased to host this webinar which will give attendees an overview of compensatory education, funding, examples of compensatory education services and what to do if the school denies compensatory education for your child.
CONTACT INFO Lisa Ford:     lford@arcnj.org   732.828.2022
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Depression In Teens
It’s not unusual for young people to experience "the blues" or feel "down in the dumps" occasionally. Adolescence is always an unsettling time, with the many physical, emotional, psychological and social changes that accompany this stage of life.
Unrealistic academic, social, or family expectations can create a strong sense of rejection and can lead to deep disappointment. When things go wrong at school or at home, teens often overreact. Many young people feel that life is not fair or that things "never go their way." They feel "stressed out" and confused. To make matters worse, teens are bombarded by conflicting messages from parents, friends and society. Today’s teens see more of what life has to offer — both good and bad — on television, at school, in magazines and on the Internet. They are also forced to learn about the threat of AIDS, even if they are not sexually active or using drugs.
Teens need adult guidance more than ever to understand all the emotional and physical changes they are experiencing. When teens’ moods disrupt their ability to function on a day-to-day basis, it may indicate a serious emotional or mental disorder that needs attention — adolescent depression. Parents or caregivers must take action.
For more info
https://mhanational.org/depression-teens-0
Support, Training and Information Groups
Join Mom Squad Virtual Support Group with ASCF and Family Partners on Thursdays, Feb 10, 17 and 24, 6-7:30 pm.

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Family Support Organization of Passaic County and ASCF offers this virtual Support Group on Tuesdays, Feb 1, 8, 15, and 22nd from 6:30-8 pm.
nreams@fso-pc.org
We have new means of supporting ASCFamily.org!
DISCLAIMER: The Association for Special Children and Families does not provide or give Legal or Medical advice.
DESCARGO DE RESPONSABILIDAD: La Asociación para Niños y Familias Especiales no proporciona ni brinda asesoramiento legal o médico.
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