June 15, 2022 | Issue 33 (View newsletter as webpage) Para leer este boletín en Español, haga clic aquí

Important News

New Jersey Transition Toolkit

The first listed purpose for the Federal law known as The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is “to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.”

The NJ Department of Education created a toolkit to assist teams, students, and families in preparing students with disabilities for a successful life after high school.

It includes helpful information and resources, such as:

ideas for activities
transition planning in the IEP
information about education, employment and independent living after high school.

One important resource provides information about alternatives to guardianship and supported decision-making. Many families and educators are not familiar with this information that can make a big difference in the young person's life.

View the highlighted resource: Alternatives to Guardianship Brochure

View the entire Transition Toolkit here

Check out SPAN's YouTube playlist about Transition and Supported Decision-Making here

Resources

Staying Up-To-Date with COVID-19 Boosters:

Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC)

COVID-19 vaccine boosters can enhance or restore protection that might have decreased over time
The best protection from severe COVID-19 illness is to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, including all recommended boosters.
There are different COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
It is never too late to get the added protection offered by a COVID-19 booster. Find a vaccine provider.

Review all of the detailed information about boosters from the CDC here

Find more helpful links to current information on SPAN's COVID-19 Vaccine Awareness page here

Listening Sessions with Diverse Family Caregivers About Respite Services

Family caregivers are needed to participate in listening sessions about their experiences with respite services this summer.

The National Center on Cultural Competence(NCCC) is seeking racially, ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse family caregivers of children/youth and adults with disabilities, and older adults to participate.

The information gathered will be used to develop tools to help respite providers, partners, and others provide culturally competent respite services.

Small stipends are available for family caregivers who participate.

NCCC will also be holding listening sessions with respite providers of all types to hear about the challenges and successes in providing respite care to diverse populations.

Please share this information with families who may be interested in participating.

View and Download PDF or Image(png) Flyers to share

Family Caregivers of Children and Youth - English (pdf)

Family Caregivers of Children and Youth - English (png)

Family Caregivers of Adults with Disabilities -Eng (pdf)

Family Caregivers of Adults with Disabilities -Eng (png)

If you are interested in participating, contact the NCCC: Phone - 202.687.5387

Email - [email protected]

by Friday, June 17, 2022

Voicemail messages are available in English and Spanish.