November 30, 2022 | Issue 55 (View newsletter as webpage) Para leer este boletín en Español, haga clic aquí

The SPAN 35th Anniversary Gala Is Only 12 Days Away!

JOIN US as we recognize the 28-year career of Diana Autin, present awards to seven deserving honorees (see below), and gather in celebration of SPAN's many accomplishments over the last five years. For tickets, sponsorships, journal ads, and more information, click here.

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SPAN 35th Anniversary Gala Invitation image

Important News

Ignored, Punished, and Underserved: Black Children with Disabilities

Ignored, Punished and Underserved: Understanding and Addressing Disparities in Education Experiences and Outcomes for Black Children with Disabilities is a new report by Bellwether and Easterseals.

The personal experiences of families about the educational experiences of children of color who have disabilities are central to the report. It also includes information from:

qualitative research,
quantitative data, and
interviews with scholars, advocates, and school leaders

This report identifies four areas where educators, schools, and districts treat students of color with disabilities differently than their white and nondisabled peers:

Identification
Placement
Discipline
Family engagement and support

The report includes recommendations for investments to better support children of color with disabilities. Recommendations are made for educators, district leaders, and policymakers to ensure that students of color with disabilities and their families get the supports they need.

Read the full report here

Resources

Apps to Support Executive Functioning

If your teen (or you) has trouble going about day-to-day tasks, they might be assisted by an app.

Apps can be wonderful tools for people who might need daily reminders or better organization for weekly functions.

These apps will also be useful as your child moves onto the next phase in their life - whether it's college or a career.

You can find 20 free apps for executive functioning here

Check out our recorded workshop on Assistive Technology for Executive Functioning for more ideas about tools that help with planning, organizing, focusing attention, and remembering instructions, among others.

SPAN Awards

We are proud to announce the seven honorees who will receive awards at the SPAN 35th Anniversary Gala on December 12, 2022:

Power Through Policy Legislator Awards: Senator Teresa Ruiz (Education) and Assemblyman Daniel Benson (Healthcare)
Organizational Advocacy Leadership Award: NJ Alliance for Immigrant Justice
Diana Cuthbertson Parent Leadership Award: LaVonia Abavana
Excellence in Media Award: Kelly Heyboer, Investigative Reporter and the Star-Ledger Editorial Board
Albert E. Pelham Employee Recognition Award: Maria Rodriguez
Board of Directors Extraordinary Service Award: John Pennett

Visit here for more detailed information on the award criteria, to access Gala tickets and sponsorships or to make a donation.

Upcoming Events

SPAN offers a variety of learning opportunities for families and the professionals who work with them.

Highlighted Event This Week

How to Help Your Child Obtain Assistive Technology

December 13, 2022

Noon - 1:00 PM

If your Pre-school - Grade 12 Student needs assistive technology, how can it be provided?

All IEP teams must consider the potential need for Assistive Technology supports and services.

This webinar explains the process of matching(and getting) AT for students with disabilities through the IEP Process.

Presenter:

Adam Krass, MS, ATP

Adam Krass Consulting, LLC

Enabling People with Disabilities Through Assistive Technology

See all of SPAN's upcoming events with details and registration links here

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SPAN Parent Advocacy Network | spanadvocacy.org

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