February 15, 2022 | Issue 17 (View newsletter as webpage)

Important News

Outcomes For Youth And Young Adults With Disabilities

This report presents data that show the gap between youth with disabilities and those without disabilities on their success in education, employment, and poverty.

Youth and young adults (ages 14-24) with disabilities are less likely than their peers without disabilities to:

complete high school
enter and complete college
enter the workforce
attain financial success.

The poverty rate among people with disabilities is more than twice the rate of those without disabilities. Gaps between young people with and without disabilities result from inequities in the education and workforce systems. As a result, the national workforce loses out on the creativity and contributions of people with disabilities.

Resources

10 Reasons to Support Inclusive School Communities for ALL Students

Support of Civil Rights
Integration in Community
A Sense of Belonging and Acceptance of Differences
Varied Learning Opportunities
Use of Best Practices in Instruction
An Individualized Education in a Supportive Context
Relationships with Peers
Increased Instructional Support for All Students
Team Building Improves Schools
Parental Involvement

Check out the collection of additional TIES Center resources at this link

Resources for Families of Preschoolers

Click here to read "5 Tips to Help Preschoolers with Special Needs During the Pandemic"

Use the Feeling Faces Chart at this link to help a child understand their feelings so they can express them with words instead of challenging behavior

Click here to see more resources from the National Pyramid Model Center

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) "Recommended Practices"

provides a helpful resource that families can use to support learning and interactions for their children through everyday activities

See the Practice Guides for Families at this link

Consulta las Guías Prácticas para Familias en este enlace

For questions or more information: Contact Deepa Srinivasavaradan,

DEC aRPy Ambassador:

deepas@spanadvocacy.org

Upcoming Events

See what's happening this month

SPAN offers a variety of learning opportunities for families and the professionals who work with them. Check out our Event Calendar (link) for details and registration links

Upcoming Events include (links):

And more (link)!

Information Sessions and Due Process Clinics

Protect Your Child's Right to COVID-19-Related Compensatory Education NOW

Las sesiones informativas y clínicas de debido proceso gratuitas

Protege los derecho s de su hijo/a para recibir Educación Compensatoria AHORA

Click here to learn more about upcoming Information Sessions and Due Process Clinics

Haga clic aquí para obtener más información sobre las sesiones informativas y clínicas de debido proceso gratuitas

Read an informative news article at this link

School-Based Mental Health Resource Guide

Follow this link to see NJ Department of Education created a new Comprehensive School-Based Mental Health Resource Guide

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that mental health and wellness are basic and critical needs.

Schools are in a position to:

recognize the early signs of mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders,
provide social-emotional support services, and
foster skills necessary to address challenges during the adolescent years.

Schools can contribute to the overall emotional, social and academic success of each student.

New Jersey Department of Education has collected resources related to Student Wellness that address:

Mental Health and Social-Emotional Learning
Physical Health and Wellness

Their Mental Health webpage at this link includes resources for families, students, and educators. It also includes a series of webinars about School-Based Mental Health.

Learn more at this link about SPAN's work with the NJDOE on the New Jersey Multi-Tiered System of Supports. which is a framework that schools can use to implement School-Based Mental Health.