by Common Ground | Sep 4, 2016 | Capitols
In August, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) released a “Dear Colleague” letter to school districts indicating concern over data that show students with disabilities are disciplined far more often than their peers without disabilities. The...
by Common Ground | Sep 4, 2016 | Parents, Professionals, Teachers
Friends and family can be important influences to help someone get the mental health treatment and services they need by: Reaching out and letting them know you are available to help Helping them access mental health services Learning and sharing the facts about...
by Common Ground | Sep 4, 2016 | Parents
By Hillary D. Freeman, Esq. Students who qualify for special education and related services under the IDEA shall not be punished the same as regular education students for behaviors that are a product of their disabilities. Instead, the IEP team shall determine...
by Common Ground | Sep 4, 2016 | Features
Living among America’s 74 million children are growing numbers experiencing mental illness. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) finds that roughly 20% of adolescents ages 13 to 18 and 13% of 8 to 15 year-olds experience severe mental...
by Common Ground | Jul 29, 2016 | Snapshot
There are 673 school districts in NJ There are 2508 public schools in NJ More than ½ (50.2%) of the students in NJ are minorities More than 1 in 3 students in NJ are eligible for free/reduced lunch 15.1% of the students in NJ are classified as eligible for special...
by Common Ground | Jul 29, 2016 | Students
By Sam Huber As someone on the autism spectrum who has also coached ASD college students, I have noticed that there is this “I am an outsider” feeling. That’s because an ASD person needs accommodations to complete his college courses, making our college experience...
by Common Ground | Jul 29, 2016 | Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a special education case involving a 12-year-old Michigan girl with cerebral palsy who sought to bring her service dog – which was prescribed by a physician as a full time support – to school. The dog is certified...
by Common Ground | Jul 29, 2016 | Capitols
This summer, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved legislation to allocate resources to help children with disabilities who are at risk of elopement and wandering. S-2614, Kevin and Avonte’s Law, is named in honor nine-year old Kevin Willis and 14-year old Avonte...
by Common Ground | Jul 29, 2016 | Capitols
A bill making its way through the New Jersey Legislature would establish requirements for the use of restraint and seclusion for students with disabilities. This spring, the bill (Senate Bill 1163) cleared the New Jersey Senate and has been referred to the Assembly...
by Common Ground | Jul 29, 2016 | Capitols
As of July 1, 2016, the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is accepting requests for mediation and due process through an OSEP email. They will also continue to accept requests for mediation and due process via fax and traditional mail. To file by fax: (609)...
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