by Common Ground | Sep 26, 2025 | Better IEPs, October 2025
“Financial empowerment is the ability and confidence of individuals and communities to make positive financial decisions that promote their long-term financial stability and financial well-being.” – National Disability Institute Incorporating financial...
by Common Ground | Oct 3, 2024 | Better IEPs, October 2024
Parents often have questions about how the IEP can address the needs of a child with behavioral disabilities. Understood Explains has created a helpful series of short videos on a range of topics related to the IEP. Watch IEPs and Behavior by Understood below on this...
by Common Ground | Jun 12, 2024 | Better IEPs, June 2024
Transportation is a related service as defined by 34 CFR §300.34(c)(16) of the IDEA regulations. It can include travel to and from school and between schools; travel in and around school buildings; and specialized equipment such as specially modified vans, buses,...
by Common Ground | Apr 5, 2024 | April 2024, Better IEPs, Features, Parents, Teachers
By Maria Torres, M.A., LDT-C Reading disabilities, such as dyslexia, pose significant challenges for students. They not only affect a student’s academic progress, but frequently also impact their behavior in the classroom. Understanding the relationship between...
by Common Ground | Feb 22, 2024 | Better IEPs, February 2024, Parents, Professionals
The State of New Jersey has very clear expectations for preschoolers with disabilities. In fact, Indicator 7 in our state’s performance plan measures the percent of preschool children aged 3 through 5 with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) who demonstrate...
by Common Ground | Nov 29, 2023 | Better IEPs, November 2023, Parents, Professionals, Teachers
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) drive services and supports for students with reading disabilities. Students must learn to decode words, recognize vocabulary, and understand what they have read. Before setting IEP goals, it is vital to assess the student in...
by Common Ground | Jun 20, 2023 | Better IEPs, Features, June 2023
A person-centered plan can help those involved with the focus person see the total person, recognize his or her desires and interests, and discover completely new ways of thinking about the future of the person.” — Beth Mount & Kay Zwernik, 1988 All too...
by Common Ground | Jun 16, 2023 | Better IEPs, June 2023, Q&A
By Jason Krasnow Q: What does the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) say about student involvement in the IEP process? A: The IDEA requires that students aged 14 and older be invited to attend their IEP meetings. Younger students do not need to be...
by Common Ground | Feb 8, 2023 | Better IEPs, Features, February 2023, Parents, Professionals, Teachers
What they say – and don’t say — about students with disabilities The pandemic’s effect on student learning and achievement continues to be a big concern for parents, educators, and policy-makers. Last fall, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests,...
by Common Ground | Feb 8, 2023 | Better IEPs, February 2023, Parents, Professionals, Teachers
And the Need for High Focus on Recovery for Students with Disabilities While highly publicized reports underscore the negative effects of COVID-19 on student learning, it is important to focus on recovery, and systemic responses to address that learning loss. New...
by Common Ground | Feb 8, 2023 | Better IEPs, February 2023, Parents, Professionals, Q&A, Teachers
Back by request, Common Ground is re-printing this important story last run in 2021. New Jersey law, P.L.2021, c.109 (sometimes referred to by its Senate bill number, S-3434) requires boards of education to provide special education and related services to certain...
by Common Ground | Jun 16, 2022 | Better IEPs, Professionals, Teachers
By Cari Carlson, Esq., MSW School can be a challenge for students with mental health conditions. Some students struggle to concentrate, sit still or follow directions. Others might have difficulty learning due to depression, anxiety, mood swings, psychosis or behavior...
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