Q&A: Special Education Parent Advisory Groups
A Special Education Parent Advisory Group, or SEPAG is a state-mandated, district level group charged with providing input to the local school district on system-level challenges in special education services and programs. New Jersey regulations require that:...Q&A: Is It Dyslexia?
By Deborah Lynam and Jillian Matysik Child Study Team (CST) members are often asked about dyslexia in schools by parents and educators. Until the recent dyslexia legislation in New Jersey, dyslexia was not traditionally discussed in schools. This was often a cause of...Q&A: Charter Schools and Students with Disabilities
by Elaine Mulligan A charter school is a public school and as such, is responsible for serving students with disabilities in keeping with state law. Q: What is a Charter School? A: Charter schools are public elementary and secondary schools, just as traditional...Q&A: Out-of-School Suspension of Students with Disabilities: What Parents Need to Know
If you are the parent of a child with a disability, you may know the feeling of dread that comes when your child’s school calls during the school day, asking you to pick up your child because they cannot deal with today’s behaviors. Parents often feel they must...Q&A: Application of the DIR® Model for Students with Disabilities
By: Lynn Abelson, MA, CCC-SLP, OTR Q: What is the DIR® Model? A: The Developmental, Individual-Differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) model, pioneered by Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D. and Serena Wieder, Ph.D, provides a framework for assessment and intervention for those...Q&A: High School and Beyond: Transition Services for Those Who May Be Going to College or Trade School
For some students, the question of when to accept a diploma is clear, but for most, it is a decision that must be carefully weighed. There is a lot of misinformation about this issue. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions: Q: What responsibilities do...Q&A: New Eligibility Rules for Adult Services: What Families and Transition Coordinators Need to Know
By S. Paul Prior, Esq., Hinkle, Fingles & Prior, P.C., Attorneys at Law The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) has adopted new rules that fundamentally change the ways in which adults with developmental disabilities are found eligible for services....Q&A: Understanding Accommodations in Higher Education
Although Section 504 and Title II of the ADA apply to both school districts and postsecondary schools, the responsibilities of postsecondary schools differ significantly from those of school districts. Moreover, students will have responsibilities as a postsecondary...Q&A: Assistive Technology & Special Education
An assistive technology (AT) device is used to maintain or improve the functional capabilities of a student with a disability. An assistive technology service assists in the selection, acquisition, or use of an AT device, and incorporates evaluations, modifications,...Q&A: Apraxia of Speech
“Children with apraxia often have family members who have a history of communication disorders or learning disabilities. This observation and recent research findings suggest that genetic factors may play a role in the disorder.” Apraxia of speech (called...Q&A: Eligibility for Special Education and Related Services: It’s Not Just About Grades
By Ira M. Fingles, Esq. “The judge noted that the student’s grades took into consideration effort, and were the result of a lot of prompting, cueing, and modifications.”Many students have what is referred to as ‘invisible disabilities’ that manifest in...NJCommonGround.org, and the Common Ground E-newsletter are projects of the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities
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- The Right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education
- What to Do if You Suspect Your Child has a Disability Impacting Their Education
- Initial Special Education Evaluations and Eligibility
- The Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- Special Education Placement
- Q&A: What are Extended School Year (ESY) Services?
- Q&A: Dispute Resolution