We hope you find lots of useful information here.  Below is our latest news and upcoming events.  Visit our other pages for more information.

The YAI Network presents a Family Support Series for caregivers of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders

From January 22nd through March 24th, YAI will be presenting a series of seminars with subjects ranging from toilet training tips to gastro-intestinal issues.  These seminars will take place in New York City at 460 West 34th Street, 11th Floor. Admission is free but pre-registration is required.  Learn more.

The Special Education Regions of Bergen County, the NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVRS), Heightened Independence & Progress (hip), Bergen Community College Division of Continuing Education and Fairleigh Dickinson University proudly present a countywide Transition Fair to assist families in planning for their son’s or daughter’s future.

Information on a wide variety of post secondary options will be available to help students with all levels of disabilities prepare for their transition to adult life. At this fair, there will be representatives from:

• NJ State and County Agencies including DDD (Division of Developmental Disabilities), DVRS (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services), Bergen County Office of Disability Services, Bergen County Workforce Center, etc.
• Colleges and trade schools
• Supported employment agencies
• Support agencies such as Access Link, hip, guardianships, wills, trusts.
• Agencies that provide day programs, sheltered workshops, etc.
• Parent Workshops will be presented on various topics.

The more you know, the better you and your child can prepare for the future.

All Bergen County families are invited to attend. Admission is free. If you have any questions or need any accommodations (e.g., interpretive services, transportation, etc.), please contact Region V at 201-599-0585, ext. 15.

The Transition Fair will take place on Thursday, April 15, 2010 from 6:00–9:00 p.m. at the Rothman Center, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Metropolitan Campus, Temple Avenue (East off Hackensack Avenue) in Hackensack.

In The Know…Helping Our Children Grow... a complimentary informative workshop program designed for parents and caregivers of children with special needs and learning differences. The program will offer a variety of topics such as siblings of children on the autistic spectrum, the hidden curriculum of advocacy, what is social thinking and how can I help my child at home, among others.

Learn more.

The “Special All-Stars Program” is the 4th annual RBSA program designed for children with special needs.  Registration is open to both Ridgewood residents and non-residents in surrounding towns.  The program will take place on four Sundays, May 2, May 9, May 16 and May 23 at Vets Field (behind the Ridgewood Library and Village Hall) from 10:00 am to 11:30 am.  The fee for this program is $35.00 per child.

As part of the program, we will be presenting each team member an RBSA shirt, baseball hat, and a trophy recognizing their participation in the program (last Sunday is Awards Day).  We will have a photographer taking pictures of each individual which you will be able to purchase.  Your children will also receive one-on-one instruction from RBSA volunteers comprised of RHS players, RBSA coaches and other volunteers.  It will be an incredible experience for everyone!  Please join us on Sundays!  Prior years' response has been wonderful!

Marianne Griffith is spearheading the program for your children.  If you have any questions, please call or email Marianne Griffith at 201-652-1853.  She would be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

To register your child for this program online, please go to Community Pass.

On August 13, 2009, Governor Jon S. Corzine enacted landmark legislation that, for the first time, requires New Jersey health insurers to provide coverage for screening for autism and other developmental disabilities as well as evidence-based behavioral interventions and any medically-necessary occupational, physical and speech therapy. Hosted by Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, the event represented the culmination of months of advocacy spearheaded by Autism New Jersey and families across the Garden State.

In attendance were more than 100 families and individuals whose lives have been touched by autism.

The legislation, S1650/A2238, requires insurance companies to provide coverage of evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies. The new law covers up to $36,000 annually for a child with autism who is 21 years of age or younger. Coverage includes Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, which is recognized as an effective, evidence-based treatment for children with autism.

The bill was championed by New Jersey Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts, Jr. (Primary Sponsor). Also providing critical leadership were Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairman and primary sponsor Joseph Vitale, Assemblyman Vincent Prieto (Primary Sponsor), Assemblywoman Joan Voss (Primary Sponsor), Assemblyman Peter Biondi (Co-Sponsor), Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (Co-Sponsor), Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan (Co-Sponsor), and Senator Loretta Weinberg (Co-Sponsor).

Speakers at the event included Autism New Jersey's Board Vice-Chair James Paone, who spoke of his son Tim. "When you pay your insurance premium, you expect that your child will get the health care they specifically need," Paone said. "Now, that will be the law of this State when it comes to children like Tim, and families like ours."

"We have made the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders a top priority in New Jersey," Governor Corzine said. "The legislation I am signing today recognizes there must be appropriate resources to treat and care for individuals with autism, and provide their families the support they need. By doing so, we enable those affected with autism to function as independent, productive, and empowered individuals, and ease the burden of their loved ones."

"Many New Jersey families already are being stretched to their financial edge -- but without health coverage for their loved ones, countless families are bankrupting themselves just to give their child the potential for a bright future," said Speaker Roberts Jr. "This measure offers real and meaningful hope that they will not battle alone."

"This law is about giving access to proven therapies and treatments which can work miracles in the lives of children and allow them to achieve their fullest potential," said Senator Vitale.

This spring, the Learning Services Home and School Association donated several items to the Special Services staff.  Earlier this year the staff was asked to submit wish lists. 

• Karen Price, Coordinator of the RED program, received photo language cards.
• Lori Franklin, District Occupational Therapist, will receive a new rainbow panel-folding mat.
• Dolores D’Andrea, District Physical Therapist, received a throw and catch suction game.
• Jaclyn Fanos, the self-contained class teacher at Orchard, received a pocket chart and an activity ball.
• Beth Jeregian’s Resource Room class at Ridge received a subscription to Explode the Code phonics program.
• The Resource, Supplemental, and BSI staff of Somerville School (Susan Chambre, Christine Meltzer, Shiva Khaloyan, Maria Maresciallo) received a QuickRead Fluency Library.
• Nicole Elmira’s PARCCA class at Somerville School received a Nintendo Wii Game Console.
• Books were purchased for Shula Barnett, the Speech Therapist at Somerville.
• Stacy Giardino at Somerville received a Flip Video camera and DVDs.
• Nicole Gizzi’s Resource Room class at Travell received decoding kits.
• Maria Velazquez-Walters, the Occupational Therapist at Travell, received jumbo pencil grips and other therapy items.
• Books were purchased for the Child Study Team of Jeanette Nast and Gila Elbaum at Travell School.
• Eileen Head, Speech Therapist at Travell, received Social Language Development Tests.
• An upgraded version of Lexia Primary Reading was purchased for Leslie Main and Elizabeth Macri, Resource Room teachers at Willard.
• Books were purchased for Sharon Hansen’s Resource Room classroom library at BF Middle School.
• Subscriptions to Zoobooks Magazine, Kids Discover Magazine, and Menu Math for Beginners will be purchased for Jaimee Grudzien who works for the PARCCA program at BF Middle School.
• Michael Rooney, Collaborative Teacher at BF Middle School, will receive Study Island math program software.
• Jana Thorson, speech therapist at the high school, received a puzzle and games.

Thank you to all who submitted wish list items.  We hope to be able to continue this program in the 2009-2010 school year.

The Model Me Kids® video series demonstrates social skills by modeling peer behavior at school, on a playdate, at a birthday party, on the playground, at a library, restaurant, and more.  Real children model and narrate each skill.  Designed as a teaching tool for children, adolescents, and teenagers with Autism, Asperger Syndrome, PDD-NOS, and Nonverbal Learning Disorder, the videos are used by parents, teachers, and therapists.

Visit their website to learn more. 

Parents are encouraged to read this interesting and informative article at the Education Law Center website:  Census-based Special Ed Funding:  Hype or Real Reform?  Potential Pitfalls for New Jersey Documented in Pennsylvania Study.

HR 821 (bill on Special Education Funding) was introduced and is in the House of Representatives' Committee of Education and Labor.  You can send an e-mail to the committee chair, George Miller, through his web site.

The following is example text (feel free to copy and paste it):

Dear Congressman Miller:

Special Education costs have been underfunded for too long.  Please discuss bill HR 821, "Everyone Deserves Unconditional Access to Education Act" and send it out of committee to the House of Representatives for a vote.  This bill would guarantee funding for students needing special education services.  It is time for Congress to fulfill its promise to fund forty percent of the costs for special education.

Thank you.

Name and Address

Webmaster:  Linda Willk