The Student Advocate Website and
Haddonfield Committee for Children with Special Learning Needs
128 Windsor Ave., Haddonfield, NJ 08033
PO Box 1214, Belle Mead, NJ 908-881-5275 Advocate@StudentAdvocate-NJ.org
http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org http://APIECENJ.org
http://studentadvocate-nj.org/IDEIA2004_Petition.htm

 Disability Families Uniting for Stronger Special Ed Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:     Jerry Tanenbaum, Esq., Haddonfield Committee for Children With Special Learning Needs.  (856) 482-5733
                    Bob Witanek, A Parents Initiative for Every Child's Education.  (908) 881-5275

New Jersey children with special learning needs and other disabilities suffered a significant blow this fall when strong lobbying by powerful state and national educational agencies led to the elimination of several of their important civil rights protections from the latest version of the principal federal education act, the IDEA.   In response, families of such children, child-advocacy organizations and their supporters are banding together in an effort to maintain some of those important rights under New Jersey Special Education Law.   Through public hearings, petition drives and a letter writing campaign, special needs families and others who care about such children are calling upon the NJ Department of Education to maintain the protections currently existing in New Jersey law, notwithstanding the weakened federal law.   

As part of that effort, A Parents Initiative for Every Child’s Education (APIECE), http://APIECENJ.org , is mounting a petition drive and seeking support.  Local organizations, such as the Committee for Children of Special Needs (CCSLN), a parent support group in Haddonfield, are actively supporting the petition effort.  The petition can be read and signed at  http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org .  It outlines 11 specific issues seen by organizers as “critical to children with special needs in New Jersey.”  Among other issues, the petition argues for the continued use of measurable short-term goals in a child's individualized education plan – “perhaps the most significant and meaningful means by which schools can be held accountable for the implementation of meaningful programs for children with a disability,” according to Jerry Tanenbaum, a local attorney who represents children with special needs.  The petition also argues against proposed changes in disciplinary procedures organizers suggest “would greatly increase the possibility that children will be sent to inappropriate institutions because of disability related behaviors. “

According to initiator of the petition Bob Witanek: “Most parents with children in special education are unaware of what their child's rights are and what they are entitled to. 

Districts often take advantage of such lack of knowledge and our children get shortchanged, segregated and scapegoated in the process.  Now the federal government wants to give the states more power to take away our rights.  We are calling upon the NJ Department of Education, the Acting Governor and the State Legislature to set an example for the rest of the nation that they understand the plight of families of children with disabilities and that they will do everything in their capacity to eliminate any weakening of NJ Special Education Law by IDEIA 2004.” 

Jerry Tanenbaum, Chairperson of the Haddonfield CCSLN stated:  "All those who support civil rights for people with disabilities should sign this petition.  Unlike the school administrations, these children do not have powerful and sophisticated lobbying professionals working on their behalf.  They rely instead on their families and educated individuals who care about helping such children reach their potential to be good neighbors and productive citizens.  Signatures on petitions such as these can make a real difference."

Those wishing to read the petition or seeking more information about this issue and effort can visit http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org or call 908-881-5275.

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